Tahini dressing is a tangy, savory dressing that's the perfect topping for your next salad. It's made with simple ingredients and has a savory, nutty flavor with a hint of sweetness.
Why you'll love this recipe
Flavor: Rich, nutty, bright, tangy.
Simple ingredients. Made with tahini, lemon juice, maple syrup, Dijon mustard, and garlic.
Perfect for a variety of dietary needs. This dressing is gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan!
Variety of uses. Use as a salad dressing, add to a veggie tray, or use as a dipping sauce for roasted vegetables.
Use on: Garden Salad or Roasted Potatoes and Asparagus
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Ingredients and substitutions
- Tahini - Tahini can often be found in the international section of your local grocery store. For this particular recipe, runny, thin tahini is ideal (not the thicker stuff at the bottom of the jar).
- Lemon - I highly suggest grabbing a lemon for this recipe, not lemon concentrate from a bottle. Using juice from a lemon adds a bright, fresh flavor to this dressing that can't be beat.
- Maple syrup - Can be substituted with honey (keep in mind your dressing will no longer be vegan with this substitution).
- Dijon mustard - Regular yellow mustard will work in a pinch. Mustard is added not only for tangy flavor, but as an emulsifier. It helps stabilize the other ingredients and create a cohesive dressing.
- Garlic - One clove of garlic can be substituted with ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder.
- Salt & pepper - Adds flavor to the dressing. Red pepper flakes can be added for a little heat.
How to make tahini dressing
- Add tahini and water to a bowl, whisking until smooth.
- Add remaining ingredients and whisk to incorporate.
- Serve immediately or store in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Tips and tricks
Use a whisk - To fully incorporate your ingredients together, use a whisk. The dressing ingredients need to be combined thoroughly to incorporate the Dijon mustard, which acts as an emulsifier.
How to balance the bitter - Tahini is a bitter ingredient on its own, but adds an amazing savory and nutty flavor when combined with other ingredients. The best way to balance bitter flavor is with salty, sour, and sweet flavors. That's why it's important to include all of the listed ingredients, especially the salt, maple syrup, and lemon juice.
Frequently asked questions
Tahini a smooth paste made from ground sesame seeds that's similar to peanut butter. It is a common ingredient in dishes like hummus and baba ghanoush and is widely used in Middle Eastern cooking. It has a nutty, earthy flavor, and may taste slightly bitter when compared to a sweet nut butter, like peanut butter.
If you'd like to make your dressing sweeter, add a small amount of maple syrup (1 teaspoon at a time), mix, and do another taste test. Remember, it's much easier to add more but much harder to fix if you add too much.
Add more dijon mustard, 1 teaspoon at a time, and do a taste test. This adds a sharper, tangier flavor to the dressing.
Your homemade lemon tahini dressing will last for up to a week in a sealed container in the refrigerator.
Your dressing will thicken slightly when cold. Set it out at room temperature for up to 30 minutes before serving to thin it back out. If your dressing gets too thick, add a splash of water and whisk to combine.
Tahini can taste bitter on its own. It's important not to omit any of the other ingredients, especially the salt, lemon juice, and maple syrup, which help balance the flavors of the dressing. If your dressing tastes bitter after preparing, add a bit more maple syrup and a pinch of salt, then whisk to incorporate.
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📖 Recipe
Tahini Dressing
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup tahini
- ⅓ cup cold water
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- In a bowl, add tahini and water. Whisk until smooth.
- Add lemon juice, dijon mustard, maple syrup, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Whisk to incorporate.
- Store in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Equipment Recommendations
Notes
- Yield: This recipe makes about 1 cup of dressing. 1 serving = about 2 tablespoons
- To make dressing sweeter: Add maple syrup 1 teaspoon at a time, mix, and do a taste test until desired flavor is achieved.
- To make dressing tangier: Add dijon mustard 1 teaspoon at a time, mix, and do a taste test until desired flavor is achieved.
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