This easy recipe for creamy tahini sauce uses only a handful of healthy ingredients and takes a minute to make. So versatile, it goes with everything. Try it with salads, as a dip or in a lunch sandwich.
Say hello to your next secret sauce for EVERYTHING! Creamy, tangy, garlicky, nutty from-jar-to-mouth-kinda-delicious Tahini Sauce.
Elevate your favorite bowls and salads with this easy Tahini Sauce!
Can I tell you a secret? The key to weeknight dinner success lies in learning to pair simple foods with a simple sauce for a delicious dinner. This tahini sauce has become my go-to sauce for a lot of my meals. It's THAT good. Plus you make it once and you will probably never have to look at the recipe again.
My recipe for tahini sauce is ridiculously quick and easy to make. This silky smooth sesame sauce has become a permanent resident in my fridge, as it is very adaptable and shines on salads, sandwiches, falafel, buddha bowls, and all my other favorite meals!! It will rapidly become a must-have in your pantry, too.
Serve it thick or thin, and jazz it up any way you like! Drink it with a straw. Trust me, you just don't want to look back and think you could have made that.
On buying tahini paste:
Tahini is like peanut butter but made from sesame seeds. Just sesame seeds that have been lightly toasted, stone-ground, blended and bottled. Just like with any nut or seed butter, make sure that there are no other ingredients listed on your jar. You want to watch out for added oils, sugars or fats.
Hulled vs unhulled:
Tahini made from unhulled sesame seeds is more nutrient-rich than tahini made from hulled seeds, but it is also a tad more bitter, which is why I like to buy hulled. Both versions work for this tahini sauce recipe so you can let your taste buds de decide.
Raw vs roasted:
Another distinction is drawn between roasted versus raw tahini. Roasted tahini has a more intensive flavor but some nutrients get lost in the toasting process. Raw, so non-roasted tahini is higher in nutrients and would be the better choice from a nutrition point of view. However, it does go rancid quicker than toasted.
It's really down to your personal preference. If you are not a fan of strong sesame flavor, go for raw, if you are all about the deep nutty taste, opt for roasted.
Obviously, if you come across certified organic tahini, that would be the best option. You can easily find tahini in either natural food stores or food stores that sell Middle Eastern foods.
Now, unfortunately, they don't let you open that jar and try your tahini before you buy it. I really wish they would because Tahini brands really DO vary in flavor and texture. But even if you are not 100% happy with your purchase there is no need to toss it. If you find your sesame paste too bitter, you can "fix it" by adding some maple syrup or honey. If it's too sharp, add some olive oil.
How to make Tahini Sauce:
Place tahini paste, garlic and lemon in a bowl. Tip: Use freshly squeezed lemons - no bottled lemon juice!
Gradually stir in ice water, starting with ¼ cup, until you reach a smooth sauce consistency that you can drizzle. I used about ½ cup but the exact quantity will depend on the brand and texture of the tahini paste.
The tahini paste will harden in contact with water - it’s normal. Keep stirring and adding water as needed and it’ll be perfectly smooth.
Taste it and make any variations (see below) based on your taste. Want it tangier? Add more lemon juice. Want the turn up the heat? Add some cayenne powder. Herbs? Always?
How to store homemade Tahini Sauce?
Store your homemade tahini sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
To make a large batch or for extra smooth tahini sauce, use a blender instead of mixing by hand!
Delicious ways to use homemade tahini sauce:
Tahini sauce is such a versatile condiment and can be used in everything from savory dishes to sweet baked goods.
- Add it to homemade hummus or baba ganoush
- Drizzle on fresh or oven-roasted vegetables
- Serve with flatbread or homemade baked pita chips
- Use it as a salad dressing
- Drizzle it on top of this Easy Shawarma Bowl (coming next week) or this Detox Bowl
- Add it to my favorite falafel sandwich or grilled chicken wrap
Variations for this Tahini Sauce recipe:
I'm somewhat of a purist when it comes to tahini sauce and love it as is. However, if you want to change up the traditional flavor profile of this tahini sauce, just add some freshly chopped herbs! Simply whisk in any chopped herbs, such as fresh parsley, cilantro, dill, or basil.
If you want a smooth and pretty sauce, blend the herbs with the tahini sauce in a food processor or blender. Want to make things even easier? Stir in some pesto!
For a sweet tahini sauce, skip the garlic and cumin an add some maple syrup, vanilla extract, and cinnamon. This dessert version is SUBLIME on oatmeal or quinoa breakfast bowls.
Easy Tahini Sauce
This easy recipe for creamy tahini sauce uses only a handful of healthy ingredients and takes a minute to make. So versatile, it goes with everything. Try it with salads, as a dip or in a lunch sandwich.
Ingredients
- ½ cup tahini paste
- 1 small garlic pressed or minced very thinly
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- ¼ cup ice water + more as needed
- ¼ tsp sea salt
- pinch of cumin
Instructions
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Place tahini paste, garlic, and lemon juice in a bowl.
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Gradually stir in ice water, starting with ¼ cup, until you reach a smooth sauce consistency that you can drizzle (I used about ½ cup but exact quantity will depend on the brand and texture of the tahini paste).
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The tahini paste will harden in contact with water - it’s normal. Keep stirring and adding water as needed and it’ll be perfectly smooth (see step by step pictures in the post).
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Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Recipe Notes
- To make a large batch or for extra smooth tahini sauce, use a blender instead of mixing by hand!
- If you find your sesame paste too bitter, you can "fix it" by adding some maple syrup or honey. If it's too sharp, add some olive oil.
- To make variations of this sauce, whisk in any chopped herbs, such as fresh parsley, cilantro, dill, or basil, or stir in some pesto.
f you tried this recipe for tahini sauce, don’t forget to rate the recipe below and let me know how it went in the comments – I love hearing from you! You can also follow me on Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook for more deliciousness and behind-the-scenes!
Heidy L. McCallum
I loved this easy to make recipe for Tahini sauce. You just made life a lot easier and my family loved it. I will be saving this recipe for a LOT of future use.
Ashley
This made me do the 'happy food dance!' SO delicious!!!
Nava
I LOVE this recipe. I recently started putting tahini on my salads, rice noodles and basically everything, it's so good. Can't wait to try it on the Schwarma bowl when it's done!
Michelle
Wow! I had no idea making tahini would be this simple! I'll never have to buy it again!
Jen
I've never tried to make my own at home before. Thanks for the tips about fixing the store brand paste to better suite our preference. Very helpful.