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 bread 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.
You can use tahini not only in savory dishes but also in sweet recipes such as Tahini Date Caramel, Halva Bars, and sweet potato brownies with halva glaze. On its own tahini has a savory, nutty flavor that’s so good we often use it as a substitute for nut butter in recipes!
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.
Best Tahini for Tahini Sauce
This tahini sauce recipe can be made with runny tahini ( the one you can pour out of a freshly opened jar of tahini) that will be easy to mix by hand. Remember to always shake your tahini jar vigorously before opening it and store it upside down. If you have an already opened jar and the tahini is dry and chunky at the bottom of the jar, you can still make this recipe, you will just need to use the food processor, blender, or smoothie maker to mix all ingredients together.
It is essential to use a good quality great tasting tahini for any recipe. Since every tahini brand is different, look for tahini that is smooth with a great nutty flavor and a hint of sweetness. Our favorite brands are Soom, Al Arzi, Mighty Sesame and 365 Brand.
STORAGE TIP: Tahini does not need to be refrigerated after opening, keep it in a cool dry cabinet or shelf and use it often.
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 fresh lemon juice 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 the Best 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.
Variations in Tahini Sauce
Classic tahini has very few simple ingredients. However, you can be as creative as you would like and add any of the following ingredients to your tahini sauce:
- Cumin
- Dill
- Garlic
- Aleppo Pepper
- Turmeric
- Any fresh herbs such as basil, chopped parsley, cilantro, mint
- Hot sauce
Uses for Tahini Sauce
Tahini sauce is a staple condiment in many Middle Eastern recipes, but can also be used to dip vegetables or as a salad dressing when thinned a bit. Here's how you can use tahini sauce:
- Falafel
- Cauliflower Steaks
- Roasted Vegetables
- Falafel bowl
- Sabich Sandwich
- Eggplant Fries
- Bulgur Wheat Patties
- Roasted Eggplant
- Roasted Sweet Potatoes
- Shawarma Veggie Tacos
- Vegan Steak Sandwich
- Warm Green Beans with Chestnuts, Pomegranates, and Tahini
DID YOU LIKE OUR TAHINI SAUCE RECIPE?
If you enjoyed this recipe, it would help us tremendously if you left us a star rating in the comments below or on the recipe card. Do you have any questions about the recipe? Do you need a swap for any of the ingredients? We are here to help, just leave us a question in the comments below.
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Tahini Sauce
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 cup 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Ingredients
- ½ cup tahini
- ¼ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ cup cold water
Instructions
- In a medium bowl add tahini, lemon and salt and mix well with a fork. The tahini will thicken and will become like a thick paste. At this point, add water 1 tablespoon at a time. Mixing well after adding each tablespoon. Add water until you reach the desired consistency. If making the tahini sauce ahead, note that it will thicken in the fridge and you may have to add a little more water to loosen it.
- Prep Time: 5
- Category: Dip
- Method: Raw
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
- Calories: 90
- Sugar: .2
- Sodium: 78
- Fat: 8
- Saturated Fat: 1.1
- Unsaturated Fat: 6.5
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 3.8
- Fiber: .7
- Protein: 2.6
- Cholesterol: 0
Susan Nathan
Tahini is my new favorite topping to drizzle on veggies, especially cauliflower! Yum!!!
Vicky & Ruth
Yep! Tahini Sauce is great on veggies!
Raquel
The BEST tahini sauce ever!!! Quick, easy, lemony, and delicious!
Vicky & Ruth
We love it too! Thank you!