Tahini, lemon, garlic and Dijon mustard get whisked together to create the most incredible homemade vegan salad dressing! This easy creamy tahini dressing is ready in 5 minutes and adds the perfect finishing touch to your favorite salads, bowls and wraps. It also makes for an addictive and nutritious raw dip for fresh veggies!
Skip over packaged dressings at the grocery store! Trust me when I say that homemade salad dressings make a HUGE difference. Fresh salads are definitely my thing, but only because I can adjust both the flavor profile and texture of the dressing so it's exactly as sweet, tangy, savory or garlicky as I'm craving.
This lemon tahini dressing is made with just six simple ingredients which combine into smooth, creamy sauce that you'll want to use on top of every dish!
Ingredients for this Simple Tahini Dressing
I always have these ingredients on hand, which is awesome because I love making this creamy dressing! It's perfect for drizzling on top of your favorite salad, bowl or wrap. See recipe card below for quantities.
- Tahini - Use well-stirred, runny tahini for this dressing. As the key ingredient, I recommend using good quality tahini - I highly recommend using Soom as I find they make the best tahini!
- Lemon - I use the juice of one large lemon. The acidity of fresh lemons make every other flavor just a little more distinct.
- Garlic - Use a garlic press to ensure that fresh garlic stirs evenly into every bite. I love this garlic press, which you can get for 10% off with my code ELAINE.
- Maple syrup - Pure maple is my sweetener of choice! It keeps my recipes free of refined sugar and is made from just the sap of maple trees. It's different than the table syrup you would use on waffles or pancakes.
- Dijon mustard - I love the way the tangy, slightly spicy Dijon flavor pairs with tahini and garlic. It creates a layered, delicious sauce for a variety of meals!
- Salt - Start with just half a teaspoon, then taste and adjust to your preference.
How to Make Tahini Dressing
I will ALWAYS recommend making your own salad dressing! It's budget-friendly, takes just a minute or two, and lets you totally customize it to your own preferences. You can make this dressing in a bowl with a whisk, or you can even measure the ingredients right into a Mason jar, give it a good shake and store it in the fridge. No food processor necessary!
1. Whisk the ingredients together. Add runny tahini, lemon juice, pressed garlic, maple syrup, dijon mustard and salt to a small bowl. Whisk well to combine.
2. Thin out the dressing with water. Start with 2 tablespoons of water and whisk to give it a thinner consistency. Add more as needed for a thinner dressing.
3. Serve immediately. This recipe makes enough for two medium-sized salads. Pour the tahini dressing overtop chopped romaine lettuce or any salad greens. I love to serve with crispy chickpeas or hemp seeds for added plant-based protein.
Store leftover dressing in a small airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week. The dressing will thicken as it chills. Thin out by whisking in more cold water before serving again.
Health Benefits of Tahini
Tahini is sometimes called Mediterranean peanut butter. It's made from sesame seeds ground into a paste. It's a nut-free pantry staple with a slightly nutty flavor that is packed with a surprising amount of nutrients.
Tahini is a great source of fiber, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, iron, calcium, plant-based protein, and it has vitamin B and antioxidants galore. I stir my tahini really well every time I open the jar so the oils stay fully incorporated. Most recipes call for runny tahini, so keeping it stirred will maintain that good texture.
More tahini recipes I love:
Salads and Bowls for Tahini Dressing
I always have a couple good sauces and dressings in my refrigerator. They make any dish pop and I love how they liven up leftovers! This maple tahini dressing is amazing over all salads and buddha bowls, but these are my favorite recipes to use it with:
Salads: Let the flavors of this dressing shine over a simple side salad or a pear and roasted beet arugula salad.
Entrees: Use this tahini sauce recipe to dress up roasted veggies and crispy chickpeas over fluffy quinoa or to add even more flavor to a chickpea shawarma bowl.
I also love to dip raw veggies such as red bell pepper and cucumbers in it as a dip. It is totally addictive!
This dressing is vegan, gluten-free, soy-free and refined sugar-free! It's a really delicious allergy-friendly option to put on the table. If you make it, please tag me on Instagram so I can see what you pair it with! You can also leave a review below, which is so helpful.
More Vegan Homemade Dressings
- Best Paleo Ranch Dressing
- Green Goddess Dressing
- Three-Ingredient Honey Mustard Sauce
- Easy Green Onion Cashew Sauce (vegan + paleo)
- The Best Creamy Poppy Seed Dressing
- Easy Mediterranean House Dressing (vegan + paleo)
- Dijon-Agave Apple Cider Vinaigrette
- Creamy Vegan Garlic Cilantro Lime Sauce
- Easy Creamy Vegan Tahini Sauce
- Herbed Tahini Sauce (vegan + paleo + Whole30-friendly)
- 5-Minute Lemon Herb Tahini Sauce
Easy 5-Minute Creamy Tahini Dressing
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 2 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Tahini, lemon, garlic and Dijon mustard get whisked together to create the most incredible homemade vegan salad dressing! This easy creamy tahini dressing is ready in 5 minutes and adds the perfect finishing touch to your favorite salads, bowls and wraps. It also makes for an addictive and nutritious raw dip for fresh veggies!
Ingredients
- ¼ cup runny tahini (I love Soom tahini)
- 1 large juicy lemon, juiced
- 1 large clove garlic, pressed through a garlic press
- 2 teaspoons maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2-4 tablespoons water to thin as needed
Instructions
- Whisk the ingredients together. Add runny tahini, lemon juice, pressed garlic, maple syrup, dijon mustard and salt to a small bowl. Whisk well to combine.
- Thin out the dressing with water. Start with 2 tablespoons of water and whisk to give it a thinner consistency. Add more as needed for a thinner dressing.
- Serve immediately. This recipe makes enough for two medium-sized salads. Pour the tahini dressing overtop chopped romaine lettuce or any salad greens. I love to serve with crispy chickpeas or hemp seeds for added plant-based protein.
Equipment
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glass storage containers with lid - small
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Buy Now → Notes
Store leftover dressing in a small airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week. The dressing will thicken as it chills. Thin out by whisking in more cold water before serving again.
- Prep Time: 5
- Category: Dressing
Marta says
I have never been a tahini fan but decided to give this recipe a try anyway, and wow, it was so simple and tasty! I used it on a quick salad for lunch and will definitely make it again in the future. Thank you!
Elaine Gordon says
Thank you, Marta! I'm so happy to hear you enjoyed this one so much. Thank you for letting me know! Best, Elaine
Sabrina Cella says
This is my staple recipe! Love it! Thanks for the amazing blog and Insta
Elaine Gordon says
Thank you so much! So happy to hear you love it and it has become a staple. And thank you for following along! Best, Elaine
Julia Young says
Love this dressing! I use it all the time, not just for salads but when I want a little sauce for things - roasted veggies, veggie burgers, etc. So easy to throw together and so tasty!
Elaine Gordon says
Thank you so much, Julia! I'm so happy to hear you enjoy this one so much and have so many uses for it. Thank you for the five star review! Best, Elaine