• About
  • Work with Me
    • Contact
  • Food Photography
  • Newsletter

Chef Janet

So good, they'll never know it's gluten-free.

  • Gluten-Free Recipes
    • Appetizers and Snacks
    • Baked Goods
    • Breakfast
    • Dessert
    • Main Course
    • Salads
    • Sauces and Dressings
    • Side Dishes
    • Soup
    • Vegan
    • Vegetarian
  • Cooking Basics
  • Gluten-Free Diet Tips
Home Β» Salads Β» Low Acid Salad Dressing with Tahini and Ginger

January 6, 2022 (last updated January 2, 2023)

Low Acid Salad Dressing with Tahini and Ginger

No ratings yet
Leave a Comment Jump to Recipe

This low-acid salad dressing is inspired by Asian flavors of ginger and sesame. A sesame tahini base and fresh grated ginger make for a delicious creamy dressing that is perfect on fresh salads.

If you follow a low acid diet, be cure to check out my no tomato, low acid pasta sauce for a sauce that will remind you of a marinara and my low acid zucchini ginger soup and tomato free, low acid BBQ sauce.

Ingredients

Yogurt adds a little tang to this dressing too. I am mostly dairy-free, so I use a plant-based version. My favorite one is Kite Hill Almond Milk Yogurt.

If you need one that is a little lower in fat, Ccoco Yo and Silk Soy Yogurt are good options. If you want a non-fat option, your best choice is a non-fat dairy yogurt.

Whichever brand or type of yogurt you use, be sure that it is unsweetened. If you use a Greek yogurt, reduce the amount to 1/4 cup and add one tablespoon of water.

Tahini is a creamy ingredient that is made from sesame seeds. Different brands of tahini vary widely in consistency. Some are more thin and pourable and others are more like a nut butter. My favorite one is Trader Joe’s Organic Tahini.

Since I am a gluten-free chef, I am sometimes asked about which foods have gluten. I answer the question “Is tahini gluten-free?” as well as questions about many other foods.

Warm water is included in the recipe to thin it to a dressing. If your tahini is closer to nut butter texture, you may need to add more water to thin it out. Because extra water will also dilute the other flavors, you may need to add some extra salt, grated ginger and/or sweetener. Add just a pinch or two at a time, and taste as you go.

Without the acid in most salad dressings, ginger is a strong sweet and pungent substitute that gives this dressing POP. Grated fresh ginger is the best way to get that pop. Use a microplane (essentially a super fine grater) to make the ginger disappear into the dressing. Here is my quick tutorial and video on How to Use Fresh Ginger.

Just a teaspoon of sweetener is used in this recipe. It helps to bring out the flavor of the other ingredients and balances the pungent ginger. I prefer agave, but any other sweetener will do the job.

And finally, salt brings it all together. Salt is an amazing, satisfying flavor enhancer. I give a range of 1/2-1 teaspoon so that you can make the dressing to your preference.

So after all the other ingredients are whisked together, add 1/2 teaspoon and taste. Is the dressing a flavorful? Do all the flavors pop? If not, add another 1/4 teaspoon, stir and taste again. You should notice a little difference. If you like the flavor, you’re done! If not, add more salt a little at a time until you are satisfied.

Chopped chives add another layer of flavor to this dressing, but are optional. I know that some on a low-acid diet avoid all onions. If you tolerate chives, I highly recommend adding.

Salad Recipes

Here are some lower-acid salads that are perfect for this dressing:

  • Butter lettuce, cucumber, avocado and mango
  • Red leaf lettuce, steamed green beans, shaved brussels sprouts and toasted slivered almonds
  • Roasted eggplant, zucchini and carrots with chopped walnuts

Other Uses for this Dressing

Salad dressing is essentially a sauce, and isn’t limited to just salads. So this dressing can be used on many more dishes. Here are some suggestions.

Heat the sauce 20 seconds in the microwave or on the stove top in a small pot and pour over grilled chicken, salmon, swordfish.

Or bring a little extra interest to rice quinoa or even pasta. Heat the sauce and toss with rice, quinoa or any kind of pasta.

Overhead view of rectangular wood plate with sald of lettuce, mango, avocado and cucumber. Small glass pitcher with low acid salad dressing and fork on bottom,

Low Acid Salad Dressing with Tahini and Ginger

Author: Janet Harlow
Course: Sauces and Dressings
Cuisine: American
Servings: 6
This low-acid salad dressing is inspired by Asian flavors of ginger and sesame. A sesame tahini base and fresh ground ginger make for a delicious creamy dressing that is perfect on fresh salads.
No ratings yet
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 mins

Recommended Products

  • Microplane

Ingredients
  

  • 3 Tbsp warm water
  • 3 tb sesame tahini
  • β…“ c plain unsweetened yogurt, plant-based is ok*
  • 1Β½ tsp agave or other sweetener agave syrup substitute
  • Β½ tsp packed, grated fresh ginger, or more if you want strong ginger flavor
  • Β½ tsp salt
  • 2 tsp finely chopped chives (optional)

Instructions
 

  • Thο»Ώis recipe can be mixed by hand as described below or in a blender. See the notes below for blender instructions.
  • ο»ΏPeel a 1" piece of fresh ginger using the edge of a spoon.
    Overhead view of fresh ginger being peeled with a spoon.
  • ο»ΏUse a microplane or the finest side of a grater to grate the ginger.
    Overhead view of microplane with fresh ginger on top of glass bowl.
  • Place tahini and warm water in a medium sized mixing bowl and beat with a wire whisk or fork until smooth.
    Overhead view of glass bowl with tahini and water. Wire whisk on right and gray napkin in upper left. Wood board with ingredients in upper right.
  • ο»ΏAdd the yogurt, agave and ginger and beat well to combine.
    Overhead view of glass bowl with low acid dressing ingredients.
  • If it's too thick, beat in another 2-3 teaspoons of warm water.
    Overhead view of glass bowl with low acid salad dressing and wire whisk.
  • Stir in the chopped chives, if using.
    Overhead view of glass bowl with whisk and low acid salad dressing with chopped chives added.
  • Stir in Β½ tsp of the salt. Taste. Add more, a few pinches at a time if needed.
    Overhead view of glass bowl with whisk and low acid salad dressing with salt added.
  • This dressing should be stored in the refrigerator and will stay fresh for at least a week. If it gets too thick once chilled, heat it in the microwave for 10 seconds to loosen the consistency.
    Glass jar with low acid tahini salad dressing. Gray napkin in left rear and wood board with ingredients in right rear.

Notes

Blender instructions:
  1. Use the edge of a spoon to peel a piece of ginger. Cut off a piece that fits in a Β½ tsp.Overhead view of wood board with a measuring spoon with pieces of fresh ginger
  2. Place all of the ingredients except the chives into the blender. Mix on high for 10 seconds or until the mixture is completely combined.
  3. Taste. If it needs a hint of salt to bring out the other flavors, add 2 pinches, stir and taste.
  4. Stir in the chopped chives with a spoon.
*If you need this dressing to be lower in fat, use non-fat plain yogurt. Coco Yo is a good plant-based yogurt that is lower in fat than most. If you use Greek yogurt, reduce the amount to 1/4 cup and add 2 tablespoons water.
Did you make this recipe?Let me know how it was! Tag @chefjanetk on Instagram.
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email

Posted In: Salads, Sauces and Dressings · Tagged: ginger, low acid, salad dressing, tahini

Leave a Comment & Rate this Recipe Cancel reply

If you love this recipe, please consider leaving a star rating and review when you post a comment. Star ratings help people discover my recipes online. Your support means a great deal to me.

Thank you!
Janet

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

About Me
Hi, Welcome! I'm Chef Janet and I create gluten-free recipes that everyone will love, gluten-free or not.

Set up a customized lesson with me to learn basic cooking techniques, gluten-free, menu planning and kitchen tips to make your life easier. Follow me on instagram to keep up with my latest and let me know how I can help.

Follow along on Instagram

Thanksgiving prep has started in my kitchen! Wheth Thanksgiving prep has started in my kitchen! Whether you need a gluten-free stuffing recipe, gravy or an easy side, I've got you covered. Need a delicious, decadent dessert? I've got that too. Link in my profile to my Thanksgiving recipes.
πŸ—πŸ₯§πŸ 
You'll find tips for perfect silky, smooth gravy, moist delicious stuffing, perfect pies, simple sided dishes and more.
🍠πŸ₯§πŸ—
#glutenfreethanksgiving #thanksgivingrecipes #thanksgivingdesserts #glutenfreestuffing #glutenfreegravy #losangeleschef #glutenfreeblog #glutenfreepiecrust #glutenfreedessert
Pie and cupcakes are my favorite desserts so I put Pie and cupcakes are my favorite desserts so I put them together in one. These gluten-free apple pie cupcakes make for an awesome autumn dessert. Link to the recipe in my profile.
🍎 πŸ₯§πŸ§
These cupcakes have a fluffy cinnamon spiced cake, traditional apple pie filling and an apple cinnamon buttercream frosting.
🍎πŸ₯§πŸ§
#glutenfreecupcakes #glutenfreedessert #glutenfreeapplepie #losangeleschef #cinnamonbuttercream #glutenfreelosangeles #holidaydessert #glutenfreeholidays #autumndesserts #applepiecupcakes
Nothing says holiday brunch more than cranberry or Nothing says holiday brunch more than cranberry orange muffins. Link to the recipe in my profile.
🎈🍊🎈
#cranberryorangemuffins #glutenfreemuffins #holidaybrunch #glutenfreebaking #losangeleschef #glutenfreechef #glutenfreeblog #cranberryorange
This Sweet Potato Frosting is the perfect holiday This Sweet Potato Frosting is the perfect holiday topping for cupcakes, cakes muffins and anything your heart desires. There's just four ingredients and no cane sugar. Link to the recipe in my profile.
 🍠 🧁🍠
Sweet potato puree, cream cheese, butter and maple syrup are all you need for this amazing frosting. Amazing on carrot cake, spice cake, vanilla cake and so much more.
🧁🍠🧁
#sweetpotatofrosting #cakefrosting #glutenfreeholiday #holidaydesserts #glutenfreeblog #losangeleschef #glutenfreelosangeles #sweetpotatodessert #sweetpotatorecipe #cupcakefrosting #glutenfreecupcakes
Do you like your gluten-free pumpkin bread slather Do you like your gluten-free pumpkin bread slathered in a rum icing or a straight up?? Get the recipe - link my profile.
πŸŽƒπŸŽƒπŸžπŸŽƒπŸŽƒ
This recipe is super easy and makes an incredibly moist and delicious pumpkin bread that is good enough for dessert, brunch or a little autumn snack.
πŸŽƒπŸŽƒπŸžπŸžπŸŽƒπŸŽƒ
#glutenfreepumpkinbread #pumpkinbread #glutenfreebrunch #glutenfreebaking #autumndesserts #glutenfreelosangeles #glutenfreechef #glutenfreeblog #pumpkindessert #fallbaking
I hope you didn't miss it last week! This gluten-f I hope you didn't miss it last week! This gluten-free lemon drizzle cake is too good! Link to the recipe in my profile.
πŸ‹πŸŽ‚πŸ‹
#lemondrizzlecake #glutenfreecake #lemonloaf #glutenfreeblog #glutenfreechef #loasangeleschef #glutenfreelosangeles #glutenfreelemoncake
This Gluten-Free Lemon Drizzle Cake is the cake of This Gluten-Free Lemon Drizzle Cake is the cake of my dreams. Link to the brand new recipe in my profile.
πŸ‹πŸŽ‚πŸ‹
The combination of lemon and butter in a sweet dessert is about as good as it gets, if you ask me. This cake is super moist and somewhere between a pound cake and a fluffy layer cake.
πŸ‹πŸŽ‚πŸ‹
#lemondrizzlecake #lemonloaf #glutenfreelemoncake #glutenfreecake #lemoncake #glutenfreelosangeles #glutenfreeblog #prettycakes #lemondesserts #glutenfreelemondrizzlecake
Add a shot of peanut butter whiskey to your peanut Add a shot of peanut butter whiskey to your peanut butter cookies and you'll be hooked like I am! Link to the recipe in my profile.
πŸ₯œπŸ§ˆπŸͺ
#peanutbutterwhiskey #boozydesserts #glutenfreecookies #whiskeycookies #boozycookies #glutenfreeblog #peanutbutterwhiskeydessert #losangeleschef #glutenfreelosangeles

Copyright © 2023 Chef Janet · Support by Foodie Digital · Privacy Policy · Accessibility Policy · Web Stories