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This Lemon Tahini Dressing is possibly one of my favorite salad dressings of all time. It’s rich and creamy, without using dairy or oil! Drench your salads with it, or use it as a healthy dip with veggies.
How to Make Lemon Tahini Dressing
Making this creamy tahini dressing is as easy as it gets. You don’t need a blender or any special equipment! Simply stir the tahini, lemon juice, and other ingredients together until smooth and creamy. (It does take a few minutes of stirring to combine.)
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Choosing the Right Type of Tahini
The reason this tahini dressing is oil-free is because the tahini I’m using has NO added oil. (I use Artisana tahini most often.) If you’re on an oil-free diet, be sure to check on the label on your tahini. The only ingredient should be ground sesame seeds.
If there is added oil in the tahini you have, this recipe won’t work as well because the tahini is probably much runnier in texture. Keep in mind that it’s easy to make your own oil-free tahini at home, too! Just pour hulled sesame seeds into your food processor and grind them until very smooth.
How Long Does Tahini Dressing Last?
This lemon tahini dressing should last up to a week in your fridge. I usually use it all before then! Keep in mind that the garlic flavor tends to get a little more potent as it rests in the fridge, so when I make a double batch of this dressing I don’t always double the garlic so the flavor won’t be too overpowering by the end of the week.
Can You Freeze Tahini Dressing?
This dressing freezes and thaws well! I like to freeze sauces and dressings in a ice cube tray so that they will thaw quickly and are easy to portion later.
More Healthy Tahini Recipes
If you need more ideas on how to use the rest of the tahini in your fridge, give one of these recipes a try!
- Zucchini Hummus
- Make-Ahead Vegan Lunch Bowls
- Vegan Green Goddess Dressing (Oil-Free!)
- Tahini-Dill Salad Dressing
- Cucumber Tahini Salad Dressing
How to Make Lemon Tahini Dressing (1-Minute Video):
Lemon Tahini Dressing (Oil-Free!)
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup raw tahini
- 1/4 cup water , plus more to thin
- 6 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (about 4 lemons)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced (or 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder)
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 3/4 teaspoon sea salt
- freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Combine all of the ingredients in a bowl or mason jar and whisk well to combine. Add extra water one tablespoon at a time, until the dressing is as thin as you'd like it to be, and adjust any seasonings to your taste.
- This dressing will thicken up when stored in the fridge. It's great as a dip, but if you want to thin it for a salad dressing, just add another tablespoon of water and stir until pourable again. This should last up to a week in the fridge.
Video
Nutrition
For 2 tablespoons of dressing: Calories: 73, Fat: 6g, Carbohydrates: 3g, Fiber: 1g, Protein: 2g
Recipe Notes:
- Make sure you use a tahini that has no other ingredients to keep this dressing oil-free. I use Artisana brand most often, and the only ingredient in that is ground sesame seeds.
- You can make your own tahini in a food processor without using added oil, by grinding hulled sesame seeds until smooth.
If you try this recipe, please leave a comment below letting me know what you think! And if you make a substitution, please let us know how it worked for you. We can all benefit from your experience!
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Reader Feedback: Do you have a favorite oil-free salad dressing?
Paula
I make the same dressing! LOVE it. I like to add a little smoked paprika to it too – lends a nice, subtle smoky flavor and turns it a slight earthy pink color 🙂
Red Deception
I so dislike tahini! Hate hate hate the taste! I wish I liked it because I love creamy sauces, but it makes me gag 🙁
Ashley
try almond butter instead! It’s delicious and creamy.
Pure2Raw Twins
Oh yum tahini! We love putting straight tahini on our salads YUM the perfect salad dressing 😉
Keri
I just made this! It tastes great! I wish I had some fresh dill and parsley to throw in it because I bet that would taste great too!
Valentine
hi Megan!!! thank you SO SO MUCH! for creating and posting sugar-free stevia-friendly recipes. you are a PioneerYeastMonsterSlayer! thank you !! 🙂
Megan
Ha ha, thanks! That’s a pretty awesome title. 😉
Glad you’re enjoying the recipes!!
Lindsay
As far as food combining goes, is tahini under the nuts, seeds, and dried fruit category? Or is it neutral?
Megan
Yes, tahini falls into the nut/seed category for combining purposes. 🙂
Sarah
Megan you might laugh, but both my meals today were from the Megan Menu! I went out and bought some tahini for the first time ever. I almost fell over when I saw the total fat content but then checked the (low) saturated fat total. The media has brainwashed us to think all fat = bad. Anyway, I made this dressing for a huge salad today and I LOVED it! Thanks for all the great, healthy ideas.
Megan
You must have read my mind, Sarah! I’m writing a post for tomorrow all about fat– and how we shouldn’t be scared of it!! 🙂
Carrie
Hi Megan,
I tried finding ‘raw’ tahini at my local Sunflower Farmers Market. I only found roasted seed tahini, will that work for your recipes? I’m assuming the raw tahini comes from un-roasted, plain sesame seeds? I bought the stores brand, which didn’t say roasted, but it also didn’t say raw. 🙂 I can’t wait to try this recipe tonight, and also planning on making your goat yogurt ranch. Starting to get bored with plain lemon and olive oil dressing. Thanks for all the recipes!
Amy
What Tahini do you recommend? I definitely think the taste of the tahini makes a big difference as I have made hummus with not so great results. Would love to know which brand(s) you would recommend. Thanks!
Megan
The tahini definitely makes a difference! I always use this brand: http://amzn.to/QnCZTT
I can usually find it at my local Whole Foods, but otherwise you can order it on Amazon with free shipping!
Sarah
how long does this last in the fridge?
Megan
I think it would definitely last up to 4 days in the fridge, maybe longer. I usually eat it too quickly to find out! 😉
Sarah
Thanks! I’ll definitely be giving this a try.
Penny O
Delicious & easy. I am going to try this with other nut/seed butters. Thanks for sharing.
SF
You should just call this dressing “liquid crack”! I will be pouring this over my salads all week. Your recipes are the BEST.
Megan
I’m so glad you’re enjoying it! I can’t get enough of it, either. 😉
Jennifer
This is seriously the BEST creamy dressing! Thank you for all the yummy and healthy ideas you share with us!
Paige
Made this today, and even my 5-year old son enjoyed his salad! I added some extra herbs, so it would look like ranch dressing. Thanks!
felisha
Made this over the weekend, absolutely delicious. This is for veggies and dip, for the summer time! 🙂
Lesa J.
I have recently been diagnosed with some liver problems and I can not have sodium. Do you have any sodium free receipes? Especially for sauces and dressings. Thanks!
Megan
Lesa, you are always welcome to leave the salt out of any of my recipes. The results will be a bit more bland, but I’m sure your taste-buds will have adapted to less sodium flavor, anyway.
Penny
I love this dressing and so does my 11 month old! (While eating this was the only time I have ever seen her trying to lick her plate.) I also introduced a friend to it, and she loves it! I just need to work on my 3 year old 😉
Carol
Yum, yum, yum! I loved it and its simple enough to whip up real quick. Wondered how your game out soo white but I realized that my organic Tahini is from roasted seeds. I’ll try the brand you recommend. I found it once but gasped at the price so didn’t buy it. My Whole Foods stores stopped carrying it so I will order from Amazon. Thanks for your recipes. They taste like real food. (I think you know what I mean!)
I give it 5 stars but for some reason it will only highlight 4 stars no matter how many times I tap the 5th one. Probably an Ipad glitch.
Heather
Do you ever make your own tahini?
Deanna
This is the third time I’ve made this. I think I like it better with less garlic and more onion so I adjust it slightly. Also, I use 1 lemon, which gives me a quarter of a cup of juice (I must have large lemons!) then top that off with water to make it equal a half cup. It’s perfect! Soooooooo yummy!
sara
Better than Annie’s Goddess. I have been following you and making recipes that you post now for about a year. I added a little green onion. This was better than I expected. I ran out of my yogurt dill dressing I make and decided to try it. Some day I will make everything you post.
Isis
This is absolutely the BEST dressing ever… I have had it with two different salads and both tasted great. I used a a small chunk of red onion as i didnt have onion powder and still came out fantastic. The salad it tasted best with was a combo of red cabbage, white cabbage, lots of mint, lots of coriander, orange carrot and lots of chives. Delish with toasted almonds.
Becky
I really loved this! It was divine used as a dip for my sweet potato fries. Thank you! Love your recipes!
Cindy S.
YUM!!😋 Great idea!
Kelly
I love Tahini so I had to try this. I thought the Tahini taste was a little to strong so I added some maple syrup to this and it was just what it needed. Just poured it over a huge plate of veggies, delicious.
Diana
Just made this tahini with cashews (didn’t have the raw tahini on hand) and a handfull whole sesame seeds then blended in Vitamix till smooth and frothy. SOOOOOO good, I plan to wow my husband with it tonight 😉 Will be serving with roasted shawarma spiced veggies, I can’t wait for dinner! Another delicious recipe Megan, thanks!!!
Kristen
Can you add balsamic vinegar to this dressing? I feel like I need to add something else besides water to make it not so thick. I LOVE it for a dip, I’m talking about for a salad dressing.
MG
This dressing was so tasty and easy to make. I put it on a fried portabella mushroom, cherry tomato, and green bean dish. Planning to try it on salad since there is plenty left over. I wonder how long it lasts in the fridge.
Melissa
Made this yesterday, stored it in the fridge overnight to let the flavors come together. Yum-o! Eating it right now and loving it. Thanks, Megan!
Julie
THIS IS SO GOOD! MY FAVORITE HAS BEEN YOUR KNOCK OFF BUT THIS IS BETTER! I ADDED A LITTLE EVERYTHING BAGEL SEASONING AT END OF MINE.😄
Gwen Reeder
What is tahani? I have never heard of it. And also where do I find it?
Megan Gilmore
Tahini is a paste made from ground sesame seeds! It’s often found in stores near the peanut butter but it’s also super simple and more cost effective to make at home! You can check out my recipe for homemade tahini here: https://detoxinista.com/tahini/
Alissa
Yummy!
Cyndi Nusbaum
First Time doing a Raw Vegan Challenge… And, This is my Most Valued find, online. I can go with my gut on making a smoothie but, my dry salad needs help. Thanks so much!!
Megan Gilmore
Hope you enjoy it!
Janice St.Helene
I made this while doing the Wild Rose cleanse. Made it in my Vitamix which made a super smooth dressing. Tastes delicious with salad or with roasted veggies and brown rice.
tricia
This is my go-to dressing! I could pour it on everything!!
Yoselin
Love it! Favorite dressing now
Heather P
This was easy and so good!
Azka
Made this simple dressing today – added a little bit of hot sauce and 1 tsp of maple syrup. SO delicious, quick and versatile.
Christie
Great dressing!
We added some pepper and Cajun seasoning for a kick. Even without the changes this tastes great!
Cindy S.
Love this dressing! Easy to make and so versatile like so many stated. Have made many times. Today, having it with arugula, butter lettuce, roasted tomatoes, cauliflower, delicata squash, roasted cranberries and quinoa. I ran out of beans with my husband’s lunch and dinner want to open another can. Delicious!!
Nancy
This was fantastic. Very close to what my favorite Mediterranean restaurant serves. I left the salt out and went heavy on the freshly minced garlic. Thank you for this recipe!
Heather
I cannot believe how awesome this dressing is!!! I don’t normally leave reviews but I had to on this one. I’m trying my hardest to stay plant based but I missed ranch and Caesar type dressings. Not anymore!! This blows any other dressing I’ve tried out of the water!! I can’t believe how creamy it is without using dairy or like blended tofu! And it’s sooooo easy to make. No blender or food processor or soaking cashews overnight!! I LOVE IT!! Thanks so much for posting this.
Heather
I’m replying to my own comment lol. I just wondered if this dressing would be good as a sauce on pasta??!! I feel like it would be great hot too. I’m going to try it. 😉
Michael
I make this all the time and love it. I always have fresh herbs growing so I usually throw in some basil and flat leaf parsley, sometimes dill. Pretty darn tasty as a dipping sauce for my oil free falafel too!
Kat
This dressing is amazing!! Thank you for the recipe
Karen Tassone
This dressing is amazing, but I like to add a bit of maple syrup to balance the flavours. I’m now addicted to it
Cecilia
Made this yesterday with sliced cucumbers, carrots, black radish, fennel and celery, topped with dried sour cherries and golden berries. I was born in Israel and love middle eastern food. This recipe is delicious!
ameerahdavis
My tahini says 100% perfect sesame paste so I think i’m good to go. I can not wait to try this
Jane
My new favorite dressing!