FREE 5-Ingredient Recipe EBook

• My Ginger Dressing Recipe Beats A Japanese Steakhouse
• Ingredients & Substitutions
• My Tips For Texture & Easy Prep
• Ginger Dressing (Easy 5-Min Recipe) Recipe card
• Ways I Use This Ginger Salad Dressing
• Recipe Reviews

My Ginger Dressing Recipe Beats A Japanese Steakhouse

I’ll be the first to admit I’ve never had good luck with those sad green side salads at Japanese restaurants. The greens are always wilted, and that carrot ginger salad dressing usually lacks depth. But since I love a good hibachi dinner both at home and eating out, I set out to make my own version of ginger dressing that I can enjoy a lot more. And here’s why it worked so well:

• Smooth, creamy, and flavorful – Forget those pale, lifeless versions. My ginger salad dressing is sweet and tangy, with umami notes, a silky texture, and the kind of fiery bright orange color that makes eating more enjoyable. No matter what salad you put it on, it packs a punch!
• Clean ingredients – No seed oils, refined sugar, mystery preservatives, or gluten. Homemade dressings beat store-bought any day.
• Quick and easy – Just toss everything in a food processor and blitz. It takes minutes.

This Japanese ginger dressing recipe totally changed my mind about Japanese salads. I’ll show you my all-time favorite combo to drizzle it on below. Make it with me!

“Just like the boutique ginger dressing I pay $12 a bottle for!” –Joanna

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ingredients & Substitutions

Here I explain the best ingredients for my ginger salad dressing recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card .

• Shredded Carrots – The main ingredient! You’ll taste a lot of these in this dressing.
• Aromatics – Including garlic , shallots , and most importantly, grated ginger ! If you like a sharper bite, try finely diced red onions. You can substitute 3/4 teaspoon of ground ginger in place of fresh, but I found this tasted much less flavorful.
• Avocado Oil , Toasted Sesame Oil , & Water – These thin out the sesame ginger dressing and add flavor. You can use oils alone, but I thought the dressing was too heavy that way. You can swap in olive oil in place of avocado oil, though.
• White Miso Paste – Curbs the sharp flavor of fresh ginger, and adds umami depth. I had decent results substituting a tablespoon of coconut aminos (or soy sauce should work), but it wasn’t quite the same.
• Rice Vinegar & Lime Juice – I added these for flavor, tang, and to emulsify the dressing. You can swap in other vinegars or lemon juice if needed.
• Honey – I use Wholesome Yum Zero Sugar Honey for sweetness. Feel free to use regular.
• Sea Salt – I didn’t add black pepper because the ginger already added a bite, but you can.

My Tips For Texture & Easy Prep

• I always (always!) grate fresh carrots for this recipe. I tried the pre-shredded kind once and it was too dry, giving the dressing an off texture.
• Use a spoon to scrape off the papery ginger skin. I find this much easier than a knife or peeler.
• This is my favorite grater for grating ginger. I also have this larger grater that’s super sturdy, but my smaller one is best when I want a superfine consistency. I tried putting the ginger in the food processor without grating, and the texture wasn’t quite right. It might be fine if you use a blender (see next tip).

• Choose a food processor or high-power blender depending on the texture you like. My food processor makes this ginger dressing pretty smooth, but it still had some small chunks. I found that my high-power blender made it more silky, but took longer to process. I don’t recommend a regular blender, as they aren’t usually strong enough for these ingredients.
• Adjust sweetness to your taste. The ideal amount of honey can vary depending on your preference and how sweet your carrots are. Feel free to add more! If it’s too sweet, you can balance it with extra salt or lime juice.
• I don’t recommend scaling this ginger dressing recipe down too much. If the amounts are too small, your ingredients will end up below the food processor (or blender) blade, so they’ll never fully break down. I did use my mini food processor once for a half batch and that worked great.

Ingredients

Tap underlined ingredients to see the ones I use.

• 1 1/4 cups Shredded carrots ▢
• 1/4 cup Fresh ginger (grated) ▢
• 1/4 cup Avocado oil ▢
• 1/4 cup Water ▢
• 1 small Shallot (sliced or coarsely chopped) ▢
• 1 clove Garlic (peeled) ▢
• 2 tbsp White miso paste ▢
• 2 tbsp Rice wine vinegar ▢
• 1 tbsp Honey (I use Wholesome Yum Sugar Free Honey ) ▢
• 1 tbsp Lime juice ▢
• 1 tsp Toasted sesame oil ▢
• 1 tsp Sea salt (to taste) ▢

Instructions

Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.

1. Place all ingredients in a large food processor and process until smooth.
2. Store in an airtight jar in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. Shake well before using.

LAST STEP: Leave a rating to help other readers, or tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram. I’d love to hear from you!

Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size: 2 tablespoons

• Tips: Check out my recipe tips above to help you get the best texture in this ginger salad dressing, plus ways to make it easier.
• Storage: Keep the dressing in an airtight container (I prefer a jar) in the fridge for up to a week. Sometimes it separates, so I just shake before using.
• Freeze: I freeze it in these trays because the 2-tablespoon portions are perfect to use one at a time, plus they thaw faster than a big batch.
• Note on nutrition info: I used Wholesome Yum Sugar-Free Honey . Regular is fine, but the dressing will be higher in sugar.
• Total recipe yield: 2 cups

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .

Add Your NotesYour Notes

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead.

Japanese Ginger Salad Dressing

Ways I Use This Ginger Salad Dressing

This ginger dressing obviously works for greens (a perfect start to my hibachi steak dinner ), but I’ve also used it in other ways! You can use it as:

• Salad Dressing – My favorite simple salad to serve with this carrot ginger dressing is pictured above: mixed greens, cucumber, and sugar snap peas ! It would also be great over my ahi tuna salad or red cabbage salad .
• Marinade – This Japanese dressing can double as a marinade for my baked chicken breast or pork chops .
• Dip – Last time I made this, I used the leftovers to scoop fresh bell peppers, celery sticks, and hakurei turnips .

Free Printable: Low Carb & Keto Food List

• Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
• The Basic Keto Meal Formula
• Understanding Macros
• Keto Food Swaps
• Keto Food List
• Electrolyte Basics
• Keto Diet Types
• Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
• Recipe Reviews

Even though I have a great guide to starting a keto diet , people often ask me for a quick keto cheat sheet they can use. That’s why I created this simple keto diet cheat sheet , so that you can have all the info you need handy. We’ll cover the basic keto formula for building meals, foods to eat and to avoid, delicious keto swaps for high-carb foods, electrolyte basics, and 4 ways to follow the keto lifestyle.

You can keep reading to view this info, or download my keto cheat sheet printable pdf to print out or save ad-free on any device (plus the pdf has more details!).

Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?

Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:

1. Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
2. Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
3. Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
4. Keto food swaps (60+ foods) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
5. Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
6. Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
7. Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
8. Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
9. FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.

Get The Printable Keto Cheat Sheet System + EBooks (Only $37)

The Basic Keto Meal Formula

Eating keto doesn’t have to be complicated! While there are plenty of delicious easy keto recipes to choose from, you don’t even have to cook from a recipe to get started.

Simply follow the keto cheat sheet formula of protein + veggie + fat for your meals.

Be sure to choose a moderate amount of protein, only low carb vegetables (mostly ones that grow above ground), and generous fat to attain an optimal macro ratio. That’s approximately 60-75% of calories from fat, 20-25% protein, and 5-10% from carbohydrates. The table below will give you ideas for what to choose.

Understanding Macros

Macros are macronutrients for short. They include fat, protein, and carbohydrates.

You can calculate your own macros using the macro calculator , but the macro keto cheat sheet below will explain how to look at macros when following a keto lifestyle.

Carbs Are A Limit.

Keeping carbs low is what gets you into ketosis and keeps you there. Ketosis means that you’re using fat as your primary energy source instead of sugar, and requires keeping carbs very low.

A good starting point is 20-25 grams net carbs per day, but you can experiment after a few weeks to see if your body stays in ketosis at higher levels. People who are very active may be able to do more and stay in ketosis, up to around 50 grams per day.

“Carbs are a limit” means that you set a limit for how many carbs to eat per day and don’t exceed it. You don’t have to hit that limit, so if you’re under that’s okay, just don’t go over. Ideally most of your carbs would come from low carb vegetables, and if you’re eating enough veggies, you’ll usually get close to the limit naturally.

A common misconception is that reaching ketosis requires a certain macro ratio, but it’s really only restricting your carb intake that gets you there [ * ]. In the absence of sufficient carbs to use as energy, the body will switch to using fat as fuel. This is called the metabolic state of ketosis.

Protein Is A Goal.

Protein is made up of amino acids, the building blocks of all our cells. It’s a crucial for keeping our muscles strong and for many cellular functions [ * ].

“Protein is a goal” means that you always want to eat enough protein to reach the goal each day, but not exceed it too much. You want enough for your needs, but excess protein can trigger gluconeogenesis, which is protein being converted to sugar [ * ] and can kick you out of ketosis.

Fat Is A Lever.

Fat is the primary macronutrient in a keto lifestyle, because being in ketosis means that fat is your primary fuel source. Fat as a fuel source will come from your food, and if you are losing weight, from your body.

A big advantage of a keto lifestyle is the high fat intake. It keeps you full and satisfied, making it easier to stick to, and using it as the primary fuel source makes it easier on your body to burn body fat, with a lower chance of breaking down your muscle (provided you get enough protein).

Aside from reaching your protein goal and limiting your carbs, the remainder of your calories on a keto diet comes from fat.

Don’t fear fat – it’s your main energy source on keto, and getting enough of it trains your body to use fat for fuel instead of sugar. That means that as long as you are not overdoing your overall calorie intake, you’ll efficiently burn your body fat for fuel as well.

“Fat is a lever” means that you can increase or decrease your fat intake depending on your goals and hunger levels. Increase it (along with exercise) to gain muscle, or decrease it to lose weight.

Keto Food Swaps

One of my favorite challenges is creating recipes, or just discovering, keto food swaps. These are delicious keto replacements for traditionally high-carb or high-sugar foods.

So, I created this keto diet cheat sheet with all the swaps in one place! I also have more keto food swaps in my Easy Keto Cookbook .

Keto Swaps For Breakfast

Keto Swaps For Bread

Keto Swaps For Meals & Side Dishes

Keto Swaps For Snacks & Sauces

Keto Swaps For Cooking & Baking

Keto Swaps For Drinks

If you’re looking specifically for keto alcohol options, browse the full keto alcohol guide .

Keto Food List

When looking for a keto cheat sheet printable, the most-requested information is a keto food list.

The great thing is that keto doesn’t have to feel restrictive. It’s incredibly satisfying and there’s such a wide variety of foods you can eat!

Foods To Eat On Keto

• Leafy greens – Such as spinach, chard, and lettuce.
• Above-ground veggies – Such as peppers, zucchini, and cauliflower.
• Full-fat cream & cheese – Such as heavy cream, sour cream, and full-fat hard cheeses.
• Natural meats – Such as beef, lamb, and pork.
• Berries – Such as raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries.
• Avocados
• Unsweetened nut milks – Such as almond milk and coconut milk.
• Almond flour and coconut flour
• Eggs
• Healthy fats – Such as coconut oil, avocado oil, olive oil and butter.

Foods To Avoid On Keto

• White flour & sugar
• Rice & grains – Such as barley, wheat, and corn.
• Milk & yogurt – Such as fruit on the bottom yogurt, sweetened Greek yogurt, and all milk.
• Cereal
• Processed food – Such as granola bars, candy
• Most fruit – Such as apples, bananas, and grapes
• Hydrogenated fats – Such as vegetable oil, soybean oil, and margarine
• Sweetened beverages & condiments – Such as soda, ketchup, and sweet dressings
• Starchy veggies – Such as peas, carrots, and beets.
• Potatoes – Such as sweet potatoes and white potatoes.

That’s the short keto diet cheat sheet version of all the keto food categories, but I recommend downloading the full Keto Cheat Sheet System. It includes a super detailed printable keto food list with over 100 items, including 2 color-coded pages with net carb counts, along with 6 more pages of keto cheat sheets:

Get The Keto Cheat Sheet System PDF (Only $37)

Electrolyte Basics

Getting enough electrolytes is crucial for anyone, but especially so on a keto diet. The reason is that ketosis has a diuretic effect, which increases excretion of water and electrolytes, especially sodium [ * ]. This is often the cause of the keto flu.

For more details on electrolytes and avoiding keto flu, check out the full keto flu guide here .

The important thing to know about electrolytes is that replenishing them will keep keto flu away and keep your body functioning well. I always recommend an electrolyte drink and whole food sources of anything your body needs before resorting to supplements, so I made a list of what to eat to get each of the 3 major electrolytes – sodium, magnesium and potassium.

Here’s your keto diet cheat sheet for getting electrolytes from food:

Keto Diet Types

People follow a keto lifestyle for different reasons. Some do it just to lose weight, others are after better overall health, increased energy, and reduced inflammation.

Strictly speaking, the defining factor of a keto diet is the metabolic state of ketosis, which is achieved by restricting carbs. However, many people (myself included) also reduce or eliminate processed, inflammatory, or low-nutrient foods.

Below is your keto cheat sheet summary of the different ways that people follow keto. You choose what works best for your goals and lifestyle!

• Strict Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, count all calories and macros, and eat clean, unprocessed foods.
• Lazy Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, and track only net carbs OR eat keto foods without tracking.
• Dirty Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, with “if it fits your macros” approach including processed foods.
• Low Carb – Up to 50-100g net carbs daily, less strict.

For a more detailed listing of these different types of keto with pros and cons, grab the Easy Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF below!

Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?

Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:

1. Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
2. Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
3. Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
4. Keto food swaps (60+ swaps) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
5. Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
6. Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
7. Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
8. Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
9. FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.

Get The Printable Keto Cheat Sheet System (75 pages, Only $37!)

Ginger Dressing (Easy 5-Min Recipe)

My Japanese inspired carrot ginger dressing is a thick, tangy blend of carrots, ginger, oil, lime, and honey. Easy to make in 5 minutes!

Scan this QR code with your phone’s camera for the full recipe, including tips, step-by-step photos, and storage, or to save it to your account. You can also find it at: https://www.wholesomeyum.com/ginger-dressing/

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups Shredded carrots
• 1/4 cup Fresh ginger (grated)
• 1/4 cup Avocado oil
• 1/4 cup Water
• 1 small Shallot (sliced or coarsely chopped)
• 1 clove Garlic (peeled)
• 2 tbsp White miso paste
• 2 tbsp Rice wine vinegar
• 1 tbsp Honey (I use Wholesome Yum Sugar Free Honey )
• 1 tbsp Lime juice
• 1 tsp Toasted sesame oil
• 1 tsp Sea salt (to taste)

Instructions

1. Place all ingredients in a large food processor and process until smooth.
2. Store in an airtight jar in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. Shake well before using.

Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size: 2 tablespoons

• Tips: Check out my recipe tips above to help you get the best texture in this ginger salad dressing, plus ways to make it easier.
• Storage: Keep the dressing in an airtight container (I prefer a jar) in the fridge for up to a week. Sometimes it separates, so I just shake before using.
• Freeze: I freeze it in these trays because the 2-tablespoon portions are perfect to use one at a time, plus they thaw faster than a big batch.
• Note on nutrition info: I used Wholesome Yum Sugar-Free Honey . Regular is fine, but the dressing will be higher in sugar.
• Total recipe yield: 2 cups

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead. :)