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You only need 3 simple ingredients to make this amazing Tahini Dressing! It’s customizable, perfect for Meal Prep, and delicious on just about everything.
Even though I’m a food blogger, I still tend to gravitate towards simple and quick recipes in my everyday life. They still have to be tasty though, of course 😉
This Easy Tahini Dressing has become quite the staple for me over the past year. I make it at least 2-3 times per week, so thought it was only right that I put it on the blog. Plus, it’s so dang simple and you only need 3 healthy ingredients to make it.
Those three ingredients? Tahini, Lemon Juice, and Salt. That’s it!
First Thing’s First, Though: Not all Tahini is created equal.
If you haven’t heard of Tahini before, it’s essentially ground up Sesame Seeds – like Peanut Butter is to Peanuts! It has become increasingly popular and is now available in most grocery stores (in either the “Ethnic Foods” or Nut Butter aisles).
A lot of people tell me that they don’t like Tahini. Honestly, I think 90% of the time this is because they haven’t had good Tahini. Poor quality Tahini can be super thick, bitter, and have a very “earthy” taste to it. High-Quality Tahini should be runny, easily pourable, and smooth. It still has a mild bitterness to it, but I also find that the best brands have a subtle sweetness to them as well.
Considering this dressing only has 3 ingredients, I suggest that you use the highest-quality ingredients that you have access to. In terms of tahini, Soom Foods is my absolute favorite here in the US. It’s so smooth and balanced that I can literally eat it with a spoon! I would also recommend Pepperwood Organics, though I don’t like it as much as Soom Tahini.
Honestly, I do not recommend grocery store Tahini. It’s a waste of your money and you’re going to be disappointed.
Now that that’s over with, let’s move on to the Dressing!
Start by adding the Tahini, Lemon Juice, and Salt to a bowl, then whisk together.
You’ll notice that the Tahini will become thicker as you whisk. Don’t worry, that’s just part of the process!
Now it’s time to thin the dressing out with Water.
Slowly pour the Water into the bowl as you whisk it into the mixture. As a general rule of thumb, I typically use a 1:1 ratio of Tahini:Water in order to get a smooth, pourable dressing. However, this amount does vary slightly every time! I’ll use less water if I want the dressing to be thicker (or used as a dipping sauce), or more if I’d like it to be more of a vinaigrette.
Because of this, I’d recommend adding half of the water to the bowl, then slowly adding the rest while you mix the dressing vigorously.
The dressing will quickly thin out and you’ll be left with a creamy, smooth, and delicious Tahini Dressing!
Want to get fancy? Let’s customize!
Most days I simply make my 3-ingredient Tahini Dressing, but it’s also fun to switch things up from time to time! If you want to add extra pizzazz to your dressing, here are some suggestions:
- Maple Syrup helps to balance the acidity of the Lemon Juice and mutes the bitterness of the Tahini. Personally I love acidity, so I generally skip it. If you prefer sweeter dressings though I would recommend adding a touch!
- Fresh Herbs are a fun and easy way to add a pop of flavor to your dressing. I usually go for Parsley or Dill, but Rosemary would also be great here.
- Dried Spices can also take this dressing to the next level. I would recommend adding a touch of Garlic Powder, Cumin, and/or Red Pepper Flakes, if you like things spicy. If you want an extra bite, I would recommend using a fresh Garlic Clove instead of the dried powder!
And that’s it, folks 😉 I use this Tahini Dressing on Salads, over Buddha Bowls, as a dip for Sweet Potato fries, on Sandwiches, and more! I’d love to hear how you use yours, so leave a comment below. And if you’re looking for more ways to use up your tahini, you’ll also love these recipes for The Best Hummus Ever and this Easy Falafel.
Finally, if you make this recipe and decide to share it on Facebook or Instagram, don’t forget to tag me @FromMyBowl + #FromMyBowl! I love seeing your delicious recreations 🙂
PrintHow to Make Tahini Dressing
You only need 3 simple ingredients to make this amazing Tahini Dressing! It’s customizable, perfect for Meal Prep, and delicious on just about everything.
- Prep Time: 5 Minutes
- Cook Time: 0 Minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: about 1 1/4 cup 1x
- Category: Dressing
- Method: No Bake
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- ½ cup Tahini*
- Juice of 2–3 small Lemons (about 1/4 cup)
- 1/2 tsp Pink Himalayan Salt
- at least 1/2 cup Water, to thin
- Optional: 1 tbsp of Maple Syrup and/or Fresh Herb(s) and/or 1 tsp Dried Spice(s)*
Instructions
- First, add the Tahini, Lemon Juice, and Salt to a medium/large bowl and whisk together. You’ll notice that the Tahini will become thicker as you whisk.
- Next, slowly pour ¼ cup of the Water into the bowl as you whisk it into the mixture. Slowly add the remaining ¼ cup of Water to the bowl while you mix the dressing vigorously. If you would like your dressing to be thinner, continue to add water slowly and whisk until the dressing reaches your desired consistency.
- If you’d like to add other Spices, Herbs, or Maple Syrup to the dressing, whisk those in now. Otherwise, serve as desired. Leftovers will keep in the fridge for up to 14 days.
Notes
- As this dressing only has 3 basic ingredients, please use the highest quality possible. I would strongly recommend using Soom Tahini, and please do not use lemon juice from a carton – fresh is best!
- If you’d prefer to make a single serving of this dressing vs. a large batch, simply use 1 1/2-2 tbsp Tahini, the juice of 1/2 a small Lemon (~1tbsp), a pinch of Salt, and water to thin.
- In terms of Herbs/Spices, I would highly recommend experimenting with Fresh Dill/Parsley, Garlic Powder, Cumin, and/or Red Pepper Flakes!
Keywords: Tahini dressing, tahini sauce, easy tahini dressing, nut free dressing
What other things do you eat tahini dressing on? I made this but played with the seasoning a bit and I am OBSESSED. I made it for a buddha bowl, but I also used it as salad dressing, and I am going to make a pasta salad with it later in the week buuut i could seriously eat it with every meal and I’m out of ideas!
★★★★★
Roasted or steamed vegetables, works well with potatoes (any kind, sweet, russet). The possibilities go on and on! So glad you liked it!
SO appreciate your mentioning the best Tahini, Soom. I’d never heard of it.. or you… and I just ordered some online. Will be following you from now on, your recipes look fantastic, thanks for spreading vegan info.
That’s so kind! Thank you!
Super easy and so satisfying no matter what you put it on or dip in it!
★★★★★
Totally with you on that one!
I love your recipes! This is delicious and so versatile!
★★★★★