Creamy, nutty, and bright, this Best Healthy Lemon Garlic Tahini Sauce Recipe will become a staple in your kitchen. This lemon tahini sauce is easy to make, vegan, and guaranteed to make any vegetable taste delicious!
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I love tahini and as you begin to explore the blog, you will begin to see that I use tahini as often as I can. I am finally sharing my recipe for tahini dressing made with only four ingredients. It's super simple to make and is my favorite way to dress up my veggies and we all know that the key to eating your vegetables is to have a delicious sauce or dressing to go with it!
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Simple - This recipe comes together in seconds
- Tasty - It has a strong lemon garlic "kick"
- Versatile - It can be used on any vegetables or as a salad dressing
This was inspired by my Green Beans with Tahini on this site and I love my Carrots with Tahini as well!
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Ingredients for Lemon Tahini
See the recipe card for quantities.
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Variations on Tahini Sauce
- Plain - you do not need to add garlic or lemon to the tahini. Just add enough water to loosen the sesame seed paste enough to be able to drizzle the sauce.
- Herbs - Depending on what I am creating, many times I will substitute parsley for the garlic or use other fresh herbs. If I do this, I use my blender to make sure that the herbs get incorporated easily. This turns the tahini into a green tahini sauce and is delicious on meat. I have also used dried herbs like Za'atar and it lends a delicious taste as well.
- Lime - I will sometimes use lime juice and lime zest in place of the lemon in order to create a tangy tahini.
- Spicy - If I want to spice up the sauce, I will either use some red pepper flakes, chili crunch, or a spicy sauce in the mix.
- Salad dressing - Add olive oil and some honey to the sauce which will create a salad dressing.
- Other uses - I use tahini paste in my hummus recipe and in my baba ghanoush recipes. I have seen recipes for chocolate chip tahini cookies, tahini brownies, buddha bowls, grain bowls, and so much more. It is a secret ingredient in most Middle Eastern recipes!
How to make Lemon Tahini Sauce
In a medium bowl, place the tahini sauce.
Zest the lemon into the bowl.
Add the lemon juice and the minced garlic. Mix to combine.
Add water as needed to loosen the sauce and to create a smooth paste.
Equipment
What is Tahini Sauce?
Tahini is a paste made from ground sesame seeds. It is creamy in texture, nutty in flavor, and one of the natural oils that are healthy. Tahini is a staple ingredient in the Middle Eastern cuisine and Mediterranean diets. It is a vegan ingredient that lends itself to sauces, salad dressings, and as an ingredient in a complex recipe. You can certainly make a homemade tahini recipe by grinding raw sesame seeds in a high-speed blender or food processor but store-bought tahini works just fine. I have found good tahini in my local grocery store.
I love using a zester for citrus. This microplane is my favorite!
How To Store Lemon Garlic Tahini Sauce
Once you have prepared the sauce, simply store the sauce in an airtight container in your refrigerator. I always have some on hand! It lasts for weeks at a time and is a creamy sauce you can use to top many recipes. Store opened jars of tahini on your pantry shelf. It does not need to be stored in the refrigerator.
Pro tip
Buy the best tahini you can find on the market. While I have used Trader Joe's organic tahini, my favorites are those that can be found in either Middle Eastern markets or the Middle Eastern section of your grocery store. My current favorite is this one. However, I just returned from a trip to Europe and found freshly ground sesame seed paste, tahini, at a flea market in Berlin. You bet I brought it home!
This sauce is one of my favorite ways to serve vegetables. It has been the best thing I have discovered in many years. Using this lemon garlic tahini sauce as a main ingredient in my cooking has helped to up the healthy fats in our diet. Give it a try for yourself!
Recipe Frequently Asked Questions
Tahini is simply sesame-seed butter, made by grinding hulled sesame seeds into a paste. It is a carbohydrate, and when a small amount of juice (or any water-containing liquid) is added to tahini, a chemical reaction occurs that will thicken the paste. Simply using more water will loosen the paste to your desired consistency.
A jar of Tahini paste will last years in the refrigerator. However, if moisture seeps into the jar the paste will go bad. We recommend keeping the jar and lid clean and storing the tahini on a pantry shelf.
If you find that your tahini has lumps, adding a touch of olive oil will help to smooth out the consistency and create a creamy texture. I always give the jar a good stir prior to using the sesame paste.
Lastly, if you make this recipe, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
- Homemade Basil Pesto Recipe
- Easy Authentic Chimichurri Sauce Recipe
- Roasted Carrots With Tahini and Carrot Top Gremolata Recipe
- Blistered Green Beans With A Lemon Tahini Dressing
- Grilled Cuban Flank Steak Recipe with Sliced Mango
- Quick Low-Carb Grilled Portobello Mushroom Recipe
Best Healthy Lemon Garlic Tahini Sauce Recipe
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Ingredients
- ½ cup tahini paste
- 1 lemon zest the outside, and juice the interior
- 1 garlic clove minced or grated
- 6 tablespoon water or more if needed
Instructions
- Pour the tahini paste into a bowl.
- Zest the lemon into the bowl.
- Add the minced garlic to the bowl.
- Add the lemon juice and mix to combine.
- Add the water and continue mixing until it becomes a sauce like consistency. Use more water if needed.
Nutrition
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with [this recipe]:
Anonymous
Yum!