Keep this lemon tahini dressing on hand in the fridge, and you'll eat more salad than you ever have before! It's creamy, nutty, bright, and delicious.
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Of all of the homemade salad dressings out there, this lemon tahini dressing might be the one I make most often. It’s really versatile – it tastes just as good with tomatoes and cucumbers in the summer as it does with roasted sweet potatoes, cauliflower, or broccoli in the fall. It consists of a short list of ingredients that I always keep on hand, and it’s super easy to stir together. No blender or food processor required!
Nowadays, most home cooks I know are familiar with tahini, but in case you haven’t heard of it, it’s a paste made from ground sesame seeds that originated in the Middle East. It’s what makes dips like hummus and baba ganoush so velvety and rich, and if you’re a fan of falafel, there’s a good chance you’ve drizzled nutty tahini sauce on top. In my kitchen, I use tahini in oatmeal, cookies, ice cream, and more, but I especially love it in this simple tahini dressing recipe. It’s creamy, rich, nutty, and bright. I like to keep it on hand at all times, and once you try it, I think you will, too.
Tahini Dressing Recipe Ingredients
Ready to make tahini salad dressing? You’ll need these simple ingredients:
- Tahini – It makes up the dressing’s creamy base. For the best results, use really smooth, runny tahini here, not the dry, stiff stuff that you might find at the bottom of a jar. Tahini’s consistency can also vary from brand to brand; my favorites are Soom, Cedar’s, Trader Joe’s, and Seed+Mill.
- Fresh lemon juice – It makes the dressing nice and bright.
- Sesame oil – It highlights the tahini’s rich, nutty flavor.
- Garlic – For sharp depth of flavor.
- Maple syrup – For balance! It tames the bright lemon juice and sharp garlic.
- Extra-virgin olive oil – It adds body and richness.
- And sea salt – To make all the flavors pop!
Find the complete recipe with measurements below.
Add the ingredients to a small bowl along with 3 tablespoons of water, and whisk to combine.
As the dressing starts to come together, the tahini will seize up, and the sauce will thicken. Don’t worry about it! It’s totally normal. Keep whisking, and you’ll have a smooth, creamy tahini salad dressing in no time.
If the dressing is still thicker than you’d like it to be, add more water, 1/2 tablespoon at a time, until it reaches your desired consistency. Season to taste with more lemon juice, salt, maple syrup, or sesame oil, and enjoy!
How to Use Lemon Tahini Dressing
Clearly, this lemon tahini dressing is fantastic on salads. I call for it in this Sweet Potato Salad recipe, but it’d also be great on this kale salad, this roasted cauliflower salad, this pomegranate salad, this beet salad, or this butternut squash salad. Not in the mood for salad? No problem. Here are a few more delicious ways to use this tahini dressing:
- Drizzle it over roasted veggies like Brussels sprouts, butternut squash, acorn squash, cauliflower, broccoli, tomatoes, or beets. I also love it with grilled eggplant, zucchini, and mixed grilled vegetables in the summertime.
- Spoon it over falafel or a chickpea shawarma wrap.
- Add it to a bowl. Try it in this Buddha bowl or this Sweet Potato Quinoa Bowl, or make your own bowl with your favorite veggies, a grain like farro, quinoa, or brown rice, and a protein like baked tofu, lentils, or roasted chickpeas.
How do you like to use lemon tahini dressing? Let me know in the comments!
More Favorite Dressings and Sauces
If you love this tahini dressing recipe, try one of these flavorful dressings next:
- Lemon Vinaigrette
- Homemade Italian Dressing
- Greek Salad Dressing
- Vegan Ranch
- Green Goddess Dressing
- Homemade Caesar Dressing
- Cilantro Lime Dressing
- Coleslaw Dressing
Tahini Dressing
Prep Time: 10 minutes mins
Serves 4 to 6
This tahini dressing is fantastic on almost any salad, but your options for using it don't end there! Drizzle it over roasted veggies, grain bowls, and more. Find additional suggestions in the post above.
Instructions
In a small bowl, whisk together the tahini, water, lemon juice, olive oil, maple syrup, sesame oil, garlic, and salt until smooth.
If the dressing is too thick, add more water, ½ tablespoon at a time, until it’s a drizzleable consistency.
Notes
*For the best results, use really smooth, runny tahini here, not the dry, stiff stuff that you might find at the bottom of a jar. Tahini's consistency can also vary from brand to brand; my favorites are Soom, Cedar’s, Trader Joe’s, and Seed+Mill.
FAQs
Tahini is made by grinding sesame seeds into a smooth paste. Sometimes the sesame seeds are hulled, sometimes they're left unhulled; sometimes roasted, sometimes raw. We like to use tahini to make dressings, soft serve, snack bites, stuffed dates, and SO many other dishes. The possibilities are endless!
How long does tahini dressing last in the fridge? ›
Leftover tahini dressing will keep in the fridge for up to 14 days. For best results, store in an airtight container such as a glass mason jar. After refrigeration, the dressing can become much thicker and separate so give it a good store before using again. Freezing this dressing isn't recommended.
Why does tahini thicken with lemon juice? ›
Much of its makeup is carbohydrates, and when a small amount of juice (or any water-containing liquid) is added to tahini, a portion of each carbohydrate molecule is drawn to the water. As a result, clumps of carbohydrates appear.
How to take bitterness out of tahini? ›
If your tahini is dry, or if you prefer a thinner sauce, add more water, as needed, to reach your desired consistency. Then, taste and adjust your seasonings. If you prefer a brighter sauce, add more lemon. If it is too bitter, stir in 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon maple syrup or honey.
What is lemon herb tahini sauce made of? ›
What is this? Made with tahini paste, lemon juice, pine nuts, garlic, fresh parsley, chives and dill. You'll love this dip if you're a fan of bold Mediterranean flavors! I love having homemade sauces or dips on hand that are infused with fresh herbs because they're an easy way to add flavor.
Is tahini good or bad for you? ›
Tahini is a tasty way to add powerful antioxidants and healthy fats to your diet, as well as several vitamins and minerals. It has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and its health benefits may include reducing risk factors for heart disease and protecting brain health.
Why is my tahini dressing so bitter? ›
Bitterness is generally part and parcel of tahini - it's how ground sesame seeds taste. What you will find, however, is that some tahini can taste more bitter than others. This is down to a few things; like how that particular tahini is processed, or the levels of something called oxalic acid in the hulls of the seeds.
Is tahini anti-inflammatory? ›
Tahini also has selenium. It acts as an antioxidant and helps lower inflammation in the body. Studies show sesamol, a natural chemical found in sesame seeds and sesame oil, has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-aging benefits.
Why should you not refrigerate tahini? ›
Refrigerated tahini is stiffer and harder to work with than room-temperature tahini, which is loose and pourable, and she believes that refrigerating tahini does not appreciably extend its shelf life.
What does tahini taste like? ›
Tahini has a very earthy flavor and is slightly bitter, but not overpowering. Although the spread resembles peanut butter and other nut butters, it does not have a similarly sweet flavor profile. The toasted sesame seed flavor shines through in this creamy, rich ingredient.
Because tahini is made purely from sesame seeds, which have a high oil content, even the highest quality brands will separate over time.
Why is my tahini so hard? ›
Tahini that hides in the fridge for too long (or stored in fridges that feel more like freezers) can turn chunky and hard. So hard you'll feel like you need a cement mixer to get things moving again. That's why, if you are storing your tahini in the fridge, make sure the temperature of your fridge is not too cold.
What does bad tahini smell like? ›
Like other nut and seed pastes, expired tahini has a musty, stale smell and tastes noticeably bitter and funky.
Why is my tahini dressing lumpy? ›
It is easier to make the sauce thinner than it is to thicken, so take care when adding water and lemon juice to begin with. Top make it thicker, add more tahini. It may also need a touch of water or lemon juice if the added tahini makes it lumpy.
What do you do with the oil on top of tahini? ›
Because tahini contains no extra ingredients or emulsifiers, it can—and usually will—separate into oil (on the top) and solids (at the bottom), just like an all-natural peanut butter. A quick stir or shake should be enough to return it to a cohesive pourable or spoonable state.
Should tahini dressing be refrigerated? ›
Do you need to refrigerate tahini? We recommend storing your tahini in a cool and dry area, away from heat and moisture. Ideally, a pantry a cabinet would be ideal. Like peanut butter, you can also store tahini in the refrigerator if you like it thicker.
How long does tahini last once opened? ›
Unopened Tahini: Unopened tahini can last for up to one year when stored in the fridge. However, it's essential to check the expiration date on the packaging. Opened Tahini: Once opened, tahini's shelf life decreases. It typically remains good for about 6-8 months in the refrigerator.
Can you eat tahini sauce by itself? ›
Tahini is basically sesame butter. Most high-quality brands contain just one ingredient: roasted sesame seeds. It's not as sweet as most nut butters and can be used like peanut butter (or eaten straight off a spoon).
Why is tahini expensive? ›
The primary contributor is the cost of fun sesame seeds, the key ingredient in tahini. The price of these sesame seeds is subject to fluctuations influenced by weather conditions, global demand, and geopolitical events in major sesame-producing regions.
What is the difference between Tajín and tahini? ›
Though its name sounds similar to the Middle Eastern condiment tahini, Tajín has little in common with the sesame paste, and in fact was named after an archeological site where its founder learned the Nahuatl word for chile, Aji.
The acid in the lemon juice causes a very runny tahini sauce to thicken up and become stiff and solid.
What is a good substitute for tahini dressing? ›
Almond Butter: Almond butter takes the lead as a top tahini alternative due to its similar texture, color, and flavor. While slightly sweeter and less bitter, a dash of extra salt can balance the sweetness, making it ideal for both savory and sweet dishes.
What is Mexican tahini made of? ›
What's commonly called "Tajín" is really Tajín Clásico, the first and most popular condiment made by Empresas Tajín in Jalisco, Mexico. Its ingredients are ground dried chile peppers (a blend of chiles de árbol, guajillo and pasilla), dehydrated lime, and sea salt.
