Tahini Dressing
on Mar 05, 2024
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With a creamy texture and bright flavor, Tahini Dressing is perfect for any salad with a wide variety of ingredients! In just a few minutes you will have created a delightful homemade dressing that you’ll always want to have on hand.
Increasing in popularity, tahini dressing checks all the right boxes. Smooth and creamy, bright and bold, and so delicious! This is everything you want in a dressing. I love being able to create homemade dressings because it is usually cheaper and more flavorful than buying one from the store.
This dressing is not your typical vinaigrette! The lemon juice brings a bright flavor that supports the unique taste of the tahini. The olive oil ensures all the flavors are distributed evenly, and the sea salt ties everything together.
You can use this dressing for not only salads with greens like this easy spinach salad, but a quinoa salad, cucumber salad with tomatoes , or vegetable salad. This dressing is very versatile, and will sweep you right off your feet after one taste!
Table of Contents
What is Tahini?
Tahini is a type of spread that is made by grinding sesame seeds. It will typically have a smooth and runny texture that is similar to natural peanut butter, when mixed properly. The taste is unique, being earthy and slightly bitter.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Only takes a few minutes to throw together, perfect for any last minute meals.
- Has a bold, bright, and tangy flavor that elevates any salad.
- Is a light yet hearty dressing that will leave you feeling satisfied.
Ingredient Notes
- Tahini—Serves as the base of the dressing for a nice creamy texture.
- Olive Oil—This aids in distributing the flavors throughout your salad.
- Lemon Juice—To add a bright and tangy flavor to the dressing.
- Garlic Powder—For a deep and pungent taste.
- Coarse Sea Salt—To balance the tang of the lemon juice.
- Cold Water—To ensure the dressing is homogeneous.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How to Make Tahini Dressing
Step #1. In a medium sized mixing bowl, use a fork or a small whisk to stir together the tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic powder, sea salt, and water
Step #2. Once the mixture is smooth, serve and enjoy!
Recipe FAQs
When you first buy tahini, it will resemble natural peanut butter that has not been stirred. There might be some oils that stay towards the top of the jar, and the bottom will typically be more solid. Before using it, you’ll want to make sure it is fully mixed. There are a few ways to do this efficiently. You can use an immersion blender directly in the jar, pour the tahini to a food processor and incorporate it together, or you can be diligent in flipping the jar upside down every few days to help it become more cohesive. After you do this you will be able to measure and pour the tahini with ease for any recipe.
As your dressing sits, it will have a tendency to slightly separate. The easiest way to fix this is to give your dressing a quick shake before using it. You can also use a whisk to incorporate it back together.
If you find that your dressing is too thick, the best way to thin it out is by adding an extra tablespoon of water to the mixture. Stir well to ensure it is fully incorporated, and then repeat the process if necessary until you have your desired consistency!
How to Serve and Store Tahini Dressing
You can use this tahini dressing for all different types of salad! A few favorites are a Mediterranean salad sprinkled with sesame seeds, cucumber tomato salad, roasted cauliflower salad, or a simple kale salad. This dressing can also be drizzled on top of falafel or veggies for extra flavor. You can play around with the different uses and find what tastes best for you!
If you have leftover dressing or make this ahead of time, store in the mixing bowl covered with plastic wrap. Alternatively, you can transfer your dressing to a mason jar or Rubbermaid with a tight fitting lid.
Expert Tips
- Using sea salt will provide a slightly stronger flavor and help balance the zesty taste of the lemon. If you only have regular salt, you can use that instead.
- Most major grocery stores sell tahini. It can usually be found on the same aisle as peanut butter.
- You can either use freshly squeezed or bottled lemon juice in this recipe. If you want extra lemon flavor in the dressing, you can add the zest of one lemon.
- Remember to give your dressing a quick shake before using it to ensure the ingredients are fully combined.
- For a zestier dressing you can add the zest of one lemon to the mixture.
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Tahini Dressing
Ingredients
- ½ cup tahini
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ½ cup lemon juice
- 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt
- ¼ cup cold water
Instructions
- In a medium sized mixing bowl, use a fork or a small whisk to stir together the tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic powder, sea salt, and water until smooth and homogenous.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- This makes about 1 cup of sauce.
- We like to use sea salt because it has a slightly stronger flavor and will help balance the zest of the lemon juice.
- Most major grocery stores sell tahini. It can usually be found on the same aisle as peanut butter.
- You can use freshly squeezed or bottled lemon juice in this recipe.
- If your dressing is too thick then you can add an extra tablespoon of water to the mixture.
- For some extra lemon flavor you can add the zest of one lemon to your dressing.
- We like to drizzle this dressing over a Mediterranean salad sprinkled with sesame seeds.
- You can store this dressing in the mixing bowl covered with plastic wrap. Alternatively, you can move your dressing to a mason jar or Rubbermaid with a tight fitting lid.
