How to Make Tahini Dressing

This tahini salad dressing has an unbelievably creamy texture and is the type of sauce you’ll want to drench your next salad in. It’s made with simple ingredients, like lemon juice and garlic, and can be stirred together in minutes.

The first time I made this dressing was over a decade ago, when I was on a raw-foods kick. That meant I was buying raw tahini, which, as it turns out, is drastically different from other varieties. Be sure to read my tips below on which tahini will work best for this recipe, so you won’t wind up with bitter results.

Use it as a salad topping or a dip for veggies this week!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Featured Review

“Wow this was good!! BEST salad dressing recipe EVER and I’ve tried quite a few! Thank you so much for sharing. 🙂 I can’t wait to have another salad for dinner tomorrow night!!” – Amber

Tahini Dressing Ingredients

• Tahini. I think you get the best results with raw tahini, such as Artisana brand, or with homemade tahini. It takes about 10 minutes to make in a food processor and is more affordable than buying it at the store. If you use another brand, such as Soom, the toasted sesame seed flavor will be more pronounced. (So it will taste less like Caesar dressing.)
• Lemon Juice. You’ll need approximately two lemons for this recipe. I like to start with 4 tablespoons of lemon juice, but you may want to use up to 6 tablespoons total. It’s best to taste and adjust as you go. Don’t use store-bought bottled juice; fresh is best!
• Garlic. I’ve learned that the key to hiding the bitter tahini flavor is to add plenty of fresh garlic. I usually use 3 small cloves in this batch, but you can adjust this to taste.
• Onion Powder. This is another layer of flavor that masks the bitterness of the tahini.
• Salt and Pepper. I use fine sea salt, which tastes different than white table salt. I recommend a minimum amount of salt in this recipe, but you can always add an extra pinch if you want to boost the flavor.

How to Make Tahini Dressing

Step 1:

In a 14 oz. or larger jar, add the tahini, lemon juice, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Use a microplane to finely mince the garlic cloves directly into the jar.

Stir well. The mixture should start to look relatively thick.

Step 2:

Add water, one tablespoon at a time, until the dressing reaches a creamy, drippy consistency. I usually add 4 to 5 tablespoons total, but this may vary based on the type of tahini you use.

As soon as you’re happy with the consistency, you can taste the dressing and adjust the seasoning if needed. It’s ready to use right away.

Lemon Tahini Dressing (Oil-Free!)

4.97 from 33 votes

If you're trying to cut back on dairy or mayo but still want to enjoy a creamy dressing on your salad, this tahini dressing is for you. It's made with a handful of simple ingredients and reminds me of classic Caesar dressing. There's no oil required!

prep5 mins cook0 mins total5 mins

Servings:8

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Ingredients

 

US CustomaryMetric

 

1x2x3x

• ½ cup raw tahini
• 4 to 6 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (about 2 lemons)
• 3 garlic cloves , minced
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
• ¼ cup water

Instructions

• In a 14-ounce jar or larger, add the tahini, 4 tablespoons of lemon juice, minced garlic, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. (Use a microplane to finely mince the garlic directly into the jar.) Stir well, then add the water and stir again.
• Taste the dressing and add more lemon juice, just one tablespoon at a time, if you'd like a more tart flavor. If you don't want to add more lemon juice, you may want to add another tablespoon of water to thin the consistency. Once you're happy with the flavor and texture, it's ready to serve.
• Secure the lid on the jar and store the dressing in the fridge for up to a week. It will thicken when chilled, so you may want to add another tablespoon of water to thin the consistency when you use it later.

Video

Notes

Nutrition information is for approximately 2 tablespoons of dressing, assuming you get 1 cup total from this batch. This information is automatically calculated, so it’s just an estimate and not a guarantee. 

Update Note: This recipe was updated in 2025 with the option for 4 to 6 tablespoons of lemon juice, rather than just calling for 6 tablespoons of lemon juice right away. This is just due to personal preference (lately I’ve been using only 4), so if you prefer the original recipe you can start with 6 tablespoons right away. 

Nutrition

Calories: 93kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 151mg | Potassium: 83mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.2g | Vitamin A: 11IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 25mg | Iron: 1mg

Author: Megan Gilmore

Course: Snack

Cuisine: American

Keyword: tahini dressing

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If you try this tahini dressing recipe, please leave a comment and star rating below to let me know how you like it.