Lemon Tahini Dressing is a bright, nutty, and balanced salad dressing recipe that's naturally creamy. Whisk this quick and easy sauce together in 5 minutes and store the remainder in the fridge for later.
Drizzle this tahini lemon dressing on top of falafel salad, falafel sandwich, air fryer falafel and so much more.
Tahini is a staple in Middle Eastern cuisine and a delicious one at that. In its pure form, tahini is ground sesame seeds that add a nutty, almost roasted aspect to many dishes.
And today it's the key ingredient that makes this dressing luscious and creamy - and super versatile. Use it to jazz up grilled chicken and vegetables, or as a sauce or spread on your favorite sandwich.
All it takes is 7 ingredients and a whisk to have a meal-prepped salad dressing ready for you any time you need it.
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Ingredients - Notes & Substitutions
This lemon tahini salad dressing recipe requires nothing more than a few pantry staples. We will need:
Tahini: Tahini is white sesame seed paste that comes in both raw and roasted varieties, and varies a lot in flavor and consistency. The best sesame seeds come from Ethiopia. My favorite brands are Soom Foods, Trader Joe's, and Seed+Mill.
Lemon Juice: freshly squeezed lemon juice, from about 1 lemon, will offer the best flavor.
Sweetener: honey adds a subtle sweetness that really balances the slight bitterness of tahini. Vegan substitute: opt for maple syrup to keep it vegan.
Salt: use either Kosher salt or pink Himalayan sea salt. Start with ¼ teaspoon and work your way up from there.
Black Pepper: freshly cracked black pepper adds a nice kick of spice.
Garlic: one small garlic clove adds a savory, aromatic flair.
Ice Cold Water: the key to getting the tahini dressing the right consistency is to use ice cold water, which helps the fat emulsify with the water. Start with ¼ cup and work your way up from there.
Scroll to the recipe card for a detailed list of ingredients and quantities.
How to Make Lemon Tahini Dressing
This lemon tahini dressing recipe is so easy to mix together. Here's how I like to do it:
In a small bowl combine tahini, lemon juice, honey, salt, pepper, grated garlic, and ice-cold water. Using a whisk, combine until the dressing is smooth and of drizzling consistency.
Add more water if needed to thin out the dressing to your liking.
Serving Suggestions
Creamy tahini lemon dressing can be served in a number of different ways. A few of my favorites include:
Salad: This dressing completes a falafel salad, but also goes great as a dressing for tomato cucumber avocado salad or this healthy pasta salad.
Sandwiches / Wraps: Drizzle in a falafel sandwich, or use it as a condiment for vegetable or chicken wraps.
Grains: Make a bowl with air-fried veggies, brown rice, quinoa or cauliflower rice, and your favorite plant-based protein, and drizzle this on top.
Vegetables: Drizzle it on top of grilled chicken or roasted vegetables like broccoli, carrot fries, or green beans.
How to Store
Leftover tahini dressing will keep for up to 1 week in an airtight container or mason jar with a tight-fitting lid.
The dressing will tighten up in the fridge. Leave it on the kitchen counter for 20-30 minutes to bring to room temperature and give it a good whisk before using.
Recipe Tips & Notes
- Tahini: Go for runny tahini and stir together gently before use if the oil has risen to the surface.
- Keep whisking: The tahini will naturally seize at first when you add the water. Keep whisking and it will smooth out to a creamy consistency.
- Water: The quantity of water will vary based on your desired consistency. Start with ¼ cup, then add an additional ½ Tablespoon of water at a time.
- Low Carb: Omit the honey or maple syrup to keep it low-carb and sugar-free, and add a pinch of your favorite low-carb sweetener instead.
- Storage: The dressing will thicken in the fridge. To combat this, remove the dressing 20-30 minutes prior to use and give it a good whisk before serving.
- Salad Dressing Tip: When dressing salad, always start with half the dressing. The dressing is enough when the salad looks lightly coated and doesn't drip to the bottom of the bowl.
Frequently Asked Questions
Lemon tahini dressing is made with tahini, lemon juice, honey or maple syrup, salt, black pepper, garlic, and ice cold water.
Lemon tahini dressing can be made vegan with the use of maple syrup as a sweetener.
Store-bought lemon tahini dressing can be purchased from online sellers and Instacart. But once you make this homemade version, you'll never buy bottled dressing again!
Lemon tahini dressing is nutty, tangy, bright, and balanced. A great addition to any salad recipe!
Tahini dressing can be drizzled on top of falafels, salads, wraps, sandwiches, grains such as brown rice and quinoa, and an array of roasted vegetables.
More Sauce & Dressing Recipes
These are all part of the Sauce & Condiment Recipes collection:
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📖 Recipe
Lemon Tahini Dressing
Ingredients
Lemon Tahini Dressing (makes ½ cup)
- ¼ cup tahini
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice 1 lemon
- 1-2 teaspoons honey or maple syrup add more if needed
- ¼ - ½ teaspoon kosher or Himalayan Salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- 1 small garlic clove grated on microplane (optional)
- ¼ cup ice cold water to thin the dressing add more if needed
Instructions
- In a small bowl combine tahini, lemon juice, honey, salt, pepper, grated garlic, and ice-cold water. Using a whisk, combine until the dressing is smooth and of drizzling consistency. Add more water if needed to thin out the dressing to your liking.
Notes
- Tahini: Go for runny tahini and stir together gently before use if the oil has risen to the surface.
- Keep whisking: The tahini will naturally seize at first when you add the water. Keep whisking and it will smooth out to a creamy consistency.
- Water: The quantity of water will vary based on your desired consistency. Start with ¼ cup, then add an additional ½ Tablespoon of water at a time.
- Low Carb: Omit the honey or maple syrup to keep it low-carb and sugar-free, and add a pinch of your favorite low-carb sweetener instead.
- Storage: The dressing will thicken in the fridge. To combat this, remove the dressing 20-30 minutes prior to use and give it a good shake before serving.
- Salad Dressing Tip: When dressing salad, always start with half the dressing. The dressing is enough when the salad looks lightly coated and doesn't drip to the bottom of the bowl.
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