Try this deep-roasted sesame dressing with caramelized onions and rich Kewpie mayonnaise. This homemade dressing is our version of Kewpie’s popular sesame dressing, which is developed to have its nutty and savory ingredients but without any thickeners or fillers. Learn the secret behind the exact balance of sweet and umami flavors in the recipe below.
What is roasted sesame dressing?
Not to be confused with traditional goma-dare that uses sesame paste (nerigoma), mirin, and other seasonings to create a light and savory sauce, roasted sesame dressing is its sweeter and richer cousin. This deep-roasted sesame dressing was created in 2000 by Kewpie and is now one of the most popular dressings in Japan.
Both goma and roasted sesame dressing are toppings used in similar recipes like a basic Asian salad dressing or on vegetables like broccolini. What differentiates deep-roasted sesame dressing from traditional goma-dare (or just simply named goma) is the sweeter, caramelized flavor and rich texture from the addition of Kewpie mayonnaise.
While you can find Kewpie deep-roasted sesame dressing at various stores like Costco or your local Asian grocery store, we wanted to make our own natural version to customize the flavor and ingredients.
Ingredients in this sesame dressing vs Kewpie’s
We reverse-engineered the original Kewpie roasted sesame dressing by buying a bottle from the store, analyzing the ingredient list, and comparing our tests to the original dressing. Kewpie’s recipe includes canola oil, water, soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame seeds, vinegar, salt, yeast extract, egg yolk, xanthan gum, and natural flavors.
We tested a dozen varieties and came up with a roasted sesame dressing that includes:
- Caramelized onions are one of the primary flavors for this roasted sesame dressing and add a complex and deep flavor. It’s definitely worth making caramelized onions for this dressing and it pairs well with the roasted sesame seeds. You can also premake the onions a day ahead and keep it in the fridge until you want to make the dressing.
- Crushed roasted sesame seeds and roasted sesame oil are the secondary flavors in this dressing. Both add a nutty richness to the sauce. You’ll want to use roasted sesame seeds for deeper flavor.
- Dark brown sugar adds sweetness to the dressing which balances out the salt and vinegar.
- Warm water loosens the consistency because the caramelized onions thicken the texture. We add the water directly to the dark brown sugar first to help dissolve the sugar before mixing it with the rest of the ingredients.
- Kewpie mayonnaise is a necessary ingredient that adds creaminess to the consistency, but be careful how much you use, since it easily overpowers the flavor.
- Soy sauce gives a nice savory and salty flavor.
- Rice vinegar adds a nice acidity to balance the other ingredients’ richness and sweetness.
- Red miso gives a complex flavor umami to the dressing.
- Garlic powder adds another layer of aromatics.
What to serve with roasted sesame dressing
While we love roasted sesame dressing on fresh greens, you can pair this savory sauce with roasted veggies, tender roasted meat, or tofu. Here are some of our favorite ways to use roasted sesame dressing:
- veggie kabobs (grilled vegetable skewers)
- Asian turkey lettuce wraps
- crispy fried tofu or crispy air fryer tofu
- crispy smashed potatoes (easy & garlicky!)
- chicken karaage (Japanese fried chicken)
How long does it stay fresh in the fridge?
This homemade roasted sesame dressing can stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 3 days in an airtight container. When you want to use the dressing, remove it from the refrigerator, let it sit on the counter for about 10 minutes, and stir with a spoon to loosen up the dressing.
More recipe ideas
This rich, roasted, umami dressing would go great with: chicken karaage, air fryer chicken, salmon, steak bites, or just a simple salad.
For more salad ideas, see our Asian sesame salad dressing recipe, Japanese ginger salad dressing, Asian coleslaw, or Vietnamese green papaya salad.
Roasted Sesame Dressing (Kewpie inspired)
Ingredients
Caramelized onions
- 1 medium yellow onion sliced thinly
- ⅛ tsp kosher salt
- water as needed
Equipment Used
- pan
- spatula
- knife and cutting board
- measuring cups and spoons
- food processor (or blender)
- small bowl or small sauce pot
- Spoon
- microwave optional
Instructions
Caramelized onions
- In a pan over medium heat, add the sliced 1 medium yellow onion and slowly cook until caramelized. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking, and add one tablespoon of water when you find onions sticking to help deglaze.
- When the onions are golden brown, add the ⅛ tsp kosher salt and stir.
- Mix until the onions are dark brown but not burnt. You should end up with about ¼ cup of caramelized onions. This can take up to 45 minutes-1 hour.
Dressing
- In a small bowl, combine the 1 tbsp dark brown sugar and 1 tbsp water. Stir together. Place in the microwave for 10 seconds or until the sugar is completely dissolved.
- To make the crushed sesame seeds, add the roasted sesame seeds into a food processor and blend until they turn into fine powder, but not paste.
- In a food processor, add the caramelized onions from above, sugar water from above, 2 tbsp Kewpie Mayonnaise, 1 ½ tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp crushed roasted sesame seeds, 1 tbsp rice vinegar, ¼ tsp red miso, and ⅛ tsp garlic powder. Process until the onions are completely blended.
- Stir in the ⅛ tsp roasted sesame oil and taste test. Adjust ingredients if you prefer.
- Serve with your favorite bed of greens.
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