5 Minute Tahini Dressing

This creamy, easy-to-make tahini dressing is the new homemade sauce recipe you’ll love having in your back pocket! Bright and nutty, it’s the perfect addition to salads, grain bowls, roasted vegetables, or a simple protein. Gluten free, vegan option, Whole30 option.

The best homemade tahini dressing

While I have previously shared recipes that include tahini sauce as a component (like these Mediterranean Chicken Bowls, Roasted Veggie Protein Bowls with Turmeric Tahini, or this Kale Apple Pomegranate Salad), I have yet to share my go-to basic tahini dressing recipe – until now!

It deserves its own recipe post because it is genuinely one of the most versatile, easy-to-make sauces that suits all types of meals and elevates any simple flavor to the next level of DELICIOUS!

It is the perfect addition to innumerable types of salads as a healthy salad dressing, and it also works beautifully with roasted vegetables and grilled proteins, as a condiment for your favorite savory bowl recipe, or as a dipping sauce for fresh-cut vegetables and pita bread.

(& speaking of tahini in dip recipes – if this idea piques your interest, be sure to try our Roasted Red Pepper Tahini Dip!)

Recipe features

• Ready in just 5 minutes. A restaurant-quality sauce that is not only delicious but also ready in a totally manageable amount of time for any day of the week?! That’s always going to be a yes from me.
• Made with simple, wholesome ingredients. The basic ingredient list means this dressing is pantry/budget friendly and a nutrient-rich alternative to store-bought dressings.
• Bright and creamy. Perfectly balanced in flavor, the nutty creaminess of the tahini is offset by the bright acidity of lemon juice for a delightful sauce you’ll put on repeat to enjoy with all kinds of meals!

Ingredients and substitutions

You can find the full list of ingredients, along with measurements, in the recipe card below. These are my ingredient notes and recommendations for easy swaps and substitutions!

What is this tahini dressing made of?

Tahini

Tahini is made from ground toasted sesame seeds, sometimes called sesame butter. It has an earthy, slightly bitter flavor and a soft, creamy texture. Tahini is the base for the tahini dressing.

The thickness of tahini can vary considerably from brand to brand. My favorite brand (which I use in this recipe) is Tarazi. A local Mediterranean store in the Seattle area called Goodies sells it, but it is also available on Amazon.

Garlic

I prefer to grate the garlic using a microplane for a nice, unobtrusive texture, but it can also be finely minced.

To reduce the sharp bite of the garlic flavor, let it sit with the lemon juice and salt for a few minutes before whisking in the remaining dressing ingredients. Garlic can easily be omitted or reduced based on your preference!

Lemon juice

For a bright, citrusy flavor and to balance out the creaminess of the tahini.

Kosher salt

Salt helps soften the garlic flavor and should be used to taste before serving the dressing.

I use kosher salt almost exclusively, but you can also use sea salt. Just keep in mind that the sodium content of kosher salt compared to the sodium content of sea salt is different, so your best bet is to always salt to taste!

Olive oil

Olive oil adds a complex, slightly herbaceous flavor to the dressing and helps thin the tahini base.

Honey

Honey adds a lovely aromatic sweetness. Maple syrup can be used in its place as a vegan alternative or omitted entirely for a Whole30 option.

Water

You will use water to thin the dressing to your desired consistency. The exact amount of water you’ll need will depend on the thickness of your tahini. As mentioned in the section above about tahini, the thickness can vary quite a bit from brand to brand.
This recipe is forgiving enough to adjust as you go – using more water if needed or adding a bit of extra tahini if the dressing gets too thin.

Recipe variations

This recipe for lemon tahini dressing is delicious on its own and also offers the perfect starting point for some fun variations!

Some tasty additions could be:

• Fresh herbs – parsley, cilantro, dill, and chives would all be delightful.
• A spicy kick – whisk in a generous pinch of chili flakes or a dash of cayenne pepper for a bit of heat.
• Ginger – grated or finely minced.
• Your favorite spices – the sky’s the limit! Whisk in a bit of cumin, paprika, coriander, or whatever spices suit your meal to amp up the flavor even more.
• Toasted sesame seeds or substitute some of the olive oil with sesame oil – for a boost of sesame flavor!

How to make tahini dressing

This simple homemade dressing recipe is ready in just 5 minutes with a little measuring and whisking!

Step 1: Stir together garlic, lemon juice, and kosher salt.

Allow to sit for a minute or two to soften the bite of the garlic.

Step 2: Whisk in tahini, olive oil, honey, and water.

Step 3: Thin dressing with water and season to taste.

What to do if your dressing is too thick or too thin

Because tahini can vary so much in consistency, you’ll likely have to adjust the amount of water used to thin the dressing to suit the tahini you’re using.

The tahini I use by Tarazi is on the thinner side compared to most other brands of tahini I’ve tried. I prefer this, as it makes it easier to work with.

But there’s an easy fix both ways if your dressing is too thick or too thin. 

If your dressing is too thick: Add a little more water, 1 tablespoon at a time, whisking to combine between additions until desired consistency is reached.

If your dressing is too thin: Add a little more tahini, 1 tablespoon at a time, whisking to combine between additions until desired consistency is reached.

That’s it! Some of the most straightforward recipe troubleshooting you’ll probably ever do.

What to serve with tahini dressing

You can serve this versatile sauce with a large variety of dishes!

We love serving it with a simple green salad, with a heartier kale salad like this Apple Pomegranate Salad, as dressing for a cabbage slaw, or as a dressing for a tomato cucumber salad with thinly sliced red onion and fresh herbs.

It also pairs well with just about any roasted vegetable (hello, Roasted Sweet Potatoes!), Baked Chicken, Baked Salmon, or falafel. You could also use it as a spread for a sandwich or wrap, or serve it as a dip with fresh-cut veggies, crackers, and pita bread!

Is tahini dressing healthy?

Yes! This simple homemade dressing is nutrient dense and made with clean ingredients.

It is naturally gluten free, paleo, refined sugar free, dairy free, and can easily be made vegan and/or Whole30 compatible.

A condiment that you can feel good about serving to the whole family!

How long will it last in the fridge?

You can make this dressing in advance and should last in the refrigerator for 5-6 days.

It will thicken once it’s chilled. If desired, bring it to room temperature before serving or thin it with a little more water before using.

If you enjoyed this recipe, we’d love it if you would take 5 seconds to rate and review it below! It’s also super helpful for other readers if you share any modifications you made to the recipe. 

Thank you for sharing your kitchen with NK. We’re so grateful you’re here!

And be sure to check out the Dressings & Sauces category on Nyssa’s Kitchen for more sauce inspiration!

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