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    Home » Recipes » Sauces and Garnish

    Trader Joe's Copycat Turmeric Dressing

    Posted: Nov 5, 2019 by Lori Last Updated: Jul 27, 2021 · This post contains affiliate links.

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    Turmeric Dressing pin for Pinterest

    This copycat version of Trader Joe's Almond Butter-Turmeric dressing is made with ground turmeric, fresh lemon, ginger and garlic, and it tastes fantastic on pretty much everything! A blender makes prep easy, but this turmeric salad dressing can also be whisked together by hand. Just 6 ingredients and 5 minutes to prepare.

    homemade dressing and a bottle of Trader Joe's Almond-Turmeric Dressing.

    Even though I shop at Trader Joe's weekly, I only recently learned about the phenomenon that is their almond-turmeric dressing.

    I would like to blame this on the fact that Trader Joe's is always so busy I never feel like I can take the time to peruse the aisles. But really, I know it's mostly my issue. I get anxious and have a tendency to rush when I'm in busy stores because I don't like feeling like I'm other people's way.

    And if you've ever been inside a Trader Joe's, you know you're almost ALWAYS in someone's way.

    As our town becomes more and more popular, our one Trader Joe's location gets busier and busier! I make it a point to shop at off times (shout out to the Sunday morning crew), but even still, a get-in-and-get-out mentality is pretty much required for that store. 

    This led to a bad habit of buying the same things over and over. But thanks to the Vegan Trader Joe's Facebook group, I'm clued in now! 

    Why You'll Love It

    The ingredient list for this particular Trader Joe's salad dressing is simple, so I knew creating a homemade version would be easy. But why create a homemade version? Well, there are a few good reasons...

    • Most people don't live near a Trader Joe's, and I think everyone should have a chance to try this deliciousness!
    • Trader Joe's is known for constantly rotating their products. Even though this line of refrigerated salad dressings is very popular, you never know when it might disappear. 
    • If your household uses a lot of this dressing (and believe me, it's easy to do), that also means going through a lot of plastic bottles. Enough said.
    • This homemade turmeric dressing tastes pretty much identical to the Trader Joe's version!
    homemade ginger-turmeric dressing in a glass jar.

    Tips

    • Use fresh ingredients. This isn't the time to use that dried up old knob of ginger that's been hanging out on the countertop for weeks. Trust me, I did that once.
    • Use a microplane to zest fresh ginger root before putting it in the blender. And if you're not using a blender to make the dressing, you can zest the clove of garlic with the microplane, too.
    • Measure accurately. With strong flavors like lemon, ginger, and turmeric, eyeballing it is risky. So go ahead and use your measuring spoons and cups for this one!
    • Once you've blended everything together, give it a taste. The salt, water, lemon, and turmeric can all be adjusted pretty easily at the end.
    overhead close up of ginger turmeric dressing.

    RELATED: don't miss this Avocado Green Goddess, also inspired by Trader Joe's salad dressing.

    If you're a fan of ginger and enjoy Asian-inspired sauces, I think you'll love this easy turmeric dressing! Even if you're not crazy about turmeric, you really have to give this dressing a try. The turmeric is masked surprisingly well by the bold and zesty flavors of lemon and ginger, while still lending its gorgeous color and health benefits.

    If you try this Trader Joe's copycat recipe I would love to hear from you! Be sure to leave a comment below along with a star rating.

    And if you find a delicious new pairing for this sauce, let us know that, too! (Last night we enjoyed it on roasted Brussels sprouts.) 

    It's also perfect with this Boy Choy Salad.

    More healthy sauces and dressings:

    Oil-Free Italian Vinaigrette
    Tahini Salad Dressing 5 Ways!
    Creamy Harissa Dressing
    Tahini Caesar Dressing
    Yogurt-Balsamic Dressing
    Sunbutter Sauce

    homemade dressing and a bottle of Trader Joe's Almond-Turmeric Dressing

    Ginger-Turmeric Dressing (Trader Joe's Copycat)

    Author: Lori Rasmussen, My Quiet Kitchen
    With fresh lemon, ginger and garlic, this healthy turmeric salad dressing is like liquid gold! Based on Trader Joe's Almond-Turmeric dressing (now discontinued), this copycat TJ's recipe is vegan and free from oil, gluten and refined sugar.
    Yield: makes about 1.25 cups or ten (2 Tbsp) servings
    Servings: 10 servings
    4.91 from 43 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe SaveSaved!
    Prep Time: 5 mins
    Cook Time: 0 mins
    Total Time: 5 mins

    Equipment

    • zester

    Ingredients 

    • ¼ cup raw almond butter, unsalted
    • ½ cup water
    • zest from half a lemon
    • 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
    • 1 tablespoon fresh ginger puree - *See Notes for tips on peeling and zesting
    • 1 clove garlic (for milder garlic flavor, sub ⅛ tsp garlic powder)
    • 2 teaspoons maple syrup
    • 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
    • ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
    • black pepper (about 8 to 10 turns of a pepper grinder)
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    Instructions
     

    Instructions if using a blender (recommended):

    • Combine all ingredients in a blender, and blend until smooth. Taste and adjust salt and lemon as desired. Can be used immediately or refrigerated for later use.

    To mix the dressing by hand:

    • Use a microplane to zest the lemon, ginger and garlic. Whisk all ingredients together in a bowl.

    Notes

    A microplane zester is handy for so many things, but especially in this recipe. You'll use it to zest the lemon and to create your own fresh ginger puree. If not using a blender to make the dressing, you can also use the microplane to break the garlic clove down into pureed form.
    Tip: the easiest way to peel ginger root is with a regular spoon. Just scrape it across the surface to remove the peel. Then your ginger root is ready to be grated/zested.
    Storage: store leftover dressing in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

    Estimated Nutrition (per serving)

    Calories: 45kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 1gFat: 3gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 115mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 2.5IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 24mg

    Nutrition information is an estimate and will vary depending on the exact amounts and specific products and ingredients used. We calculate this information using the online calculator cronometer.com.

    Did you try the recipe?I LOVE hearing from you! Comment below to let us know.
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    « Kalamata Olive Pasta With Cauliflower
    Bok Choy Salad With Ginger-Turmeric Dressing »

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Kristen

      November 29, 2021 at 11:48 am

      Hi there! I am excited to try this! how do you think tahini would work in place of almond butter? My stomach doesn’t do so well with almonds 🙁

      Thanks!

      Reply
      • Lori

        November 29, 2021 at 12:36 pm

        Hi Kristen,
        I love tahini in salad dressings! Yes, I think it will work well with these flavors. You might also like some of these: https://myquietkitchen.com/tahini-salad-dressing-five-ways/
        Hope you enjoy it!

        Reply
    2. Quizeen

      September 13, 2021 at 9:20 pm

      I was so sad when this dressing was discontinued at TJs. I just made your copycat version, and it's great! It totally tastes like the Trader Joe's version. I was even out of fresh ginger, and decided to forge ahead using powdered ginger (I really wanted this dressing), and it worked really well. I subbed 3/4 t powdered for 1 T fresh.

      Reply
    3. Ella

      May 22, 2021 at 8:35 pm

      So excited to find this recipe. TJ discontinued their dressing and I'm heart broken. Having a recipe like this makes it a little easier. Thank you!!

      Reply
    4. Mb

      April 22, 2021 at 12:29 pm

      Do you know if this freezes well? I'd like to make a double batch and freeze some to use later on. Also, can you clarify, is the turmeric used is "dried" or "fresh grated"?
      I'm a new plant-based/vegan foodie, I'm ramping up on new recipes. Appreciate you posting this recipe!

      Reply
      • Lori

        April 22, 2021 at 12:47 pm

        Hi Mb, I haven't tried freezing it but think it would probably be okay. And yes, the amount of turmeric listed is for dried. Hope you enjoy the dressing, and congrats on being a new vegan foodie! 😀

        Reply
        • Mb

          April 23, 2021 at 9:35 am

          Thank you for the quick reply on my questions. Could you use Fresh Grated Turmeric?

          Reply
          • Lori

            April 23, 2021 at 9:44 am

            You're very welcome! Yes, fresh turmeric should be fine, though I'm not sure of the amount since I haven't tried it myself. I would start small, taste, and add more as you go. Hope you enjoy!

            Reply
    5. Ashley

      March 15, 2021 at 8:41 pm

      I just heard this dressing was discontinued so I wanted to figure out how to make it myself- this was a total success! I used jarred garlic and ginger and it still came out great! Thank you so much for this recipe!!!

      Reply
    6. CC

      January 31, 2021 at 9:55 pm

      I can’t find this dressing at any of my local Trader Joe’s stores lately. Just made this and it’s amazing. Thank you!

      Reply
      • Lori

        February 03, 2021 at 6:49 am

        Woohoo! Mission accomplished. 😀 Happy to help!

        Reply
    7. Wendy

      July 27, 2020 at 1:45 pm

      I love this dressing from TJ and was thrilled to find your recipe! I have made the recipe as written and also with substitutions (crunchy peanut butter & curry) with great results. Thank you so much for posting this! I mainly use this as a dip for chicken taquitos. Yum

      Reply
      • Lori

        July 28, 2020 at 5:03 pm

        Ooooh, love the peanut butter and curry ideas, Wendy! Thanks for sharing.

        Reply
        • Eileen

          May 26, 2021 at 6:58 am

          Can you use regular butter instead of raw almond butter?

          Reply
          • Lori

            May 26, 2021 at 9:10 am

            Hi Eileen,
            By "regular butter" if you mean dairy butter, no that wouldn't go well with this recipe. But if you mean regular roasted almond butter instead of raw, yes that would be fine!

            Reply

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    Lori Rasmussen, Owner/Creator

    Hi, I'm Lori. Welcome to My Quiet Kitchen where I share easy vegan recipes with a healthier twist. Many are special diet-friendly or easily adapted. I also have a passion for veganizing classic desserts, and sometimes even those get a healthy-ish makeover.

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