Lemon Tahini Dressing
This creamy Lemon Tahini Dressing is made with tahini, lemon juice, and nutritional yeast. Ready in just 5 minutes, it’s incredibly easy to make and perfect for drizzling on salads, grain bowls, buddha bowls, roasted vegetables, and more!
Try it on my Kale Salad with Peaches & Crispy Chickpeas, Chickpea Quinoa Salad, or Roasted Potato & Lentil Buddha Bowl for a flavorful addition.
I am completely obsessed with this lemon tahini dressing. Itās rich, nutty, tangy, and bright. Perfect for drizzling over healthy salads, like this kale salad with peaches and crispy chickpeas, on grain bowls, over roasted veggies, in wraps, and more.
Featured Review
So good! New favorite dressing š thank you!
– Courtney
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Dressing
I’ve been making this dressing for years and it comes out perfect every single time. Once you make it, I’m sure you’ll find endless ways to use it!
- Ready in 5 minutes
- Perfect creamy consistency
- Drizzle it on salads, grain bowls, roasted veggies, and more
- Vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, and oil-free
- A meal-prep staple
What Does Lemon Tahini Dressing Taste Like?
This lemon tahini dressing is creamy, nutty, tangy, and savory all at once. Needless to say, it’s LOADED with flavor. The tahini adds a nutty, umami flavor, the lemon juice brightens everything up, and the nutritional yeast adds a cheesy flavor (without any actual cheese, of course).
Ingredients Needed
- Tahini: Make sure to use a smooth, runny tahini. My favorites are Trader Joeās, Soom, and Seed + Mill.
- Lemon Juice: Adds a bright, tangy element. If you don’t have lemon juice, apple cider vinegar will work in a pinch.
- Nutritional Yeast: For a “cheesy” flavor.
- Maple Syrup: Just one tablespoon of maple syrup adds a naturally sweet flavor.
- Seasonings: A mix of salt, black pepper, and garlic powder helps lift all the flavors.
- Water: Helps thin the dressing to a pourable consistency without the need for oil.
This is just a recipe overview! Scroll down to the recipe card to get the full recipe with measurements.
How to Make Lemon Tahini Dressing
This lemon tahini dressing recipe is so easy to make. Just mix everything together, taste for seasoning, and enjoy as you wish!
- Mix all the ingredients in a bowl until it reaches a creamy, pourable consistency. Depending on the thickness of your tahini, you may need to add a little more water to get the perfect texture and desired consistency.
Megan’s Tips
- Use runny tahini: Using a smooth, runny tahini will give you the creamiest dressing. If your tahini is thick or dry, you may need to add more water to reach that creamy consistency. Just make sure the only ingredients in your tahini are ground sesame seeds.
- Adjust the consistency: Add extra water, one tablespoon at a time, until it reaches your perfect drizzle-able consistency.
- Make it ahead: This dressing tastes even better after sitting for a little while, which makes it perfect for meal prep. Store it in the fridge and give it a quick stir before serving (you may need to add a little extra water as it will thicken as it sits in the fridge).
- Balance the flavor: If your lemon is extra tart, add a tiny drizzle of maple syrup to balance the acidity.
- Double the batch: Trust me, you’ll want extra on hand for salads, roasted veggies, grain bowls, wraps, and dipping fresh veggies straight from the fridge.
Ways to Use It
This lemon tahini dressing is creamy, tangy, and incredibly versatile. It tastes delicious drizzled on just about anything! Here are some of my favorite ways to enjoy it:
- Toss it into salads, like my Chickpea Quinoa Salad
- Drizzle it over grain bowls, like my Vegan Butternut Squash & Kale Quinoa Bowl
- Add it to buddha bowls buddha bowls, like my Roasted Potato & Lentil Buddha Bowl.
- Pour it over roasted vegetables for an easy flavor boost
- Spread it into wraps or pita sandwiches with crispy falafel
- Use it as a dip for fresh veggies or roasted potatoes
FAQs
Tahini is a paste made from ground sesame seeds (also known as sesame butter). It has a rich, nutty flavor and a creamy texture, making it the perfect base for this dressing. It’s packed with healthy fats, fiber, and vitamins.
This lemon tahini dressing is creamy, nutty, tangy, and savory all at once. The tahini adds an umami flavor, the lemon juice brightens everything up, and the nutritional yeast adds a cheesy flavor.
Yes, this dressing is oil-free, getting its creamy texture from tahini instead.
Store the dressing in an airtight jar or container in the refrigerator for 7-10 days. Give it a good stir before serving, adding water one tablespoon at a time if needed, as it might thicken in the fridge.
Tahini naturally thickens when chilled. Simply whisk in a little extra water, one tablespoon at a time, until it reaches your desired consistency.
Drizzle This Creamy Dressing On
Pair this lemon tahini dressing with one of these recipes!
If you make this recipe, please be sure to leave a comment and ā ā ā ā ā star rating below. Don’t forget to tag me on Instagram so I can see your creations!
Lemon Tahini Dressing
Ingredients
- Ā¾ cup tahini
- Ā½ cup water
- 1 lemon
- 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- Ā½ teaspoon salt
- Ā¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Ā¼ teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Add the tahini, water, lemon juice, nutritional yeast, maple syrup, salt, black pepper, and garlic powder to a bowl. Whisk until smooth and creamy.
- Add more water as needed to reach a pourable consistency. Taste and adjust for seasoning.
Video
Notes
- Make sure to use a smooth, runny tahini. My favorites are Trader Joeās, Soom, and Seed + Mill.
- Depending on the thickness of your tahini, you may need to add a little more water to get the perfect texture.
This has been my go-to salad dressing for the past few years. Actually, I drizzle it on more than just salads, I love it with baked tofu, on grain bowls, with roasted potatoes… the list goes on! It’s so easy to make and full of flavor.Ā
I really enjoyed the lemon-tahini dressing. It was very tasty. I would make it again for sure. #happyholidays
I’m so glad you loved this dressing! Thanks for sharing your review š
This dressing was a bit bitter to me made as is, so I added some more maple syrup and that made it better. To be honest, I think I have bitter tastebuds. LOL My mom loved the dressing as is, so it’s definitely my tastebuds, but definitely will make this again with a little tweaking. š
Glad you enjoyed the dressing and were able to adjust it to your taste buds! Thanks for sharing š
Thank you Megan. Just now seeing this as I currently can’t send or receive emails, so I didn’t get the notification.
Adding #happyholidays too for the giveaway since I forgot. LOL
So good! New favorite dressing š thank you!
Aw yay! I’m so glad to hear you love it!
Thanks for the tahini recommendations! I need to try Seed + Mill next time I make this!
Of course! Enjoy Leah š
I made this yesterday – itās delicious- I didnāt have maple syrup so I used date syrup; I really love lemon so next time Iāll
add some extra lemon juice – thanks for the easy, healthy recipes Megan šĀ
Aww, I’m so happy to hear you loved it, Annamaria š thank you for sharing!