Tahini Dressing

Yumna Jawad

5 from 4 votes

This homemade Tahini Dressing is so creamy and made with just a handful of ingredients. It's a delicious addition to salads, bowls, and wraps!

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Ever find yourself stuck in a salad rut? That’s where this tahini dressing comes into play. Made with tahini (of course), lemon juice, a touch of garlic, and a few simple seasonings, this tahini salad dressing will make you wonder why you don’t mix things up more often.

Spoon lifting up tahini dressing from a small glass jar with dressing drizzling back into it.
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Table of Contents

I love this tahnin dressing for many, many reasons for example, it’s totally tweakable. Too thick? Add water. Craving more zing? Squeeze in extra lemon. Love garlic.. you get that point! So, next time you’re looking for a little kitchen inspiration, give this tahini dressing a whirl. It’s straightforward, delicious, and just what you need to break free from the mundane.

Recipe At a Glance

Cuisine Inspiration: Middle Eastern
Primary Cooking Method: No-cook
Dietary Info: Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free
Key Flavor: Nutty and bright
Skill Level: Beginner

Summary

  • Skip the additives: With homemade tahini dressing, you can avoid the additives, preservatives, and thickeners commonly found in store-bought dressings.
  • Minimal ingredients: It’s impressive how just a handful of tahini dressing ingredients can come together to create a flavorful and versatile dressing to elevate any dish with creamy texture and bold flavors.
  • Super flavorful: This easy tahini dressing strikes the perfect balance between the bright citrus pop of fresh lemon juice and the rich, nutty undertones of tahini.
  • Versatile dip or dressing: This easy tahini dressing serves double duty as a delicious dip or a flavorful dressing. Whether you’re looking to take your salads to the next level, add a creamy touch to veggies, or enhance the flavor of wraps and sandwiches, this tahini dressing does it all!

Ingredients to Make Tahini Dressing

Ingredients for recipe in individual containers: oil, water, tahini, salt and pepper, lemon, garlic.
  • Tahini: Tahini paste is made from ground sesame seeds and serves as the base for the dressing, providing a rich, nutty, creamy texture. Check the ingredient label to avoid any additives, thickeners, or sweeteners and look for tahini that just contains whole sesame seeds.
  • Lemon: Fresh lemon juice adds acidity and brightness to the dressing and helps balance out the richness of the tahini.
  • Garlic: Minced garlic adds a savory flavor to the dressing and enhances the overall taste.
  • Olive oil: Extra-virgin olive oil brings a subtle fruity flavor and helps to emulsify the ingredients, creating a super creamy texture.
  • Water: Used to thin out the dressing and create a pourable consistency. Feel free to adjust the amount based on your desired texture.
  • Salt and black pepper: Salt enhances the flavors of other ingredients while the pepper adds a touch of heat. Both are important to complement all the other flavors and round out the overall taste.
  • Try another ingredient for acidity. Sub lemon juice with lime juice, apple cider vinegar, or white wine vinegar for a tangy alternative.
  • Add fresh herbs. Stir in finely chopped fresh herbs such as parsley, cilantro, dill, or basil for added freshness, flavor, and a pop of color.
  • Swap sesame oil for olive oil. To give an extra layer of sesame nuttiness, drizzle in sesame oil instead of extra-virgin olive oil.
  • Spice it up. Experiment and add in your favorite seasonings like Za’atar seasoning, 7-spice, or even ranch seasoning for a hint of familiar flavor.
  • Add a touch of sweetness. A healthy sweetener like maple syrup or honey adds complexity and balances out the savory flavors of the dressing. Just drizzle a little bit to avoid overwhelming the other ingredients.

How to Make Tahini Dressing

  1. In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the tahini, lemon juice, and garlic until well combined.
  2. Gradually add water to the mixture, whisking continuously until you reach your desired dressing consistency.
  3. Add olive oil, salt, and pepper to the tahini mixture.
  4. Whisk until the ingredients are evenly distributed.
4 image collage making recipe: 1- tahini, lemon juice, and garlic in a bowl, 2- whisking together while adding water, 3- seasoning and oil added before mixing, 4- after mixing.

Tips for Making Healthy Tahini Dressing

  1. Mince garlic finely. For the best tasting and smoothest consistency, mince the garlic finely to avoid large chunks.
  2. Gradually add water. Start low and increase as needed, whisking continuously, to help prevent the tahini from seizing up and ensure a smooth dressing.
  3. Adjust consistency easily. This dressing is excellent to adjust depending on your needs. Use less water if you want a thicker texture to serve as a delicious dip for veggies, falafel, or pita bread.
  4. Make ahead. For the best tahini dressing, prepare it in advance and let it sit for a few hours in the refrigerator to allow the flavors to meld together for an even better taste.
Tahini dressing being poured onto a big bowl of tahini pasta salad with tomatoes, cucumbers, bell pepper, chickpeas, and olives.

What to Serve With this Easy Tahini Dressing

How to Store Tahini Dressing

Store leftover tahini dressing in an airtight container like a mason jar in the refrigerator. When chilled, the dressing will become thick and may separate, so be sure to give it a good stir before using it again.

How Long Will Tahini Dressing Last in the Fridge?

When stored properly, tahini dressing will last in the fridge for up to 1 week.

Can I Freeze Tahini Dressing?

Although you can technically freeze tahini dressing, I don’t recommend it because the ingredients may separate and loose it’s smooth texture upon thawing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make a large batch of this tahini dressing for a party?

Absolutely! You can easily scale this recipe according to the number of servings you need. Just don’t be tempted to rush through the emulsification of water – it’s still important to go low and slow and whisk constantly. Mix the ingredients well and adjust the seasoning to taste.

What can I use instead of fresh garlic?

Fresh garlic is best, but if you’re in a pinch, feel free to use frozen garlic or even garlic powder. You would use ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder to replace one garlic clove. For a more robust flavor, use a clove of roasted garlic.

Can I substitute tahini with another nut or seed butter?

While tahini dressing is traditionally made with tahini for its distinct flavor and texture, you can experiment with substituting it with other nut or seed butters such as almond butter or sunflower seed butter for a different flavor profile. Remember, the taste will not be close to tahini dressing though.

Homemade tahini dressing in a small jar with fresh lemon, garlic cloves, and oil around.

With its simplicity, versatility, and rich taste, this healthy tahini dressing is a kitchen workhorse, effortlessly flavoring salads, vegetables, wraps, and more! This simple dressing offers a delicious blend of flavors and textures, making every dish it touches even more satisfying and enjoyable.

More Dressing and Sauce Recipes:

If you try this feel good Tahini Dressing recipe or any other recipe on Feel Good Foodie, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave a comment below! It helps others who are thinking of making the recipe. We would love to hear about your experience making it. And if you snapped some shots, share it on Instagram so we can repost on Stories!

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Tahini dressing in a jar.
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Review

Tahini Dressing

This homemade Tahini Dressing is so creamy and made with just a handful of ingredients. It's a delicious addition to salads, bowls, and wraps!
5 from 4 votes
Author Yumna Jawad
Servings 8 servings
Course Sauces
Calories 62
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 0 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes

Ingredients
  

Instructions

  • In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the tahini, lemon juice and garlic until well combined.
  • Gradually add water to the mixture, whisking continuously, until you reach your desired dressing consistency.
  • Stir in the olive oil, salt and pepper, and continue to whisk until the ingredients are evenly distributed. It will make about ⅔ cup of dressing.

Equipment

Notes

Storage: Store tahini dressing in an airtight container like a mason jar in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. When chilled, the dressing will become thick and may separate, so just give it a good stir before using.
Tips: 
Mince garlic finely. For the best tasting and smoothest consistency, mince the garlic finely to avoid large chunks.
Gradually add water. Start low and increase as needed, whisking continuously, to help prevent the tahini from seizing up and ensure a smooth dressing.
Adjust consistency easily. This dressing is excellent to adjust depending on your needs. Use less water if you want a thicker texture to serve as a delicious dip for veggies, falafel, or pita bread.
Make ahead. For the best tahini dressing, prepare it in advance and let it sit for a few hours in the refrigerator to allow the flavors to meld together for even better taste. 

Nutrition

Serving: 2tablespoons, Calories: 62kcal, Carbohydrates: 2g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 6g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Sodium: 76mg, Potassium: 43mg, Fiber: 0.4g, Sugar: 0.1g, Vitamin A: 6IU, Vitamin C: 3mg, Calcium: 12mg, Iron: 0.4mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.

Cuisine Middle Eastern
Course: Sauces

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Comments

  1. I have made this recipe so many times and it is truly the BEST. Today I made it and it totally separated. I made it with a food processor like I always do and the same way I always do. I can’t seem to recover it any ideas?

    Reply

    1. Sorry to hear! You could try adding a little warm water, just a drop or two at a time, to get it to come back together.

      Reply

      1. Oops.. this was supposed to be on your toum recipe! Not sure how I clicked on the tahini dressing! Sorry about that

        Reply