This 4-ingredient Lemon Tahini Dressing is easy to make with little effort and lots of flavor! It’s a healthy homemade condiment that brings nutty, savory and zesty goodness to any dish. Gluten-free, vegan, dairy-free, vegan, paleo with low carb, keto and Whole30 options
PIN HERE for later and follow my boards for more recipe ideas
Healthy Lemon Tahini Dressing
This might just be the easiest salad dressing ever! All you have to do is combine 4 simple ingredients in a bowl – that’s it! Once your dressing is prepared, you can keep it refrigerated for use throughout the week. Convenient, right?
Even though the ingredient list for this condiment is minimal, the end product is packed with flavor. And the ingredients in question are great for your health! You have the tahini, which is an awesome source of protein and vitamins, the lemon juice, which provides plenty of fiber, the garlic, which is rich in antioxidants, and finally, the natural sweetener of your choice. And that’s just a quick summary!
You really can’t beat this wholesome ingredient lineup. Especially since it caters to so many special diets! This recipe is paleo, vegan, gluten-free and refined sugar free. It can also be made keto/low-carb or Whole30 with a few simple tweaks.
What You’ll Need
Let’s take a minute to go over our tahini dressing ingredients one by one.
- Tahini: This creamy seed butter is made from hulled sesame seeds that have been ground and toasted. You’ll notice that the tahini in your jar is drippy when you first open it, but thicker once you get near the bottom of the jar. Use that fresh, drippy tahini for the best results.
- Lemon Juice: Freshly squeezed! You won’t get that natural citrus flavor from bottled juice.
- Pure Maple Syrup: If you’re on the keto diet, sub with coconut flower nectar syrup, Lakanto sugar-free maple syrup, honey (if you’re not vegan) or your preferred liquid sweetener. Omit this for Whole30 or add in homemade date syrup.
- Garlic Powder: Or finely minced garlic.
How to Make Lemon Tahini Dressing
This dreamy condiment can be made in a bowl, a jar, a blender or a food processor. Use whatever is easiest for you!
- Combine Ingredients: Add all of the ingredients to a bowl or a medium-sized jar. Shake or whisk until combined. Alternatively, add them to a small food processor or a high-speed blender and puree until smooth.
- Taste & Tweak: Adjust any seasonings to taste, then chill your dressing in the fridge until you’re ready to use it.
Tips for Success
Don’t be nervous if this dressing has you working with unfamiliar ingredients. Following these suggestions will make everything run smoothly!
- Use High-Quality Tahini: Don’t just grab the first jar of tahini you see. The highest quality tahini is made in Ethiopia, but anything organic should do the trick. We like the brand Soom.
- Why Add a Sweetener? The liquid sweetener does not actually make this dressing sweet. It simply balances out the bitterness of the tahini. If you enjoy that bitter taste, go ahead and omit the sweetener. But for the average palate, it adds a nice touch.
- Do a Taste Test: Don’t be afraid to take a small taste of your dressing before storing or serving it. At this point, you can add more of any ingredient as you see fit. Just add a little bit at a time and keep tasting to avoid over-compensating.
- Adjust the Consistency: If you want to thicken up your dressing, add more tahini. To make it thinner, mix in more of any liquid ingredient. Keep in mind that this also alters the flavor.
Serving Suggestions
The best part of any recipe is the eating, am I right? Here are some delicious ways to serve tahini dressing:
- Toss it with Pasta Salad: The tangy flavors of feta cheese pair insanely well with this citrusy dressing. My Broccoli Pasta Salad gives you all that goodness with no animal products used! That’s right, it’s completely vegan.
- Go Green: When it comes to this easy Asparagus Salad, every bite is a hearty burst of freshness. Adding this nutty dressing only sweetens the deal.
- Add it to a Burger: Or a Veggie Burger Salad! When used as a sauce (or marinade), this tahini dressing makes meat alternatives taste even better than the real thing.
- Dip, Dip, Hooray! I love pouring this condiment into a bowl and dipping in my favorite vegetables. Celery, carrots, peppers, cauliflower – whatever you’re craving, raw or roasted!
How to Store Tahini Dressing
Keep leftover tahini dressing refrigerated in an airtight container or lidded jar. It will stay fresh for up to 1 week! Give it a good shake or stir before using it.
Can I Freeze This?
Unlike other salad dressings, this one freezes and thaws quite well! Just don’t try to freeze a large volume at once. Instead, pour the dressing into an ice cube tray and freeze it in that.
To thaw it out, place as many frozen cubes as you’d like into a sealed jar or container. Thaw in the fridge for a few hours or overnight, then shake or mix to re-combine the ingredients.
More Easy Dressing Recipes
Healthy homemade salad dressing is a simple pleasure in life. Get the most out of it with these fail-proof recipes!
This 4-ingredient Lemon Tahini Dressing is easy to make with little effort and lots of flavor! It's a healthy homemade condiment that brings nutty, savory and zesty goodness to any dish. Gluten-free, vegan, dairy-free, vegan, paleo with low carb, keto and Whole30 options
- 1/3 cup drippy tahini we like Soom
- 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 tbsp pure maple syrup for keto, sub with coconut flower nectar, Lakanto sugar-free syrup, honey (if not vegan) or preferred liquid sweetener. Omit for Whole30 or use date syrup
- 1 tsp garlic powder or 1 garlic clove, finely minced
Add all the ingredients for the dressing in a medium jar or to a bowl. Shake or whisk until combined. Alternatively, add to a small food processor or a high-speed blender and puree until smooth.
Adjust any seasoning to taste, then chill in the fridge until ready to use.
Store any leftovers in a resealable jar or airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week. Shake well before using.
How to Store
You can keep this dressing chilled in the fridge for up to 1 week. Be sure to store it in an airtight container or resealable jar. Give it a good shake or stir before using it to re-combine all of the ingredients.
How to freeze:
Salad dressings generally don't freeze well, as the ingredients tend to separate while they thaw.
But if you'd like to do some experimentation, try freezing small portions in an ice cube tray for up to 1 month, thawing them out in the fridge and mixing/shaking the thawed mixture very well before using.
Leave a Comment