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    Home » Recipe Index » Salads, Dressings and Bowls

    Sunshine Dressing

    Published: Jun 30, 2023 · Modified: Jul 15, 2023 by Jessica

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    This sunshine dressing is so fresh, bright and full of flavors. It combines tahini, orange juice, garlic and ginger and comes together within minutes. Perfect for green salads, roasted vegetables, buddha bowls and much more. 100% vegan and naturally gluten-free.

    There is a spoon adding more sunshine dressing over roasted vegetables on a plate.

    Bring more brightness into your day with this delicious sunshine dressing!

    It is super simple to make and very versatile.: all you have to do is whisk together some tahini, fresh garlic, fresh ginger, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, salt, turmeric and the secret ingredient... freshly squeezed orange juice!

    It pretty much is a tahini-orange-ginger dressing that is full of flavors yet super light at the same time.

    The combo of orange-tahini is absolutely amazing and such a healthy way to make a creamy sauce that's fully vegan and dairy-free.

    I have to say that I use orange juice to make dressings and sauces all the time: it adds a nice sweetness naturally and a zesty flavor that's not as powerful and tangy as compared to lemon juice.

    I actually already have a tahini orange dressing featured in this rainbow salad bowl and also this Asian orange sauce that's been on the blog since the start (and still very popular). But this time, I included ginger and turmeric for a boost of nutrient and a nice warm flavor.

    And the best part of this recipe is the endless ways you can use it! Green salads, buddha/grain bowls, warm roasted vegetables, baked potatoes and pasta salads: they can all be served with this sauce for a bright and flavorful meal. You can make it ahead and keep in the fridge until you need it.

    Let me know if you gave it a try! ❤️

    Bowl filled with a sunshine dressing.

    Highlights of this recipe

    • Quick and easy
    • Healthy and rich in nutrients, such as healthy fats and antioxidants
    • Mostly naturally sweetened with freshly squeezed orange juice
    • Versatile ways to serve it
    • Amazing for meal-prep
    • Easy to customize
    • Fits many diets, such as vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free

    Ingredients you'll need

    • Tahini: look for a tahini that only contains sesame seeds (with maybe a little salt, but no added oil). Also, this sauce is best when using a pourable tahini (if too thick, you will have to adjust consistency).
    • Orange juice: I highly recommend to squeeze the juice from an orange instead of using store-bought orange juice. The flavor will be so much better!
    • Apple cider vinegar: or use white balsamic vinegar or red wine vinegar. Lemon juice works too. Adjust the amount for a more or less tangy flavor.
    • Garlic: I included a small clove just to bring a subtly garlicky flavor. If you want a stronger taste , then add 2 cloves. The flavor also will intensify over time, just something to keep in mind.
    • Ginger: so good paired with the orange juice! Use freshly grated ginger and avoid powder, if possible.
    • Maple syrup: this sweetener works well in dressings, but agave or even a little granulated sugar should work too.
    • Turmeric: optional, but it adds a very mild earthy flavor and also boosts the nutrient and yellow color of the dressing.
    Showing are the ingredients needed to make this recipe.

    How to make a sunshine dressing

    This dressing literally takes minutes to make, no cooking no resting required. Perfect for meal-prep, but also easy to whip up last minute!

    Combine

    Simply add all the ingredients to a bowl and whisk until creamy and smooth.

    Adjust

    Then, taste and adjust flavor to your taste: if your oranges aren't that sweet, then add more maple syrup and if you prefer a more tangy vinaigrette, then add more vinegar.

    You can also adjust consistency to your preference, especially if your tahini is thicker, then you might need to add a little water to loosen up the texture.

    You can chill for later or use right away. Enjoy!

    Helpful tips

    • Tahini takes some time to fully dissolve in a liquid, meaning that it might look. clumpy for a while. So, just keep whisking until completely smooth and uniform.
    • The flavor will intensify over time, so feel-free to make it ahead or even the day before.
    • If you are looking for a super smooth dressing without any small pieces of garlic and ginger, then feel-free to blend the dressing instead. In that case, you will need a small blender for the small amount of sauce.
    In process picture: combine all ingredients in a bowl.
    In process picture: whisk to combine.

    Serving suggestions

    I love how versatile this dressing is. It makes for a perfect green salad creamy vinaigrette, but use it also to make:

    • Buddha bowls or grain bowls: goes great over warm rice with veggies and lettuce. Try pairing with this greek tofu bowl or drizzle over a tempeh noodle bowl.
    • Roasted vegetables: as seen in the pictures, I served over roasted zucchini and carrots, which was so delicious. It would also be amazing over roasted potato and broccoli, asparagus, cauliflower, etc.
    • Sandwiches: use as a spread for sandwiches or burgers too. Combine this sauce with whole wheat bread, roasted tofu, lettuce and pickled veggies (such as those balsamic marinated red onion).
    • Dipping sauce: use leftovers as a dipping sauce for sweet potato fries or regular French fries.
    • Bean salad: combine with cooked lentils or chickpeas and include crunchy celery, chopped carrots, diced red onion and finely chopped fresh herbs.
    • Marinade: use it to flavor some cube tofu over night and then bake in the oven until golden brown.
    • Noodles: try combining some soba noodles with fresh mint, cubed oranges, sliced cucumber and edamame. Then, toss the ingredients with some of this sunshine dressing for a super healthy plant-based lunch.
    Close up on a sunshine dressing in a bowl with a spoon.

    Variations

    You can tweak the recipe to your preference playing around with the amount of sweetener, vinegar and ginger/garlic to your taste.

    For a herby sauce, then feel-free to include a handful of fresh herbs, especially parsley, cilantro and dill.

    Sometimes I'll also add a pinch of nutritional yeast (+ swap the vinegar for lemon juice) to add more cheesy and umami flavors.

    Also, if you don't have an orange, then you can swap for grapefruit or even lemon juice, although you will need to adjust sweetness and I would omit the vinegar altogether.

    FAQ's

    How can I make this recipe lower in fat?

    You can swap the tahini for vegan plain yogurt if you prefer. This would keep the texture super creamy and the recipe will be lower in fat, if that's something you are looking for.

    Is this recipe gluten-free?

    Yes, this dressing is naturally GF.

    View on a plate with quinoa, arugula and roasted carrots and zucchini that are garnished with a sunshine dressing.

    Similar recipes to try

    • Vegan honey mustard dressing
    • Creamy cajun salad dressing
    • Creamy balsamic tahini dressing
    • Vegan Italian dressing
    • Almond butter dressing
    • Vegan avocado ranch dressing
    • Creamy pesto sauce
    • Basil balsamic vinaigrette

    I hope you like this sunshine dressing recipe as much as we do! If you try it, please leave a comment below and rate the recipe to let me know how it was. Your feedback is so helpful!

    Let's stay in touch with Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook. Also, don't forget to subscribe to my newsletter to be sure not to miss anything.

    📖 Recipe

    There is a spoon adding more sunshine dressing over roasted vegetables on a plate.

    Sunshine Dressing

    This sunshine dressing is so fresh, bright and full of flavors. It combines tahini, orange juice, garlic and ginger and comes together within minutes. Perfect for green salads, roasted vegetables, buddha bowls and much more. 100% vegan and naturally gluten-free.
    PRINT RECIPE PIN RECIPE
    Prep Time5 minutes mins
    Cook Time0 minutes mins
    Total Time5 minutes mins
    Servings 4
    Author Jessica Laroche

    Ingredients
      

    • ⅓ cup tahini - use a pourable tahini
    • ⅓ cup orange juice - I used freshly squeezed
    • 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
    • 1-2 tbsp maple syrup - or to taste
    • ¼ tsp fresh ginger - grated
    • 1 clove of garlic - crushed
    • pinch of turmeric - optional
    • salt - to taste

    Instructions
     

    • In a small bowl, add all the ingredients and whisk until completely smooth and uniform.
    • Serve over green salads, buddha bowls, roasted vegetables, sandwiches, etc. Enjoy!

    Video

    YouTube video

    Notes

    • Storage: keep in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Whisk well before serving.
    • Adjust flavor to your taste: add more sweetener if the orange juice is too zesty and add more ginger or garlic if needed.
    • This recipe is amazing for meal-prep and even, the flavors will intensify as it rests in the fridge, so I feel-free to make it ahead.
    • Nutrition: please note that the nutritional information is an estimate per serving provided for informational purposes only (calculated by software) and accuracy is not guaranteed. Consult with your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian if you need precise nutrition calculations for health reasons.

    NUTRITION

    Calories: 144kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Sodium: 8mg | Potassium: 153mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 55IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 38mg | Iron: 1mg
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    Pinterest picture showing vegetables topped with a creamy sauce with an overlay text saying: "Easy, quick, vegan Sunshine dressing".

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    Hi there! I’m Jessica, a pasta obsessed French Canadian now living in beautiful Maine. I’m a mom of two, experienced foodie and ninja meal planner. I believe everyone can make stress-free plant-based meals with wholesome ingredients that your family and friends will love. 

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