Miso Dressing

👩🏼‍🌾 Ingredients & Health Benefits

Below are some notes about the ingredients from me as an expert in nutrition.

Miso, garlic, rice vinegar, date syrup, ginger, and an orange on a white background.

Miso is a traditional Japanese fermented soybean paste made by aging soybeans with salt and a koji culture (often with rice or barley), resulting in a savory, umami-rich ingredient used in soups, dressings, marinades, and sauces. Miso offers several health benefits—it’s rich in probiotics, supports gut health and digestion, and provides essential minerals, antioxidants, and compounds that may reduce inflammation and strengthen the immune system.

Fresh orange juice brings natural sweetness and tang while supplying vitamin C.

Date syrup is rich in antioxidants, fiber, and essential minerals like potassium and magnesium, supporting digestion, and sustained energy while offering a natural, unrefined sweetness. Several studies have shown that consuming dates does not significantly raise blood glucose levels.

Ginger is rich in bioactive compounds like gingerol, which has powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Garlic enhances iron absorption by increasing stomach acid production and providing sulfur compounds that help convert iron into a more bioavailable form, making it easier for the body to absorb from plant-based sources.

See the printable recipe card below for quantities.

🧄 Substitutions

Garlic - substitute with ½ teaspoon garlic powder as needed

Ginger - use ¼ teaspoon ginger powder instead, or to taste

Orange juice - substitute with fresh lemon or lime juice to taste

Date syrup - use maple syrup, agave, or sweetener of choice

For more dressing recipes, visit my Healthy Dressings page.

📖 How to Make Miso Dressing

This is an overview. The full instructions are in the recipe card below.

Miso, orange juice, rice vinegar, garlic, ginger, and date syrup in a glass bowl.

Combine: Squeeze the juice from two oranges for the freshest flavor. Add the mellow miso, rice vinegar, date syrup, minced ginger and garlic. Dates may help lower blood glucose, reduce cholesterol, and support a healthy gut microbiome, but maple syrup works just as well if preferred. Add the sweetener to taste.

Orange miso dressing in a glass bowl with a whisk.

Whisk: Whisk thoroughly to ensure the miso dissolves completely—no one wants to bite into a chunk of miso!

✔️ Expert Tips

Fresh Orange Juice: To squeeze an orange by hand, roll it on the counter to loosen the juice. Cut the orange into eight slices instead of just two halves. It is much easier to squeeze the smaller pieces and they will yield more juice than a large piece.

Balance the Flavors: Taste and adjust sweetness, acidity, or saltiness by tweaking the date syrup, vinegar, or miso.

Customize the Heat: Add crushed red pepper for a kick or keep it mild based on your preference.

Storage: Refrigerate in an airtight container for 4 to 5 days.

🛒 Shop Recipe Cookware and Ingredients