Try my easy Lemon Tahini Dressing! With just 5 ingredients, it's creamy and ready in 5 minutes. Ideal for salads or drizzling over bowls, grains, roasted veggies, and more. No blender required!
With its smooth texture and tangy taste, this dressing is a game-changer for your kitchen. It's so easy to whip up in just 5 minutes, making it a go-to option for busy days or last-minute meal prep.
You can use it on almost anything, from salads to sandwiches, and even as a dip for your favorite snacks. Plus, all you need are a few basic ingredients and a jar or a bowl to mix them in. Easy peasy!
Looking for more vegan salad dressing options? Dive into the delicious world of plant-based flavors with my Vegan Ranch Dressing, Vegan Caesar Dressing, and Vinaigrette recipes.
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🌟 Why you'll love this recipe
- Bold Flavor: Get ready for a burst of tangy delight! This dressing combines creamy tahini with zesty lemon juice to create a flavor-packed addition to any dish.
- Nutritious Ingredients: Tahini is high in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, protein, and minerals. Lemon juice provides a dose of vitamin C and antioxidants.
- Versatile Pairing: Whether you're drizzling it over salads, grain bowls, roasted vegetables, or using it as a dip for veggies, its creamy texture enhances the flavors of any meal.
- Easy Preparation: With just a few simple ingredients and minimal prep, you can easily make this dressing. Its quick prep makes it perfect for busy nights or last-minute get-togethers.
- Crowd Pleaser: Impress your family and friends with this versatile recipe that's sure to be a hit at gatherings, potlucks, and dinner parties.
🧾 Ingredient notes
Tahini: You can use whichever type you prefer, whether raw or toasted.
Raw tahini typically has a milder and more delicate flavor, while toasted tahini has a more intense flavor with a slightly smoky undertone. Both types will work well in this recipe.
Additionally, you have the option to use Homemade Tahini or purchase it pre-made.
It's important to note that the tahini I usually use is unsalted.
If the tahini you use contains salt, you may want to reduce the amount of additional salt in the recipe to prevent the dressing from becoming too salty.
Water: Add more or less water depending on how thick you want your dressing.
Nutritional yeast: Exploring substitutes for nutritional yeast? Consider grated Parmesan cheese for a similar cheesy flavor, or brewer's yeast for a savory element.
Lemon juice: When seeking alternatives to lemon juice, consider apple cider vinegar for a tangy sweetness, or white wine vinegar for a mild acidity. Lime juice offers a refreshing citrus option.
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
📋 Variations
- Garlic Lemon Tahini Dressing: Add a finely chopped garlic clove to give the dressing an extra kick of flavor and a subtle hint of spice.
- Herb Lemon Tahini Dressing: Mix in chopped fresh herbs such as parsley, cilantro, or dill to add a touch of freshness and herbal aroma to the dressing.
- Spicy Lemon Tahini Dressing: Incorporate a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes or a teaspoon of hot sauce for a hint of heat and a spicy kick.
- Maple Lemon Tahini Dressing: Include a dash of maple syrup to balance the lemon's acidity with a mild, delightful sweetness.
- Curry Lemon Tahini Dressing: Blend in a teaspoon of curry powder to give the dressing a unique and exotic flavor profile with a hint of spice.
🔪 Instructions
Step 1. Place all the ingredients in a jar or a bowl.
Step 2. Whisk until well combined.
💭 Expert tips
- Room Temperature Ingredients: For a smoother blending process, use room temperature ingredients. This helps prevent clumping and ensures a uniform consistency.
- Consistency Control: Adjust the amount of water in your dressing to achieve your desired thickness. Add more water for a thinner consistency or less for a thicker dressing.
- Homemade Tahini: Consider making your own tahini at home for a fresher and more flavorful dressing. It adds an extra layer of richness.
- Creaminess Boost: Add a dollop of Coconut Yogurt or a splash of Coconut Milk. This will enhance the richness and add a hint of tanginess to your dressing.
- Let it Rest: Allow your dressing to rest for at least 30 minutes before serving. This allows the flavors to meld together, resulting in a more harmonious taste.
❓Recipe FAQs
It can typically last in the fridge for about 5 to 7 days when stored in an airtight container.
However, it's essential to check for any signs of spoilage, such as changes in color, odor, or texture, before consuming it.
If properly stored and handled, it should maintain its quality for up to a week.
While it can technically be frozen, it's not generally recommended. Freezing can cause changes in texture and separation once thawed, resulting in a less desirable consistency.
Additionally, ingredients like tahini and water may not freeze and thaw well, leading to a compromised taste and texture.
If you do decide to freeze it, store it in an airtight container with some extra space for expansion, leaving about an inch of headspace to accommodate potential expansion as the dressing freezes.
Thaw it overnight in the fridge before using and give it a thorough stir to recombine any separated ingredients.
However, keep in mind that the quality may not be the same as freshly made dressing.
It's often best to prepare smaller batches that can be consumed within a week for optimal taste and texture.
If your tahini dressing is bitter, here are some possible reasons:
Bitter Tahini: Different brands or varieties of tahini may vary in bitterness due to sesame seed type and production methods. Trying a different brand could help.
Overuse of Tahini: Using too much tahini compared to other ingredients can lead to overpowering bitterness. Adjusting the ratio may help.
Burnt or Rancid Tahini: Overheating during production or improper storage can cause tahini to become bitter. Check the expiration date and store it properly.
Excess Lemon Juice: While lemon juice adds acidity, too much can result in bitterness. Adjusting the amount or balancing it with sweetness from agave or maple syrup may help.
It is incredibly versatile and adds a creamy, nutty flavor to many dishes.
Use it as a salad dressing for any salad you want, like mixed greens or grain salads, or for my delicious Tofu Salad, for added richness.
It also complements roasted vegetables, grain bowls, and sandwiches, or serves as a delicious dipping sauce for raw veggies.
Its creamy texture and nutty taste make it a go-to condiment to elevate a variety of dishes.
Yes, it can be thinned out to use as a sauce or drizzle. If you prefer a thinner consistency, you can gradually add water or additional lemon juice to the dressing until you reach your desired thickness.
Alternatively, you can also thin it out with a splash of olive oil or other liquid, such as Vegetable Broth or coconut milk, depending on your preference and the intended use of the sauce or drizzle.
Adjusting the amount of liquid allows you to customize the dressing to suit your specific needs and culinary creations.
🌱 More vegan sauce recipes
Did you like this recipe? Please leave a rating and comment below!
5-Ingredient Lemon Tahini Dressing
Ingredients
- ¼ cup tahini
- ¼ cup water
- 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Place all the ingredients in a jar or a bowl.
- Whisk until well combined.
Video
Notes
- Room Temperature Ingredients: For a smoother blending process, use room temperature ingredients. This helps prevent clumping and ensures a uniform consistency.
- Consistency Control: Adjust the amount of water in your dressing to achieve your desired thickness. Add more water for a thinner consistency or less for a thicker dressing.
- Homemade Tahini: Consider making your own tahini at home for a fresher and more flavorful dressing. It adds an extra layer of richness.
- Creaminess Boost: Add a dollop of Coconut Yogurt or a splash of Coconut Milk. This will enhance the richness and add a hint of tanginess to your dressing.
- Let it Rest: Allow your dressing to rest for at least 30 minutes before serving. This allows the flavors to meld together, resulting in a more harmonious taste.
Leah says
Easy and delish! We had it with a baked sweet potato made with corn, black beans and artichoke hearts.
Iosune Robles says
Hi Leah! Love that combination 🙂
Susan Flanders says
Hello Iosune
Your Tahini dressing is the best dressing I've ever tasted. I made mine with brown tahini and fresh lime. I could seriously get addicted to it, it's so delicious with a moreish, nutty flavour. Thank you. I love your Blog.
Iosune says
Hi Susan! Thank you so much 🙂 Sounds so good!
Sergio says
Bello Iosune. I am allergic to sesame seeds so to tahini as well. So my question is whether you can tell me a valide substitute for tahini in doing this kind of dressing
Iosune says
Hi Sergio! Feel free to use any seed or nut butter instead 🙂
sergio says
Ok, such as....... Could you recommend one. I have never done any nut butter so far, I am new to these things
Iosune says
Hi Sergio! Almond and peanut butter are my favorite ones 🙂
Hev says
So simple to make and really tasty. Now my go to dressing, many thanks.
Iosune says
Hi Hev! So glad you liked it 🙂
Vera says
I love the fact that you say how long something can be safely store in the refrigerator if it is not all used at that time. Thanks for the recipes and the nutritional info about the recipes as well. Love your blog!
Iosune says
Hi Vera! You're so welcome 🙂 Thanks a lot for your kind words. Have a nice day!
Nicole Gutierrez says
Is there a certain tahini brand you prefer? The one I bought was a little bitter.
Iosune says
Hi Nicole! I live in Spain, so I use a Spanish brand. Raw tahini is a little bitter. Toasted/roasted tahini tastes much better, although I prefer raw tahini because is less processed. You could also make your own tahini: http://simpleveganblog.com/how-to-make-tahini/ Hope it helps! 🙂
Nadia says
Or you can cheat and add a little touch of agave...naughty but nice 🙂
Iosune says
Hi Nadie! Sounds great 🙂
Joe says
and Nadia too (rather than Nadie).
Monique Jackson says
Can this be made without the yeast? I have a sensitivity to yeast...and I am trying to eliminate it as much as possible. Love your site and your recipes...your flavors seem to always be on point! My husband and kids who are not Vegan yet love the dishes I've made from your recipes! Thank you so very much!
Iosune says
Hi Monique! I've never made it without the yeast, but I think it should work. I would add some mustard instead. Thanks a lot for your kind words 🙂 Have a nice day!
Elaine says
a sensitivity to yeast is not the same as a sensitivity to nutritional yeast as nutritional is deactivated. You probably know this but some don't. I'm of course not suggesting to just try it but check out the intolerance and maybe you'll be lucky enough to be able to use it.