Tahini Salad Dressing

Creamy—and vegan—Tahini Salad Dressing is the best addition to any salad. This easy homemade recipe is chock full of flavor from fresh lemon, nutty tahini, sweet maple syrup, and garlic and ginger. It is the most delicious homemade and gluten-free dressing for finishing any vegetarian dish!

Vegan Tahini Dressing Recipe

Do you ever get bored with basic salads? I know I do.

To keep salads from falling into a rut, I like to mix up my dressing choices.

You might think “creamy” and “vegan” are two words that don’t go together. This lemon tahini dressing will definitely change your mind.

The rich, earthy tahini is balanced out by the sharp lemon, mildly sweet maple syrup, and zesty ginger and garlic. It’s so addicting, you might find yourself putting it on everything—not just salads!

Adding this homemade recipe to your rotation is sure to keep your salads fresh, interesting, and delicious.

What is tahini?

Tahini is a spread or dip made from hulled, roasted sesame. You’ll find it in a lot of cuisines from the Middle East. It’s an important ingredient in hummus.

Tahini looks sort of like peanut butter. Instead of being slightly sweet like most nut butters or seed butters, it has a mild earthy nutty flavor.

This profile makes the perfect background for so many different dishes and recipes, including this salad dressing.

Ingredients

This easy lemon tahini dressing only calls for a handful of simple ingredients. To make it you’ll need:

• Tahini. Tahini serves as the base for this flavorful topping and is the key ingredient. Three tablespoons will provide the perfect amount of creaminess and flavor. You should be able to find a good quality tahini at your local grocery store.
• Olive oil. Olive oil adds undeniable richness and fruitiness. It also provides the added fat needed for the best emulsion.
• Maple syrup. Maple syrup balances the slight bitterness from the olive oil and tahini and the tartness from the lemon. For the best results, use real maple syrup, not the fake maple syrup products on the market.
• Lemon juice and zest. Fresh lemon juice and lemon zest provide bright citrus flavor. When you zest the lemon, make sure to only use the yellow outer layer and not the white inner layer, also known as the pith.
• Apple cider vinegar. This gives a little more tartness to the dressing. If you don’t have apple cider vinegar, you can substitute with rice vinegar. (See other apple cider vinegar substitutes.)
• Garlic. Just one clove of minced garlic gives this so much flavor without being overpowering. Fresh garlic works better than garlic powder.
• Ginger. A little bit of grated ginger goes a long way to providing a bright pop of flavor. Again fresh is better than dry. You can use pre-minced ginger if needed.
• Water. You’ll add a little warm water at a time to thin the dressing out to your desired consistency.

How to Make Tahini Salad Dressing

These are the steps to follow to make this homemade lemon tahini salad dressing:

Combine Ingredients

There are a few different ways to make this dressing. You can use a food processor, blender, or shake it by hand in a mason jar.

Whatever method you are using, add all of the ingredients to the jar or pitcher. Save the water to ensure you get the consistency you desire.

Mix it Up

As previously mentioned, there are a few ways to mix the ingredients.

• High Speed Blender. Using a high speed blender like a Nutribullet is generally the best way to make this simple lemon tahini dressing. A high speed blender creates an emulsion, or a creamy blend that results from mixing a fat with water.
• Mini Food Processor. A food processor will also create the perfect emulsion when you use it to mix.
• Whisk in a bowl. If you don’t have a blender or food processor, whisking the ingredients together will work. While the dressing will still taste delicious, be aware that it won’t be quite as smooth and creamy as mixing with a blender of processor.
• Mason jar. You can also put everything in a Mason jar and secure the lid before giving it a good shake. While this method doesn’t give you as lovely of an emulsion as a blender or processor, it does have its advantages including little clean up and easy built in storage.

Once all of the ingredients are in the food processor or blender, pulse or blend until it is smooth. Or, add them to a jar and shake. Add a couple of tablespoons of water to thin it out, if needed.

When the dressing is ready, add it to your favorite salad and store any remainders in an airtight container in the fridge.

Meal Prep and Storage

• How to prep ahead of time: This recipe is perfect to prep ahead! Simply keep it in the refrigerator until you’re ready to enjoy it.
• How to store: Put the dressing in an airtight container or a Mason jar in the fridge. Keep it covered in the fridge for up to 1 to 2 weeks.
• How to freeze: You can freeze this dressing, but it will likely separate upon thawing. Store it in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Simply process it again before serving.

What is lemon tahini dressing made of?

This creamy, rich dressing is made from tahini, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, garlic, and ginger. This sauce is perfect on salads or as a dip.

Is tahini dressing healthy?

Lemon tahini dressing is a relatively healthy option to top your favorite salads. Tahini has a high alkaline mineral content along with benefits to your immune system. You can feel good about enjoying a few tablespoons of it as part of a healthy diet.

What is healthier, tahini or peanut butter?

Peanut butter and tahini look similar, and they each boast about the same nutritional value. Both of these pastes have healthy fats with a little sugar. However, peanut butter has a little more protein. A lot of people might not know the difference, but both are relatively good for you.

In fact, you’ll probably really love this peanut sauce recipe, too!

Expert Tips and Tricks

• Skip the bottle. Lemon juice and zest from fresh lemons really take this dressing over the top.
• Check for a pulse. Don’t overprocess the dressing, just a few pulses at a time.
• Save dishes. If you’re storing this dressing in a mason jar, just use the jar to add everything and shake.
• Just a little. You can always add more later, so start with less water and sweetener.
• Get creative. While this is a delicious dressing for salads, you can also use it as a dipping sauce on your favorite veggies.

What to Serve with Tahini Dressing

While some of the best ways to enjoy this dressing is not on a green salad, you can’t go wrong using it as a more traditional dressing.

But if you want to explore beyond salads, try any of these recipes and be wowed at how delicious they become with this versatile sauce.

Veggies like Roasted Cauliflower, Roasted Sweet Potato Cubes, and Air Fryer Broccoli become infinitely better with this dressing.

Or, top Mediterranean Chickpea Salad or Sweet Potato Broccoli Quinoa Bowls (or any grain bowls) with it.

It’s also really tasty on Baba Ganoush.

Other Homemade Salad Dressing Recipes

It’s surprisingly easy to make your own delicious dressings at home. Put these on your menu next time you’re making salads and skip the store-bought versions.

Try Greek Salad Dressing, Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing, or Olive Garden Italian Dressing for a leaner option.

Thousand Island Dressing and Ranch Dressing are creamy and full of flavor.