We both love this lemon garlic tahini dressing. It’s creamy and flavorful and is truly one of the best salad dressing recipes we’ve shared!
Of all the salad dressings we have shared, this tahini dressing is the one you will most likely find in our fridge. It’s similar to our creamy tahini sauce but with more lemon juice, maple syrup, and toasted sesame oil to make it extra delicious.
We hope you try this easy dressing. It is perfectly creamy and made without dairy or mayo! I love it with a fresh green salad and drizzled over cooked grains like quinoa. It’s a total keeper! I especially love it for our tahini lemon quinoa bowls.
Key Ingredients
- Tahini: The dairy-free creamy base of our dressing. I love using my tahini recipe to make homemade tahini, but you can easily substitute store-bought tahini in the recipe below.
- Fresh garlic and lemon juice: Lemon + garlic + tahini is a classic combination. I love it!
- Olive oil: Thins out the tahini and adds richness.
- Maple syrup: I add some maple syrup to sweeten the dressing. If you are not vegan, you can substitute it with honey or use agave nectar.
- Toasted sesame oil: This is my secret ingredient for the best dressings and sauces! It adds a nutty flavor that complements the tahini so well.
- Smoked paprika: I love a little smoked paprika. It really makes this tahini dressing pop and adds a hint of smokiness.
To make our tahini dressing, you’ll whisk everything together. The tahini thickens a little on you initially. As you whisk in the water and other ingredients, it should relax and become a creamy dressing.
Ways to Use Tahini Dressing
Use this simple tahini dressing on just about anything. It’s my go-to salad dressing and works well with fresh greens like kale, romaine, and baby lettuce. It’s perfect for crunchier salads with bell peppers, carrots, and cucumber. Make this simple bean salad, but use this tahini dressing instead. You can toss it with cooked or canned beans (here’s how to cook chickpeas). Or drizzle over cooked grains like our fluffy quinoa. I also love spooning it over warm roasted veggies!
Best Tahini Dressing Recipe
- PREP
- TOTAL
We both love this tahini dressing. Of all the salad dressing recipes we have shared on Inspired Taste, this tahini-based dressing is the one you will most likely find in our fridge. It’s creamy, flavorful, and works drizzled over just about anything. Think hearty salads, grain bowls, roasted veggies, and even as a sauce for meats or seafood.
Watch Us Make the Recipe
You Will Need
1/4 cup (60ml) well-stirred tahini, try homemade tahini
1 small garlic clove, grated or finely minced
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
3 tablespoons cold water, more if needed
Directions
1Whisk everything but the water in a small bowl. Don’t worry if the mixture seems clumpy at first. The dressing will relax once you whisk it in the water, making it creamy.
2Add three tablespoons of cold water, and then whisk until creamy. For a thinner consistency, add a little more water.
3Season to taste with additional lemon juice or salt.
Adam and Joanne's Tips
- Storing: Store tahini dressing in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- The nutrition facts provided below are estimates.
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This Tahini is great. So much better than any store bought I have tried.
Made this and holy cow!!!!! So so good!!!!!!
Yay! 🙂
I made this tahini dressing today. Absolutely the best. Will most definitely be having this on a regular basis.
Hi Connie, I am so happy you found us and gave the recipe a try! So happy you enjoyed it!
Great, simple recipe. Very different from my standard vinaigrette, everyone loved it and I’ll definitely make it again!
Wonderful, Sylvia! Thank you for coming back and letting us know.
I have been looking for a great recipe for a tuna poke bowl. This is absolutely it. Everyone in my house loved it, and it was so easy. I used the homemade Tahini recipe as well and loved that too. Thank you!
Love it 🙂
Making for my parents tonight with Seared Ahi Tuna on top. Added cherry tomatoes for a pop of color. Thanks for the helpful hint massaging the kale with salt and lemon juice. Worked like a charm!
I have tried half a dozen different recipes for Tahini dressing and now the search is over. This is delicious and takes only minutes to make. I like the Inspired Taste recipes so much, thank you!
This dressing is delicious. I cut to 1.5 tsp olive oil and no sesame seed oil as I am pre diabetic and need to watch fat. I put 1 tablespoon over your quinoa salad. Love, love love!!!