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This Lemon Tahini Dressing is made in 5 minutes with just 3 simple ingredients. It’s the ultimate creamy sauce for just about anything. Gluten Free, Vegan, Oil Free.
Drizzle with this rich and nutty drink Tahini Dressing about anything that needs a flavor and creaminess boost. It’s the perfect pairing for fresh salads and nutritious bowls, and is the epitome of quick and easy homemade dressings.
Table of contents
- A versatile staple for meal prep
- What you need for the tahini dressing
- How to make tahini dressing
- serving suggestions
- How to store tahini dressing
- Substitutions and Variations
- Recipe FAQs
- Tahini Dressing Recipe
A versatile staple for meal prep
This easy tahini dressing has become a staple for me over the years. When I first developed it, I made it at least 2-3 times a week so I thought it was only right that I share this incredible dressing on the blog. It’s so darn easy and something you’ll always want on hand to drizzle over your favorite salad, roasted veggies, falafel burger patties, and more.
Long story short, you won’t have any trouble figuring out how to use up every last drop.
What you need for the tahini dressing
You only need three simple ingredients to make this amazing dressing.
- Tahini: When shopping for a new tahini, I highly recommend looking for a quality tahini that is runny, easily pourable, and has a mild nutty flavor. If your tahini is too thick and tastes bitter, it’s not a great dressing. I recommend Soom Foods and Pepperwood Organics brands. If you’re looking for tahini or sesame paste at the grocery store, you can usually find them on “ethnic food” shelves or nut butter aisles.
- lemon juice: Fresh lemons provide a bright acidity that balances the creamy tahini. I don’t recommend using bottled lemon juice – the taste isn’t the same.
- Salt: Every good dressing needs a pinch of salt. I use pink Himalayan salt, but you can use any sea salt you have on hand.
How to make tahini dressing
- whisk ​Tahini, lemon juice and salt together.
- Pour slowly Add 1/4 cup water to the bowl while stirring vigorously. Further add to add more water until desired consistency is reached.
- Add to additional spices and flavorings as desired.
- surcharge Serve immediately or store until ready to enjoy, if you prefer.
Caitlin’s cooking tips
- Use the highest quality tahini possible. Honestly, I don’t recommend tahini from a conventional grocery store. These tahini dressings are usually made with low-quality sesame seeds, which are often rancid or contain impurities that affect flavor and texture. In addition, the seeds are often roasted at too high a temperature or processed with chemicals, resulting in a bitter taste. A good tahini, on the other hand, is made from high-quality ground sesame seeds and is ground without heat to preserve its natural oils and flavor. When in doubt, make your own homemade tahini!
- Change the amount of water you add depending on the recipe. ​I almost never add the same amount of water to every recipe as I always use it for different recipes. For example, if you plan to use this creamy tahini dressing as a dip, consider using less water compared to a tahini salad dressing. Don’t be afraid to adapt to your needs.
serving suggestions
This creamy dressing is ideal as a salad dressing, as a dip or as a sauce that you can drizzle over grain bowls, Buddha bowls or a pasta salad. The possibilities really are endless, but here are a few of my favorite recipes from the blog to mix and match:
Drizzle tahini dressing over sheet za’atar chickpeas with sweet potatoes, millet tabbouleh, sweet potato and kale boats, or a warm lentil salad with roasted vegetables. Or use it as a dip for falafel, flatbread and fresh vegetables. Finally, spread it on a veggie burger like this delicious falafel burger made with Middle Eastern ingredients.
If you’re looking for more homemade salad dressings and sauces, you’ll also love this Easy Peanut Sauce, Creamy Sundried Tomato Dressing, and 3-Ingredient Hummus Salad Dressing!
How to store tahini dressing
Leftover tahini dressing will keep in the refrigerator for up to 14 days. For best results, store in an airtight container such as a B. a mason jar made of glass. After cooling, the dressing can become much thicker and loosen. So please keep it well before using it again.
Freezing this dressing is not recommended. Once creamy dressings are frozen, the fats can separate and make the thawed dressing grainy.
Substitutions and Variations
- Add sweetener: A little sweetness will help balance the acidity of the lemon juice and counteract the bitterness of the tahini. If you prefer a sweeter dressing, make a maple tahini dressing. Start with 1 teaspoon maple syrup or agave syrup and adjust to taste.
- Fresh herbs: ​If you want to add even more flavor, add finely chopped fresh parsley or dill.
- Dried Spices: When you run out of fresh herbs, dried spices are the next best remedy. Try a touch of garlic powder, cumin and/or red pepper flakes for a spicy kick.
- Make a single serving: ​Use 1 1/2-2 tablespoons tahini, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, and a pinch of salt and water to dilute.
Recipe FAQs
Although both are creamy and commonly used as condiments, they have very different flavors and textures. Tahini is rich, nutty, and can taste slightly bitter. Mayonnaise is very smooth, light and creamy. If you’re interested in a mayonnaise recipe, try my Healthy Mayo Recipe.
Most high-quality brands of tahini don’t need to be refrigerated after opening. However, storing tahini in the fridge can be helpful if you live in a humid climate or don’t think you’ll be using it within a few weeks. Refrigeration also extends the shelf life of tahini and preserves the flavor.
Enjoy! If you make this recipe and want to share it on Facebook or Instagram, don’t forget to tag me @FromMyBowl + #FromMyBowl! I would also appreciate if you could leave a comment below with a recipe rating! Thank you for the support 😊
For the tahini sauce:
- 1/2 Cup high-quality tahini*
- 3 tablespoon lemon juice about 1-2 lemons
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 Cup water, shared; plus more to taste
Optional Add-Ins: (Choose your adventure!)
- 1 clove fresh garlic chopped
- 1-2 teaspoon maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked or regular paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1-2 tablespoon chopped fresh herbs like dill or parsley
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Preparation (optional): If using fresh garlic, mix with the lemon juice and let sit for 5 minutes for a milder flavor.
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Tahina Paste: In a medium bowl, combine tahini, lemon juice, salt and all other ingredients. Whisk together; The tahini will be very thick and lighter in color.
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Thinning: Slowly pour 1/4 cup (60mL) of water into the bowl and stir into the mixture. Slowly add the remaining water to the bowl while vigorously tossing the dressing. If you want your dressing to be thinner, slowly add water and mix until dressing reaches desired consistency.
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Serving and storing: Enjoy immediately or store in the refrigerator for up to a week. The dressing will thicken in the fridge but can be thinned with a little water if needed.
- Tahini: I find most brand name tahini to be very thick and bitter; Good tahini should be smooth and runny! My favorite is Soom Foods tahini. If your tahini is a bit thick, you may need to add more water to thin the dressing.
Calories: 752kcalCarbohydrates: 36GProtein: 22GFat: 64GSaturated Fatty Acids: 9GPolyunsaturated fat: 28GMonounsaturated fatty acids: 24GSodium: 1215mgPotassium: 679mgFiber: 6GSugar: 6GVitamin A: 828IUVitamin C: 24mgCalcium: 202mgIron: 6mg