Tahini Sauce - One bowl, 3 ingredients

This Tahini Sauce is tangy, nutty, creamy, and absolutely delicious. Drizzle it over falafel, veggies, chickpeas, tacos...or simply use it to dip some fresh pita or toasted sourdough bread! It’s so good you may even consider eating it with a spoon straight out of the bowl!

How To Make Tahini Sauce Video

You may know by now that we are absolutely in LOVE with tahini. We use it in some of our favorite recipes and it never disappoints! This herbaceous, flavorful, lemony Tahini Sauce is a staple that can be used as a dressing on salads, a spread on sandwiches, or mixed into your favorite falafel or veggie bowls. There’s no wrong way to enjoy a sauce as good as this one! We omitted garlic to let the rich, nutty flavor of the tahini come through and made it in a bowl. No food processor or blender needed!

What is Tahini?

Tahini is a sesame paste made from 100% ground sesame seeds. It’s a wonderful substitution for nut-based sauces and spreads and has a deep, nutty flavor that’s out of this world! Tahini is widely used in hummus and baba ghanoush dishes. It originated in Middle Eastern cooking as far back as 3500 B.C.

What Does Tahini Taste Like?

It may look like peanut butter, but tahini actually has an earthier, more savory taste. You’ll notice the sesame seed flavor right away! The best quality Tahini is made from Ethiopian sesame seeds, it's nutty, creamy, and almost sweet. When we eat a good tahini or tahini sauce, we’re instantly transported to the bustling markets of Israel where tahini is drizzled over falafel and veggie dishes. It smells and tastes incredible!

The Difference Between Tahini Paste and Tahini Sauce

Many grocery stores sell already-made Tahini Sauce in the refrigerated section next to the hummus. This is different from tahini paste, which is an ingredient we’ll use in this recipe to make homemade Tahini Sauce from scratch! Make sure the only ingredient is sesame seeds, with no lemon, garlic, or oils added in.

Ingredients in Tahini Sauce

There are only a few ingredients in our homemade Tahini Sauce. Here’s what we included and a bit of advice on each one:

• Tahini paste - The very best sesame for Tahini Sauce comes from Ethiopian sesame seeds. We notice a huge difference when we use the best! Our favorite brands are Soom, Al Arzi, Mighty Sesame and 365 Brand. You can usually find tahini paste in the same aisle as condiments or oils, and sometimes in the ethnic foods aisle.
• Lemon - Freshly squeezed lemon only! This is an important distinction that will make a difference in how your tahini sauce turns out. The lemon actually makes the tahini thick and even pasty as you incorporate it.
• Salt - This will just be to taste and you can adjust it to your preference.
• Water - to achieve that just-right consistency! You’ll add the cold water slowly to create a creamy, perfect sauce.

Is Tahini Vegan?

Tahini is naturally vegan, nut-free, and gluten-free! You don’t need to make any substitutions to have a wonderfully allergy-friendly Tahini Sauce.

How to Make Tahini Sauce

You don’t need a blender or food processor for this easy recipe--just a bowl and a whisk! Start with tahini paste and lemon in a large bowl (this is important so you don’t spill as you’re adding ingredients) and start whisking. You’ll notice immediately how the tahini begins to thicken. Don’t worry; that’s totally normal! Slowly add water and continue whisking until your sauce reaches the desired consistency.

Recipes That Use Tahini

• Baked Green Falafel with Tahini
• Vegan Tempeh Sheetpan Dinner
• Warm Green Beans with Chestnuts, Pomegranates, and Tahini
• Shawarma Veggie Tacos
• Roasted Cauliflower Steaks with Tahini
• Pink Salt & Tahini Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

DID YOU LIKE OUR TAHINI SAUCE RECIPE?

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