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    Zen and Zaatar ยป Recipes ยป Sauce

    Creamy Lemon Tahini Sauce (Vegan, Mediterranean Dressing)

    Published: Oct 18, 2024 ยท Modified: Mar 31, 2025 by Zena | Zen and Zaatar ยท This post may contain affiliate links ยท 2 Comments

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    Image of the tahini sauce being drizzled with text, "3-ingredient lemon tahini sauce."
    2 images showing the consistency of the tahini sauce and the sauce stored in a jar, with the text, "Middle Eastern Tahini Sauce: 3-ingredient + easy!"

    With just 3 ingredients and about 5 minutes of your time, you can whip up the creamiest tahini sauce that is naturally vegan and oil free! This Middle Eastern staple, also called tarator sauce, can be used in countless waysโ€“ as a sauce for falafel, grain bowls, over vegetables, or as a rich and tangy salad dressing. Itโ€™s so good, youโ€™ll want to enjoy it on its own with a spoon!

    The tahini sauce being drizzled with a spoon to show consistency.

    The best part is that itโ€™s totally customizable! You can easily turn it into a lemon garlic tahini by adding some fresh garlic or make a flavorful lemon herb tahini by adding chopped parsley and lemon zest.

    Jump to:
    • What culture is tahini sauce from?
    • What is tahini sauce used for?
    • Ingredient notes
    • How to make tahini sauce
    • Top tips for making this recipe
    • Substitutions & variations
    • How long does tahini last in the fridge?
    • FAQs
    • Recipe

    What culture is tahini sauce from?

    Itโ€™s a staple in Levantine culture and cuisine. Tahini sauce has roots in the Levant, a region encompassing Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, and Jordan. Commonly referred to as โ€œtaratorโ€ sauce in Arabic, this condiment adds depth, flavor, and creaminess to a variety of traditional Levantine dishes.

    If youโ€™ve had falafel or shawarma, youโ€™ve likely tried itโ€“ itโ€™s a creamy, tangy dressing commonly served with both. Itโ€™s also cooked into meat and vegetable dishes and even used as a salad dressing.

    Growing up, my Syrian mother always had me prepare the tarator sauce while she cooked dinner, so naturally, my love for tahini started early on. This lemon tahini sauce is a naturally vegan sauce, made by adding lemon, salt, water, and sometimes garlic, to sesame paste. It makes a sauce you would not believe is completely dairy-free!

    What is tahini sauce used for?

    You can use it in so many ways! You can serve this tarator sauce as a condiment or sauce to spice up many dishes. I love to use it:

    Tahini sauce being drizzled over a kale salad.
    • To garnish roasted veggies, from roasted potatoes to eggplant and cauliflower
    • As a sauce for falafel, whether to dip falafel in or as a dressing for your falafel wrap
    • As a salad dressing, especially with dark leafy greens like kale and to accompany cucumbers and tomatoes
    • As a drizzle to top your grain bowls, like these sweet potato quinoa bowls
    • To dip pita chips, raw crudites like cucumbers or carrots, and fries into

    Here are some of my favorite dishes to serve lemon tahini sauce with:

    • This zaatar avocado toast is elevated with a generous tahini drizzle.
    • It's a delicious creamy condiment to drizzle over hearty main meals, like my freekeh recipe with cauliflower and chickpeas.
    • It makes the ultimate salad dressing for my savory kale salad.
    • It's the perfect sauce to drizzle over my breakfast avocado pitas with spiced chickpeas.
    • Drizzle it on top of these meatless stuffed grape leaves!

    Ingredient notes

    This tahini sauce is made of just a few simple ingredients, yet it delivers big flavor! Itโ€™s creamy and tastes tangy, lemony, and surprisingly rich despite being dairy-free.

    Image featuring the tahini sauce ingredients.

    Tahini

    Tahini is the star of this recipe. Tahini is simply sesame paste made from one ingredient, sesame seeds, often toasted, and ground into a paste.

    Not all tahini is created equalโ€“ make sure you use a tahini that only contains sesame seeds without any additives, and preferably, from the Middle East. I recommend the Palestinian brand Ziyad or the Lebanese brand Alkanater. A good tahini should be pourable and smooth, not too thick or gritty.

    Lemon juice

    Make sure to use freshly squeezed lemon juice. The bottled juice does not compare and may give you different results. Youโ€™ll notice a difference with fresh lemonโ€“ itโ€™s brighter, sharper, and balances out the slight bitterness of tahini.

    Salt

    For the salt, I like to use Himalayan pink salt, as I usually do in my cooking, but feel free to use a fine sea salt or regular table salt. The salt helps balance out the acidity of the lemon and richness of the tahini.

    Water

    The water is what transforms the tahini paste into a creamy tahini sauce. Depending on if youโ€™re making this sauce for a dip or as a salad dressing, you will need to thin out your lemon tahini sauce accordingly to achieve the desired consistency.

    I use filtered water because this sauce isnโ€™t cooked. Cold water leads to better results.

    Garlic

    Although optional, garlic adds a savory kick that I highly recommend. I prefer to note it as optional because not everyone is a fan of a heavy garlicky taste, especially for breakfast dishes. However, I highly recommend adding a couple cloves to your sauce if youโ€™re serving it with a lunch or dinner dish! For garlic lovers, turning this sauce into a lemon garlic tahini sauce is a must.

    See the recipe card below for exact ingredient quantities.

    How to make tahini sauce

    It couldnโ€™t be easier to prepare tahini sauce. Hereโ€™s how to make it at home in minutes:

    Mix the tahini and lemon juice

    Whisking lemon and tahini to form a thick paste.

    Add your tahini to a mixing bowl. Add the fresh lemon juice and whisk until it becomes lighter and thick. It will seize and look grainy at first, but donโ€™t worry, thatโ€™s normal! Mix until itโ€™s just combined into a light, smooth, thick paste.

    Thin it out

    Thinning the tahini sauce with water.

    Slowly drizzle in your water and whisk until you achieve the desired consistency. Start with ยผ cup of water, which is usually good for a thicker sauce or dip. You may need to add more water, 1 tablespoon at a time, for a thinner, pourable consistency, perfect for a Mediterranean tahini salad dressing.

    Add salt and any mix-ins

    Finally, stir in your salt along with any mix-ins, such as grated garlic, minced parsley, or lemon zest for extra flavor.

    Hint: Avoid overmixing the tahini and lemon. Mix until just combined, as overmixing can make it more difficult to incorporate the water later. However if this happens, donโ€™t worryโ€“ you will still be able to thin out your sauce with water, but it may take a bit longer to whisk until perfectly smooth.

    Top tips for making this recipe

    • Adjust as needed: This is a very forgiving recipe. If you accidentally thinned it out too much, it will thicken as it sits and even more in the fridge. If you still find it too thin, you can add more tahini 1 tablespoon at a time.
    • Consistency: You can adjust the consistency depending what youโ€™re using this sauce forโ€“ as a dip, sauce, or salad dressing. I recommend starting with ยผ cup of water to make a dip. You may need to use up to ยฝ cup of water to make a tahini salad dressing. Simply add the water 1 tablespoon at a time to achieve the desired consistency.
    • Taste and adjust: Make sure to taste and adjust if needed! Add more salt if you find it needs it. If itโ€™s too lemony, you can add tahini 1 tablespoon at a time. If it needs some more lemon, I recommend adding fresh lemon juice 1 tablespoon at a time. The amount of lemon juice needed often varies between tahini brands, so it helps to taste and adjust as needed.

    Substitutions & variations

    One of my favorite things about this recipe is that itโ€™s easily customizable. Here are a few of my favorite ways to switch things up:

    Tahini sauce accompanied by optional mix-ins including parsley, lemon zest, and garlic.
    • Lemon juice: Lime juice works just as well, adding a slightly different flavor profile.
    • Herbs: Adding a few tablespoons of finely chopped or minced fresh herbs. Italian parsley, mint leaves, fresh dill, or cilantro can turn this into a zesty lemon herb tahini.
    • Zest: To enhance the lemony flavor, add some lemon zest.
    • Olive oil: If you want to mellow out the overall flavors, try mixing in a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.
    • Spicy: If you prefer a spicy kick, mix in some hot sauce, chili powder, or chili flakes. Fresh cracked black pepper is another great addition, and you can use smoked paprika to add smokiness. I use a spicy version as the sauce for my vegan egg muffins.

    Try out my other variations like this maple tahini sauce served with my veggie bowls or my herby green tahini for tofu steaks. My roasted red pepper tahini sauce is also a favorite and perfect for pasta!

    How long does tahini last in the fridge?

    Tahini sauce keeps well in the fridge for up to a week and a halfโ€“ if you can keep it that long! As it thickens over time, just thin it out with a little bit of water and stir.

    Lemon tahini sauce being stored in a jar garnished with a lemon.

    Pro tip: You can also freeze tahini sauce! Store it in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Just make sure to thaw it in the fridge and stir well before using.

    FAQs

    How to thin tahini?

    Simply add water one tablespoon at a time until you reach your desired consistency. It is important to note that tahini sauce gets thicker in the fridge, so you may need to add more water to thin it out when youโ€™re ready to use again.

    Is this sauce healthy?

    Absolutelyโ€“ tahini is made from sesame seeds, packed with calcium, magnesium, and healthy fats. The lemon juice adds vitamin C. These main ingredients make the sauce naturally oil-free and dairy-free, making it a healthy option for sauces, dips, and salad dressing.

    Whatโ€™s the difference between tahini and tahini sauce?

    Tahini is solely made from sesame seeds, often toasted, ground into sesame paste. Tahini sauce, on the other hand, is made by combining tahini, lemon, salt, and water to create a creamy, tangy condiment. It sometimes includes extra flavorings like garlic or parsley.

    Tried this recipe?

    If you made this creamy lemon tahini sauce, Iโ€™d love to hear from you! Donโ€™t forget to leave a โญ๏ธ star rating and review below.

    Pin it for later or share your recreations with me on Instagram @zenandzaatar! ๐Ÿฅฐ I canโ€™t wait to see how you use it!

    Recipe

    Lemon tahini sauce being drizzled with a spoon to show consistency.

    Creamy Lemon Tahini Sauce (Vegan, Mediterranean Dressing)

    Zena Hassoun
    This creamy 3-ingredient lemon tahini sauce is a staple in Levantine cooking. Perfect for drizzling over falafel, grain bowls, salads, or as a dip, it comes together in minutes. It can be customized with garlic, herbs, or spices. Naturally vegan and oil-free, this traditional tahini sauce is both healthy and flavorful!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Cook Time 5 minutes mins
    Course Sauce
    Cuisine Mediterranean
    Servings 8 2-tablespoon servings
    Calories 92 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • ยฝ cup tahini
    • 6 tablespoon lemon juice (juice of one and a half lemons)*
    • ยผ-1/2 teaspoon salt
    • ยผ cup water plus more to thin**

    Optional add-ins

    • 1-2 cloves garlic grated or minced
    • 2 tablespoon Italian parsley or other fresh herbs (mint, dill, cilantro) minced
    • 1 teaspoon lemon zest

    Instructions
     

    • Mix lemon and tahini until it becomes a thick, lighter-colored paste. It will begin to seize at first but donโ€™t worry- keep mixing until just combined.
    • Drizzle in the water slowly and whisk until you reach your desired consistency. For a thinner consistency, add more water 1 tablespoon at a time.
    • Mix in the salt and your add-ins of choice. Enjoy! Refrigerate for up to a week and a half.***

    Notes

    *I like a very lemony flavor. If you want a milder flavor, use only ยผ cup of lemon juice, or the juice of 1 lemon.
    **Slowly drizzle in your water and whisk until you achieve the desired consistency. Cold water is best. Start with ยผ cup of water, which is usually good for a thicker sauce or dip. You may need to add more water, 1 tablespoon at a time, for a thinner, pourable consistency, perfect for salad dressing. For a salad dressing, I usually end up using a total of ยฝ cup of water.
    ***It is important to note that tahini sauce gets thicker in the fridge, so you may need to add more water to thin it out when youโ€™re ready to use again.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 2tablespoonsCalories: 92kcalCarbohydrates: 4gProtein: 3gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gSodium: 78mgPotassium: 82mgFiber: 1gSugar: 0.3gVitamin A: 11IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 23mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Leave a comment below and tag @zenandzaatar on social!

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    Comments

      5 from 1 vote

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Karen says

      March 02, 2025 at 12:14 pm

      5 stars
      I was looking for something without oil for salads and hit upon this recipe. It was EXCELLENT and am making for the second time.

      Reply
      • Zena | Zen and Zaatar says

        March 03, 2025 at 10:49 am

        So glad you loved it, thanks so much for sharing! ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    Headshot image of the author of Zen and Zaatar, Zena Hassoun, MS.

    Welcome!

    Hi, Iโ€™m Zena, a passionate home cook with a Masterโ€™s in Medical Health Sciences. Iโ€™ve been vegan for nearly a decade and love creating approachable, Mediterranean-inspired recipes that nourish your body and soul.

    More about me

    55+ Vegan Recipes for Real Life

    The cover image of my e-cookbook, with text overlay "Vegan is Delicious: 55+ nourishing, innovative, plant-based recipes to satisfy vegans and omnivores alike! by Zena Hassoun, M.S., creator of Zen and Zaatar."

    Tired of the same meals or relying on takeout? Vegan is Delicious is full of flavorful, plant-based recipes (with photos!) plus a 7-day meal plan to make home cooking feel effortless.

    Get it now!

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