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This creamy tahini dressing recipe is quick and easy to make and lightly seasoned with garlic, lemon and cumin.
This dreamy tahini dressing is one of my all-time favorites. ♡
It’s quick and easy to make with just 5 ingredients — tahini, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and a hint of cumin. The rich tahini flavor is brightened up with the lemon, and balanced with just the right hints of garlic and cumin. The texture is perfectly creamy and can be thickened for dipping or thinned out for drizzling as much as you prefer. And best of all, it all comes together in just 5 minutes.
Feel free to add in a hint of maple syrup to sweeten or some cayenne for a bit of heat, if you would like. And while we love drizzling this tahini dressing on all sorts of salads here in our home, it would also be delicious served with everything from pastas to falafel, baked potatoes, roasted veggies, sandwiches, and more. So grab a jar of good-quality tahini, and let’s make a quick batch of tahini sauce together!
Here are a few brief notes about the ingredients you will need to make this tahini dressing recipe:
Tahini: I recommend buying a good-quality, non-bitter brand of tahini that you love for this dressing, especially since tahini is the main ingredient. I prefer Soom tahini, but there are many delicious brands available.
Lemon juice: Fresh lemon juice pairs so beautifully with tahini in this dressing. I always use this juicer, which makes the process a breeze.
Garlic: I recommend pressing or grating fresh garlic so that this dressing is nice and smooth.
Ground cumin or smoked paprika: I typically make this dressing with ground cumin, but smoked paprika can also add a delicious smoky twist.
Fine sea salt: To bring out the best of these delicious ingredients.
How To Make Tahini Dressing
This tahini dressing is wonderfully quick and easy to make in either a:
Mixing bowl: Combine all of the ingredients and whisk until smooth.
Mason jar: Combine all of the ingredients, cover, and shake vigorously until smooth.
Blender: Combine all of the ingredients and purée until smooth.
Recipe Variations
Here are a few ways that you’re welcome to customize this tahini dressing recipe:
Add sweetener: Add a tablespoon of maple syrup for a lovely hint of sweetness.
Add heat: Add a pinch of cayenne or chili powder to give this dressing a subtle kick.
Add fresh herbs: Add chopped fresh dill, mint, parsley or chives as desired.
Add Dijon: Add a teaspoon or two of Dijon mustard.
Ways To Use Tahini Dressing
There are so many delicious ways that you can put this to use. We love using it best…
Combine. Whisk all ingredients together in a small mixing bowl until combined. The tahini may seize up briefly, but it should smooth out quickly as you continue whisking. If the dressing is too thick for your liking, you’re welcome to mix in an extra tablespoon or two of water.
Serve. Serve and enjoy! Leftover dressing can be refrigerated in a sealed container for up to 1 week.
Notes
Recipe edits: This recipe was edited from the original to remove the cayenne and slightly decrease the amount of cumin/smoked paprika.
Absolutely delicious. The whole family loves it, so now I keep a jar pre-made and ready for use in the fridge. Love it on the salad, but use it most often as a dip for veggies when we want a healthy snack. Yum!
This dressing is soo good! I needed something to top a bowl full of roasted veggies and chick peas and found this recipe, luckily I had a jar of tahini sitting in the fridge needing to be used. I love this so much, and it is so simple! I added a touch of pure maple syrup and it was just perfect. Thank you!
This was wonderful!! Will make again very soon. I followed the recipe as is. Next time I will add smokey paprika and little more cayenne to adjust to our liking.
OMG I love this dressing Ali! I made it for an arugula salad with lentils, roasted sweet potatoes, and goat cheese and it paired perfectly! I also used the leftover dressing as a dip with fresh raw veggies. Mine came out pretty thick-more the texture of hummus than dressing so it probably needed more water. Still-such great flavor!
Thanks, enjoying it right now on a simple green salad w/ cukes and tomatoes. The smoked paprika is a great flavor. Next time I make it I’ll put a little more lemon juice in it, and some cayenne per other suggestions. Thinking it would be good with some fresh parsley as an alternative to cilantro.
I’ve subbed peanut butter for tahini in hummus. Do you think it would work in this recipe??? I can hardly wait to try this recipe! “Loven” your recipes!
Dozens of batches later, I’m still obsessed with this dressing. I had thought it best to partner with winter/fall veggie salads, until my neighbors gifted me with an abundance of fresh summer veggies – it’s still a great flavor combo with fresh lettuce, tomatoes, green and waxed beans, avocado, summer squash and my favorite – thank goodness, someone has a bumper crop of butternut squash – air fried butternut squash cubes. So happy I discovered this recipe years ago!
Absolutely delicious. The whole family loves it, so now I keep a jar pre-made and ready for use in the fridge. Love it on the salad, but use it most often as a dip for veggies when we want a healthy snack. Yum!
This dressing is soo good! I needed something to top a bowl full of roasted veggies and chick peas and found this recipe, luckily I had a jar of tahini sitting in the fridge needing to be used. I love this so much, and it is so simple! I added a touch of pure maple syrup and it was just perfect. Thank you!
This was wonderful!! Will make again very soon. I followed the recipe as is. Next time I will add smokey paprika and little more cayenne to adjust to our liking.
OMG I love this dressing Ali! I made it for an arugula salad with lentils, roasted sweet potatoes, and goat cheese and it paired perfectly! I also used the leftover dressing as a dip with fresh raw veggies. Mine came out pretty thick-more the texture of hummus than dressing so it probably needed more water. Still-such great flavor!
Thanks, enjoying it right now on a simple green salad w/ cukes and tomatoes. The smoked paprika is a great flavor. Next time I make it I’ll put a little more lemon juice in it, and some cayenne per other suggestions. Thinking it would be good with some fresh parsley as an alternative to cilantro.
This is by far my fave dressing recipe I’ve found since turning plant based. Thank you!!!
Must have in the fridge in constant supply
I’ve subbed peanut butter for tahini in hummus. Do you think it would work in this recipe??? I can hardly wait to try this recipe! “Loven” your recipes!
Dozens of batches later, I’m still obsessed with this dressing. I had thought it best to partner with winter/fall veggie salads, until my neighbors gifted me with an abundance of fresh summer veggies – it’s still a great flavor combo with fresh lettuce, tomatoes, green and waxed beans, avocado, summer squash and my favorite – thank goodness, someone has a bumper crop of butternut squash – air fried butternut squash cubes. So happy I discovered this recipe years ago!
Porqué se ve tan cremoso ?, No lleva yogur ni crema?
It sounds like a really good Tahini sauce.
How do you save the Tahini sauce? Does it need to be kept refrigerated?
Thank you!
Is there a way to find the nutrition value on the recipes? I am trying to keep in with dietary restrictions for my husband.