Spice up those boring summer salads with this super easy Gochujang Salad Dressing! Think of it as a 1000 Island dressing - with a kick!
As anyone who eats a WFPBNO (whole food, plant-based, no oil) diet will tell you, finding oil-free salad dressings in the store can be challenging at best, if not impossible.
Sure, you can use salsa or a good balsamic vinegar, but nothing beats the taste of a good homemade dressing. And guys, this one is SUPER easy to make! You can whisk this up in a jar in less than a minute and it tastes SO GOOD, especially if you like Korean spices as much as I do.
These are the same spices I use to make my own homemade Kimchi, and I've even used them to spice up a homemade vegan Mac & Cheese.
I really like this one and I hope you do too. Enjoy!
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Why I Love the HECK Out Of This Gochujang Salad Dressing
100% Vegan, Oil-Free, and Gluten-Free: Like all of my recipes, this recipe is made without any animal products or bottled oils and can easily be made gluten-free as well.
Super EASY to make: Seriously, you add everything to a jar and whisk. Easy peasy 🤣.
No Cooking Involved: No stoves, no air fryers, no instant pots, not even a microwave. Just you and a salad bowl (and maybe a whisk).
It's New & Different: To SO many people, salad dressing means ranch, blue cheese, or some kind of vinaigrette. I guarantee they won't be expecting the bold taste of THIS dressing! And it's GOOD!
Notable Ingredients & Substitutions
Gochugaru
Gochugaru is Korean Chile Flakes (or powder). It has a similar heat level to that of a jalapeno (which is around 5000 SHUs for you chile heads). I buy the course flakes and can always find them at Whole Foods, our local Asian market, or of course Amazon. If you want to tame this recipe down a little heat-wise - simply leave these out.
Amazon Affiliate Link (note I do earn a little from every purchase but at no extra cost to you) - https://amzn.to/4eLTCH7
Gochujang
Gochujang is a sweet and spicy paste you can buy that has gochugaru as its main ingredient - along with fermented soybeans and rice. It's not as spicy as gochugaru (about the same as a poblano pepper.... or 750 SHU) and has a super smooth texture with lots of that savory umami we all love. You can find it at Whole Foods, your local Asian Market, or Amazon.
Amazon Affiliate Link (note I do earn a little from every purchase but at no extra cost to you) - https://amzn.to/4cHRcYj
SHU - Scoville Heat Units - a scale used to compare the spiciness of chile peppers
Soy Sauce
Have issues with gluten? No problem. Simply swap out the soy sauce for low-sodium tamari.
Plant-Based Yogurt
When I first went plant-based, was vegan yogurt even a thing? I remember that the vegan cheese back then was HORRIBLE so....
But thankfully now, we have a wide variety of vegan dairy products to choose from. Many of my fans even make their own yogurt using their instant pots! If you do buy store-bought yogurt, make sure it's plain and NOT vanilla-flavored. Kite Hill or Foragers are the brands I've used.
*See the recipe card at the bottom of the page for exact quantities and detailed cooking directions.
Making The Gochujang Salad Dressing
Step 1
Whisk all of the ingredients together until smooth.
Step 2
Store in a small jar in the fridge for up to 1 week.
Recipe Tip!
Be sure and try this on your next sandwich too as it also makes an excellent sandwich spread. Last night, I even poured some on my baked potato!
Related
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Gochujang Salad Dressing Recipe
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 2-3 servings 1x
- Category: Salads
- Cuisine: Asian
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Spice up those boring summer salads with this super easy Gochujang Salad Dressing! Think of it as a 1000 Island dressing - with a kick!
Ingredients
- ¼ cup plain plant-based yogurt
- 1 Tbs low-sodium soy sauce (or tamari)
- 1 Tbs gochujang chile paste
- 2 tsp rice vinegar
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds
- 1 tsp guchugaru chile flakes (optional)
- ½ tsp maple syrup
- pinch of salt & pepper
Instructions
- Whisk all of the ingredients together in a small bowl, measuring cup, or jar until smooth
Cassie
Do you think I could freeze extra if I’m not eating it fast enough to finish in a week?
Brenda Schnell
This is so good I couldn't wait to make a salad to use it on!
Janet MacDonald
What flavor gougujang? I see several kinds in the store and have never bought one because I don't know which to select.
Chuck Underwood
I've only seen one 'flavor'. Can you elaborate a little more?