This quick and easy lemon herb tahini sauce is one of my all time favorite sauces! Featuring fresh herbs, tahini, garlic and lemon, this nutritious and versatile sauce is perfect for adding fresh flavor to almost any dish.
A delicious sauce can make all the difference, transforming basic things like vegetables or simple salads into gourmet dishes that you simply can't get enough of.
I'm always experimenting with combinations of nutritious ingredients to achieve that perfect sauce. For this sauce recipe, my goal was to keep it as simple as possible to truly feature the star players - lemon, herbs and tahini!
For a while I was using olive oil as a base for this recipe, but I eventually realized that this sauce really didn't need it. I swapped out the oil for water, added a touch of maple syrup and boom! This incredible sauce was born.
Bursting with flavor and a vibrant green color from the fresh cilantro and parsley, this lemon herb tahini will have you reinventing ways to use it over and over again. I love drizzling it over roasted veggies and quinoa bowls, using it as a salad dressing and even enjoying it as a dipping sauce for sweet potato veggie burgers!
You can also use less water to keep the sauce a bit thicker for use on sandwiches, tacos or wraps. I promise you that this sauce will elevate any dish from "it's good" to "oh, wow!"
Why You'll Love this Lemon Herb Tahini
- Quick and easy recipe: ready in 5 minutes.
- Delicious: adds so much flavor to any dish.
- Versatile: use in different ways as a sauce, thick dressing or dip!
- Nutritious: provides vitamins, minerals and healthy fats.
- Simple: uses just a handful of basic fresh ingredients.
- Stores well: perfect for meal prep to have on hand for the week!
Ingredients for Lemon Herb Tahini
Each of these simple ingredients were carefully chosen to complement the others. See the recipe card at the end of the post for quantities.
- Tahini - adds a creamy texture and subtle nutty flavor. Make sure to use good quality, runny tahini and avoid using any clumpy tahini at the bottom of the jar.
- Fresh herbs (cilantro and parsley) - adds brightness and freshness. You can use some of the stems rather than having to pluck all the leaves because it will be pulsed or puréed.
- Fresh lemon juice - adds tang and balances out the fresh parsley and cilantro.
- Maple syrup - adds a little sweetness and balances out the tartness of the lemon.
- Fresh garlic - adds a punch of flavor.
- Salt
- Cold water
How to Make Lemon Herb Tahini
Add all ingredients to a mini food processor (or high-speed blender) and purée until smooth and creamy. Alternatively, you can pulse until well combined where only specs of herbs can be seen. Enjoy immediately!
Recipe Variations
Feel free to switch out the herbs for different flavors! I always use parsley, but sometimes I'll swap out the cilantro depending on what I'm craving (and what I have on hand).
- Fresh dill - perfect for spring
- Fresh basil - for an Italian dish
- Fresh mint - for a bit of a cool sensation
Serving Suggestions
This list is endless for stating the variety of dishes where you could use this flavorful sauce!
As a dip: fresh veggies (i.e., bell peppers, carrots) and pita bread.
As a sauce: roasted veggies (i.e., sweet potatoes, cauliflower), sandwiches, tacos and quinoa bowls.
As a salad dressing: any type of salad!
How to Store Lemon Herb Tahini
Store leftover tahini sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to about 5-7 days. It will thicken in the fridge, so when reusing you might need to whisk with extra water to thin it out to your desired consistency.
This sauce is also freezer-friendly for up to 3 months. Like pesto, when meal prepping I love pouring it into ice cube trays to use for future single servings where I need a pop of flavor and color!
Why Eat Tahini?
Tahini is a paste made from ground sesame seeds. It is a Mediterranean staple that is sometimes referred to as "Mediterranean peanut butter" given its nutty flavor, despite it being nut-free.
Tahini offers plant-based protein, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, fiber, B vitamins, iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium and zinc! It truly is a nutrient powerhouse. I am always looking for ways to incorporate tahini into dishes for its healthy fats and plant-based nutrients.
Some people don't love the flavor of tahini, but in this recipe the herbs, garlic cloves, maple syrup and lemon are more dominant and definitely masks the tahini taste a bit!
How to Properly Store Fresh Herbs
How you store fresh herbs affects how long they will stay fresh!
Instead of keeping them in a plastic bag, trim the bottoms and stand them upright in a glass of water in the fridge. Every other day, trim the stems a bit more and replace the water. This method will keep herbs fresh for about a week.
When buying fresh herbs at the grocery store, choose ones that are perky and crisp. Avoid ones that are wilted or yellowing.
This recipe is vegan, gluten-free, nut-free, refined sugar-free and soy-free. If you give it a try, please let me know by leaving a comment below or tagging me @eatingbyelaine!
More Tahini Sauces and Dressings
5-Minute Lemon Herb Tahini Sauce
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 8 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This quick and easy lemon herb tahini sauce is one of my all time favorite sauces! Featuring fresh herbs, tahini, garlic and lemon, this nutritious and versatile sauce is perfect for adding fresh flavor to almost any dish.
Ingredients
- ¼ cup water
- ¼ cup runny tahini
- 1 cup fresh cilantro, large thick stems removed
- 1 cup fresh Italian flat leaf parsley, large thick stems removed
- 1 large garlic clove
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 lemon, juiced
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a mini food processor (or blender) and purée until smooth and creamy. Alternatively, you can pulse until well combined where only specs of herbs can be seen.
- Serve!
Equipment
Buy Now → Notes
- Store leftover tahini sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to about 5-7 days. It will thicken in the fridge, so when reusing you might need to whisk with extra water to thin it out to your desired consistency.
- You can add some of the thinner stems in this sauce since it is pureed and still offers flavor.
- Prep Time: 5
- Category: Sauce
- Method: blender
Leave a Reply