Oil Free Goma (Sesame) dressing

Perusing through the Asian section of Central Market, I came across Ikari Oil Free Sesame Dressing.  Kewpie brand Goma dressing is like gold.  The absolute BEST salad dressing in my humble opinion.  Also, any steamed vegetable like spinach is amazing with Goma powder on top.  (Usually a mixture of ground roast sesame seeds & sugar) In Japan many schools don't allow children to have sugary snacks or even fruit in their bentos (lunch boxes).  Many times this powder is used to entice youngsters to "eat their veggies". 

It's ridiculously hard to find oil free salad dressing in the super market.  Salad is so so healthy...and then, we pour dressing over it and add about 100-300 added empty calories to it.  At $3.99 a bottle and 12 calories a tablespoon, Ikari makes for a great back up when I don't have home made.  It's very tasty.  Like, really.  Like, I ate a whole head of Roman lettuce in one sitting because I loved it so much. 

Did I mention it's delicious? Okay, now that we have that out of the way, here's the con.  It's store bought in a bottle.  While it doesn't have oil, it does have some preservatives and other things that I really don't want to have all the time. So I set up Nicki's lab----ur, I mean Nicki's Kitchen to make my own version. Here's a recipe chronicling my first attempt.

• 2 tsp cornstarch
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 cup reduced sodium soy sauce
• 1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
• 1 garlic clove (diced)
• 1 onion (diced)
• 2 dates (Medjool pitted)**
• 3 baby carrots or, about 1/4 of a carrot (minced finely)*
• 4 Tbsp. roasted sesame seeds (divided)

1.  In a small sauce pan ad cornstarch, water, soy sauce, and rice wine vinegar.  Simmer until solution is clear and it's thickened a little
2. In a frying pan, dry or water saute onion and garlic until translucent
3. Place all ingredients, save one Tbsp of sesame seeds in a high powered blender or food processor to combine. 
4. Sprinkle 1 Tbsp. sesame seed in and shake for added texture if desired
   
   
   
   *If you have a high powered blender like a Vitamix, just put the baby carrots in whole or, roughly cut whole carrot in chunks.
   **If you don't have a high powered blender like a Vitamix, try 1 Tbsp of maple syrup and add more to taste.