This lemon tahini salad dressing is smooth, creamy and full of bright, nutty flavour, with just a handful of ingredients and no blender required.
It’s a quick, versatile dressing that brings a fresh, zesty lift to everything from leafy greens, to gyros to grain bowls.
Tahini, made from ground sesame seeds, is naturally rich and earthy, with a pleasing bitterness that pairs beautifully with the sharpness of fresh lemon juice.
In this recipe, they're combined with olive oil for smooth richness, while a touch of minced garlic gives the dressing a savoury backbone.
A pinch of salt and white pepper helps round out the flavour.
Whisking the ingredients into a paste before loosening with cold water gives you more control over the consistency.
You can keep it thick for spreading on wraps or in burger buns. or use more water to make it pourable for salads.
The end result is silky and well-balanced, with a tangy edge and creamy finish.
This dressing works especially well on crisp green salads, roasted vegetables, or bowls of grains and pulses like quinoa, chickpeas or lentils.
It also makes a great drizzle for falafel, grilled tofu, or baked sweet potatoes.
If you want to tweak the flavour profile, you can add a little honey, maple syrup or agave for sweetness, or a pinch of cumin, mustard or sumac for warmth.
The dressing will keep in the fridge for 3-5 days. Be sure to give it a good stir or shake before using as it may thicken or separate slightly when chilled.
I know you're going to love this simple, punchy and endlessly adaptable lemon tahini dressing. It's such a handy recipe to have in your rotation whenever your meals need a little lift.
Read on for the full recipe with detailed instructions and a helpful photograph for every step. And if you have any questions, just leave me a comment. Enjoy!
Ingredients
- 60 ml (4 tbsp) tahini
- 15 ml (2 tbsp) olive oil
- 30 ml (2 tbsp) lemon juice
- 1/2 garlic clove minced
- Pinch salt
- Pinch white pepper
Equipment
Instructions
Put all the ingredients in a bowl or jar.
The tahini.
The olive oil.
The lemon juice.
The garlic.
And the salt and pepper.
Whisk until you have a thick paste.
Gradually whisk in cold water, gradually add up to a 5 tbsp cold water to reach your desired thickness.
Taste and season with additional salt and pepper if needed.
Once you've given my recipe a go, I'd love you to come back and leave a comment letting me know how yours turned out.
I'd love to see your videos and pics, too! Just tag me on social media. I'm @emilylearycooks on Twitter and TikTok or @amummytoo on Instagram.
Print this Lemon Tahini Salad Dressing Recipe
Lemon Tahini Salad Dressing Recipe
Ingredients
- 60 ml (4 tbsp) tahini
- 15 ml (2 tbsp) olive oil
- 30 ml (2 tbsp) lemon juice
- 1/2 garlic clove minced
- Pinch salt
- Pinch white pepper
Equipment
- Jar
- Knife
Instructions
- Put all the ingredients in a bowl or jar
- Whisk until you have a thick paste.
- Gradually whisk in cold water, gradually add up to a 5 tbsp cold water to reach your desired thickness.
- Taste and season with additional salt and pepper if needed.
Nutrition
Recipes to try with this dressing
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