How to Make Sesame Sauce (Goma Dare)

User Reviews

4.7

276 reviews
Excellent
  • Prep Time

    5 mins

  • Total Time

    5 mins

  • Servings

    2 (one

  • Calories

    284 kcal

  • Course

    Condiments

  • Cuisine

    Japanese

How to Make Sesame Sauce (Goma Dare)

This simple Japanese Sesame Sauce (Goma Dare) is creamy, flavorful, and savory. Use it as a dipping sauce for shabu shabu (Japanese hot pot) or try it with steamed vegetables, cold or hot tofu, green salad, and somen or udon noodles. The possibilities are limitless!

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Ingredients

Servings
  • 3 Tbsp Japanese sesame paste (neri goma) (if using a thick paste like my Homemade Sesame Paste or Wadaman brand; use 4 Tbsp for a thin and smooth paste like Kadoya brand or tahini)
  • 4 tsp sugar
  • 1 Tbsp soy sauce
  • 4 tsp rice vinegar (unseasoned)
  • 2 Tbsp dashi (Japanese soup stock) (I used a dashi packet; or use standard Awase Dashi, dashi powder, or Vegan Dashi; a strong, concentrated dashi makes a more flavorful and delicious sauce)
  • tsp Diamond Crystal kosher salt
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Instructions

Before You Start...

  1. If you‘re here for the old version of my Sesame Sauce recipe, please see the Notes at the end of the recipe card. However, I highly recommend that you try this revised recipe!
  2. Gather all the ingredients. Please note that one batch yields ½ cup (120 ml), roughly 2 servings as a dipping sauce for Shabu Shabu. If you also serve Ponzu dipping sauce alongside this sauce, then you may have enough for 4 servings.
  3. Mix your sesame paste really, really well before you measure it, as the oil tends to separate in the jar. Then, measure the sesame paste and add it to a small bowl. I used my Homemade Sesame Paste with a thick consistency, so I measured 3 Tbsp for one batch. Use 4 Tbsp if your paste is thinner. Tip: Use a silicone spatula to scrape it off the measuring spoon so you can measure it precisely.

To Make the Sauce

  1. Add 3 Tbsp Japanese sesame paste (neri goma) and 4 tsp sugar to a small bowl and mix well until it is completely dissolved.
  2. Then, add 1 Tbsp soy sauce and 4 tsp rice vinegar (unseasoned) and mix together. Did your sesame paste clump up? If your paste is different from mine, this may happen. Don‘t worry; we‘ll fix it in the next step. Tip: According to this article, sesame paste is full of carbohydrate molecules that are drawn to the liquid you add. This produces clumps and thickens the paste. The paste will continue to clump and thicken as you gradually stir in more liquid. Once you add enough liquid, though, the sauce eventually will thin out and become smooth.
  3. Gradually add 2 Tbsp dashi (Japanese soup stock) to the mixture, drizzling in a little bit at a time. Blend in the dashi completely before adding more. Tip: Why gradually? It‘s extremely hard to blend the thin liquid into the thick paste. It‘s easier to combine when you introduce the liquid slowly.
  4. Repeat, adding a bit of the dashi and stirring to combine before adding more. Once you‘ve blended in all the dashi, the consistency of the sauce should be smooth and liquid but still thick.
  5. Taste the sauce. Add ⅛ tsp Diamond Crystal kosher salt to taste and stir to combine. You also could add more soy sauce if you wish (this will make the sauce darker). Your Sesame Sauce is now ready to use.

When Using Thin Sesame Paste or Tahini...

  1. Here, I made the sesame sauce using Kadoya brand sesame paste to share how it differs from using homemade paste. You can see that the sauce is much lighter in color. This paste is also thinner, similar to tahini, so I used 4 Tbsp of sesame paste for one batch of this sesame sauce.

To Serve

  1. Use this homemade Sesame Sauce as a dipping sauce for Shabu Shabu. This rich and nutty sauce goes well with all kinds of food, including Steamed Vegetables, Cold Tofu or Hot Tofu, Homemade Udon Noodles, and Somen Noodles. If the sauce is too thick for a dish, you can dilute it with more dashi. Add more rice vinegar to make it a refreshing salad dressing!

To Store

  1. You can keep the sauce in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Notes

  • My old sesame sauce recipe (Serves 2):
  • Whisk together 2 Tbsp nerigoma (or tahini), 3 Tbsp sake, 1 Tbsp ponzu, 1 Tbsp miso, 1 tsp sugar, 1 tsp mirin, 1 tsp unseasoned rice vinegar, 1 clove garlic, 1/2 Tbsp neutral-flavored oil, and 1/2 Tbsp roasted sesame oil. 

Nutrition Information

Show Details
Calories 284kcal (14%) Carbohydrates 19g (6%) Protein 9g (18%) Fat 21g (32%) Saturated Fat 3g (15%) Polyunsaturated Fat 10g Monounsaturated Fat 8g Sodium 556mg (23%) Potassium 199mg (6%) Fiber 5g (20%) Sugar 8g (16%) Vitamin A 4IU (0%) Calcium 415mg (42%) Iron 6mg (33%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 2(one

Amount Per Serving

Calories 284 kcal

% Daily Value*

Calories 284kcal 14%
Carbohydrates 19g 6%
Protein 9g 18%
Fat 21g 32%
Saturated Fat 3g 15%
Polyunsaturated Fat 10g 59%
Monounsaturated Fat 8g 40%
Sodium 556mg 23%
Potassium 199mg 4%
Fiber 5g 20%
Sugar 8g 16%
Vitamin A 4IU 0%
Calcium 415mg 42%
Iron 6mg 33%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

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