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    Home » Recipes » Salad Dressing

    Lemon Tahini Dressing

    Published: Aug 17, 2020 · Modified: Aug 5, 2022 by Laura Reigel · This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump To Recipe Comments
    tahini dressing pinterest image

    Do you love creamy, lemony salad dressings? This lemon tahini dressing is one of my favorites! It's perfect for a quick and easy weeknight dinner. Plus, it's loaded with healthy nutrients to help keep you feeling your best. So give this delicious dressing a try today! You won't be disappointed. 🙂

    I cannot get enough of this dressing! I make a batch thinking that I'll have leftovers, and then, no matter what, we eat it all.

    This recipe has been buried in my Mediterranean Meal Prep Bowl post, but this recipe is too good to keep hidden. I thought it deserved to have its own post.

    This dressing is delicious on so many things, why keep it for just one single recipe?

    What you're going to love about this recipe

    • Easy. This tahini dressing recipe is so easy, it takes 5 minutes to whip up a batch.
    • Delicious on EVERYTHING. Tahini dressing is fantastic with falafel and equally delicious on roasted vegetables or as a salad dressing.
    • Healthy. When you make dressings at home, you know you are getting the cleanest ingredients. Why mess around with bottled dressing when you can make it from scratch in 5 minutes?
    pouring tahini dressing on a salad

    Recipe Notes

    This lemon tahini dressing is so easy to make! Once you start making your own dressings at home, you will wonder why you ever bought the bottled stuff.

    What you need to make this recipe

    • Tahini (sesame paste): Tahini is simply ground sesame seeds. It's a little like peanut butter, but it has a bitter flavor. Don't let that word "bitter" scare you off, it's delicious!
    • Lemons: Fresh lemon juice gives this recipe a fresh citrusy note that is typical in Mediterranean recipes.
    • Olive Oil: I like to use flavorful olive oil for this recipe. Extra virgin olive oil is usually very mildly flavored. I like to pick varieties that have a stronger flavor.
    • Honey: I love finding local honey. You can use honey or maple syrup in this recipe.

    Step By Step Instructions

    Making homemade dressing is simple. You just need a bowl and a whisk.

    Step 1: Add the tahini and olive oil

    I like to make thicker dressings in my 4-cup Pyrex measuring cup.

    Measuring cup with ⅓ cup of tahini in it

    Step 2: Lemon juice

    I usually use the juice of one lemon, which is typically ½ cup of juice. Sometimes, though, lemons are more or less juicy. It doesn't have to be exact, and you can always adjust the amount of lemon juice to your taste.

    • ¼ cup of lemon juice in a white remekin
    • Adding lemon juice to the tahini to make tahini dressing

    Step 3: Add salt

    I use Kosher or Himalayan salt for most recipes. I also LOVE Redmonds Real Salt. With so many delicious options, I don't recommend using table salt, ever!

    • kosher salt in a small bowl, adding it to tahini dressing
    • pouring the salt into the bowl with tahini in it

    Step 4: Mix the ingredients together

    The dressing will be pretty thick at this point. Don't worry, we aren't finished yet!

    mixing the ingredients for tahini dressing together in a large measuring cup

    Step 5: Thin with water

    Use a little water to thin the dressing to your desired consistency. Start with a tablespoon of water and whisk that in. Then add additional water one tablespoon at a time until you have the desired thinness. I like mine on the thin side.

    • adding water to tahini dressing to thin it out
    • using a spoon to show the consistency of tahini dressing

    Step 6: Add honey if desired

    I like to add a little bit of honey and sometimes even a half teaspoon of garlic powder. Both of these are optional.

    • organic raw unfiltered honey label
    • adding honey to tahini dressing

    Step 6: Store in and airtight container

    Tahini dressing will keep in the fridge for at least a week. If it does seperate, simply whisk it or shake it before serving.

    pouring tahini dressing into a weck jar for storage

    FAQs and Expert Tips

    What is tahini?

    Tahini is a sesame paste. It's a lot like peanut butter, but it's made from ground sesame seeds instead of peanuts. Tahini is typically used in Mediterranean cuisine to make tahini dressing.

    What does tahini taste like?

    Tahini has a nutty flavor with a hint of bitterness. Its flavor pairs well with falafel and roasted vegetables.

    How to store tahini dressing?

    Tahini dressing will keep in the fridge for several weeks. Store it in an airtight container. If it does separate, simply give it a quick whisk before serving.

    What to eat with tahini dressing?

    This lemon tahini dressing is fabulous with grilled chicken, my Mediterranean Baked Halibut, or the Mediterranean Quinoa Bowl. Don't reserve this dressing only for Mediterranean recipes, though! I love tahini dressing for vegetables, especially with roasted sweet potatoes.

    Do you want more homemade salad dressings?

    Making salad dressing at home is surprisingly easy and also healthier than buying store-bought. A few of my favorite salad dressing recipes are:

    • Greek Salad Dressing
    • Ranch Dressing
    • Blue Cheese Dressing
    • Green Goddess Dressing
    • Homemade Mayonnaise Recipe
    • Caesar Salad With Dressing

    Hungry for more meal prep recipes

    • Chia Pudding Recipe [6Ways]
    • The BEST Taco Pasta
    • Vermicelli Noodle Bowls
    • Easy Shredded Beef Recipe

    ➽ Did you make this recipe? I love to see what's going on in your kitchen. Please show me what you're cooking. 🍳 Tag me @foodologygeek on your favorite social channel! Facebook, Instagram & Pinterest. If you loved ❤︎ this recipe, please leave a five ★ review and a comment!

    tahini salad dressing in a weck jar
    Favorite Saved!

    Lemon Tahini Dressing Recipe

    Laura Reigel
    This creamy, nutty, lemony dressing makes a fabulous salad dressing and is also fantastic with grilled or broiled meat, roasted veggies, and of course, falafel.
    PRINT PIN SAVE SAVED
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Total Time 5 mins
    Course Condiment
    Cuisine Mediterranean
    Servings 8
    Calories 69 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • ⅓ cup tahini
    • 3 to 4 tablespoons lemon juice freshly squeezed
    • 2 to 3 teaspoons olive oil
    • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
    • 2 tablespoons water to thin, if needed

    Optional Ingredients

    • honey add a tablespoon or two of honey for some sweetness
    • garlic add a minced clove of garlic or a ½ teaspoon of granulated garlic
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    Instructions
     

    • Add the ingredients to a medium bowl. (Reserve the water for now)
    • Mix with a whisk until the ingredients are well mixed and smooth.
    • Add the water, if needed. Thin to the desired consistency. I like mine to be the consistency of Grade A Maple syrup.

    Laura's Tips + Notes

    I highly recommend making a double batch of this tahini dressing. I hardly ever have leftovers. 
    To store: Store in an airtight container. This dressing will keep in the fridge for several weeks. 

    YOUR OWN NOTES

    Click here to add your own private notes.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 69kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 2gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 294mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gCalcium: 14mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword salad dressing, tahini
    DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?Snap a 📸 and share it. Tag me @foodologygeek and don't forget to hashtag #foodologygeek!

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    About Laura Reigel

    Laura is the owner and CEO of Foodology Geek. She holds a degree in Physiology and Neuroscience as well as a Certification as a Nutrition Coach. Laura uses her love of cooking and science to create healthy real food recipes that you'll love eating.

    As a certified recipe hoarder, and meal prep maven Laura is passionate about sharing her love for cooking easy from-scratch recipes. She also shares the occasional family recipe and all of the technical details.

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