Southern Mom Loves: 10 Delicious Uses for Vinegar + a Creamy Ginger Sesame Dressing Recipe!

10 Delicious Uses for Vinegar + a Creamy Ginger Sesame Dressing Recipe!

Friday, January 19, 2018

This post was sponsored by NAKANO® Rice Vinegars as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.



As part of my New Year's Resolutions I've been looking for little ways to make the things I love healthier and lower in calories, but you know me, they still have to taste delicious. Vinegar is a great way to add flavor without fat and calories so I've got 10 delicious culinary uses for vinegar that you can try for yourself including my bomb Creamy Ginger Sesame Dressing recipe!


If you've ever eaten out at a Japanese restaurant and was offered a choice of either a bright and sweet ginger dressing or a creamy sesame dressing, which did you choose? What about both? :)


My absolute favorite is to mix the two dressings and the result is out of this world! I recreated this delicious mix in a dressing that is easy to make and will have you craving salads all year long.


NAKANO® Rice Vinegars are the perfect swap-in. They're available in 7 different clean-label varieties and 2 organic offerings, so there are lots of ways to splash on flavor without the fat. They're a savory, low-calorie alternative to high-fat dressings, marinades, oils or butter.

Check out their Swaps website for creative ways to replace high-fat ingredients and then grab a coupon here. You can find them nationwide in stores like Kroger, Publix, and Walmart.


I'll be using their Roasted Garlic variety for this recipe. It's so incredibly flavorful and has no fat and only about 20 calories per serving.

I'll also be using fresh ginger for the recipe. Tip: Scrape off the peel with the edge of a spoon and grate it using the smallest holes on your grater. If you don't want to go through the trouble, you can buy prepared ginger paste in a tube in the produce section.


Before I get to the recipe, I'd like to give you some other delicious tips and uses for vinegar in your kitchen. Vinegar is a flavor workhorse and if you're not taking advantage, you're missing out!

9 Delicious Culinary Uses for Vinegar

1. Liven up Soups, Stews, and Chilis - Have you ever made a dish that was just blah and you couldn't figure out what to add to make it taste better? Just a splash of vinegar in a bland dish will give it a depth of flavor you won't believe. Don't worry, it won’t make the dish tasty vinegary. :) Try a splash of vinegar in creamy soups to cut the richness. You can also add a splash to your favorite chili to round out the flavor of the spices.

2. Stir Fry and Asian Dishes - The basic stir fry sauce that is used in many Asian dishes uses rice vinegar. Vinegar is also used in sweet and sour sauce to give it that tangy flavor. If you’re making a quick stir fry at home, consider adding vinegar along with pineapple juice for a sweet and sour blend that isn’t loaded with refined sugar.

3. Splash on Fish - Vinegar has long been a great addition to fried fish but it’s also a great addition to many grilled or baked fishes, especially fatty fishes like salmon. The vinegar cuts through the oily taste of the salmon to give it a fresh, vibrant flavor. Add a splash of vinegar and lime to baked white fishes to give it a fresh and tropical flavor.

4. Liven up Deviled Eggs - Deviled eggs can be so bland, but my secret ingredient is a small splash of vinegar in the yolk mix. If you've ever had a really flavorful deviled egg, chances are their secret ingredient was either a splash of vinegar or another ingredient that contains vinegar, like mustard or pickles.

5. Sushi - If you love sushi, why not try making it at home? (Check out my post here for instructions.) Sushi rice requires a seasoned rice vinegar to add flavor and with the Nakano flavored rice vinegars you can add so much more flavor than before (can we say Mango sushi?! Drool.) You can also create a dipping sauce for your sushi using the same vinegar.

6. To create Delicious Sauces - There are so many great sauces that can be made using vinegar. Did you know that the main ingredient in hot sauce is vinegar? Vinegar is also used in ketchup, mustard, barbecue sauces, and more. You don’t need a lot of fat, calories, or sodium to make delicious sauces. Check out Pinterest for condiment recipes!

7. Pickling - Do you love pickles, peppers, and pickled veggies? Not only does vinegar add great flavor during the pickling process, but it also naturally preserves the food. You can quickly pickle foods like banana peppers or jalapenos without the canning process by heating vinegar to boiling in a pot and pouring it over your sliced peppers in a jar. Cap the jar and leave it to cool to room temperature, then pop in the refrigerator and use within a couple of weeks.

8. Meat and Seafood Marinades - Do you love to grill? Why not add some flavor to your meat with a vinegar marinade? Vinegar is an excellent ingredient because not only does it add flavor, but it can also help tenderize tough cuts of meat. A marinade is very easy to make using oil, vinegar, and spices. For example, you can mix olive oil, vinegar, and Italian seasonings for a healthy Italian marinade.

9. Sandwich Topping - Instead of topping your sandwich with a high-fat mayonnaise, why not use olive oil and vinegar? This is a great combination on almost any sandwich and will give you a ton of flavor without a lot of fat.

10. Healthy Homemade Dressings - Vinegar is also wonderful for making dressings. You can use it to create dressings for both sweet and savory salads and dishes. For example, consider mixing vinegar, honey, and citrus juices and pouring it over a fruit salad.

The below recipe would be delicious over a large iceberg and romaine salad, but also as a sauce for baked fish or a dip for dumplings or chicken tenders.


Creamy Ginger Sesame Salad Dressing



Ingredients:

  • 1/3 c. Nakano Roasted Garlic Seasoned Rice Vinegar
  • 1/3 c. extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 Tbsp. Tahini (sesame seed paste)
  • 2 Tbsp. ginger paste
  • 2 Tbsp. sesame oil
  • 2 Tbsp. honey
  • 4 tsp. low sodium soy sauce
  • 2 tsp. lemon juice



Directions:
In a medium bowl, whisk all ingredients together until thoroughly combined. Can be used immediately or poured into a dressing carafe or mason jar and refrigerated for up to a week.




ginger, sesame, salad, dressing, dip,
Condiments
Asian
Yield: 12
Author:

Creamy Ginger Sesame Salad Dressing

Creamy Ginger Sesame Salad Dressing

The below recipe would be delicious over a large iceberg and romaine salad, but also as a sauce for baked fish or a dip for dumplings or chicken tenders.

ingredients:

  • 1/3 c. Nakano Roasted Garlic Seasoned Rice Vinegar
  • 1/3 c. extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 Tbsp. Tahini (sesame seed paste)
  • 2 Tbsp. ginger paste
  • 2 Tbsp. sesame oil
  • 2 Tbsp. honey
  • 4 tsp. low sodium soy sauce
  • 2 tsp. lemon juice

instructions:

How to cook Creamy Ginger Sesame Salad Dressing

  1. In a medium bowl, whisk all ingredients together until thoroughly combined. Can be used immediately or poured into a dressing carafe or mason jar and refrigerated for up to a week.
Calories
106.26
Fat (grams)
10.07
Sat. Fat (grams)
1.37
Carbs (grams)
4.11
Fiber (grams)
0.20
Net carbs
3.91
Sugar (grams)
2.94
Protein (grams)
0.65
Sodium (milligrams)
55.72
Cholesterol (grams)
0.00
This nutritional info is automatically generated from a database and may not represent the actual nutritional information of the ingredients you use.
Created using The Recipes Generator


It's quick, easy, and amazing! I hope you enjoy it and find your own ways to swap in flavor while swapping out fat!



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Do you use vinegar in your cooking? What's your favorite vinegar swap? I love to read your comments!

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