This simple lemon tahini dressing is our all the time go-to. Whenever we need to stir together a quick and creamy dressing… we pull out the tahini, the lemon juice, and the maple syrup!
3 Ingredients
Super Creamy
With A Lemony Lightness
Make It As Sweet As You’d Like
And As Thick Or Thin As You’d Like
Ingredients For Tahini Dressing
This simple lemon tahini dressing is just three ingredients (plus water and a pinch of salt)!
- Tahini
- Lemon Juice
- And Maple Syrup
Three of our pantry staples! These three ingredients are all that is really needed to enjoy a delicious dressing you can stir up in seconds.
I love using fresh lemons but… they are not something that we always have on hand. SO we always keep lemon juice from concentrate in our fridge. Not only is it thriftier… it’s a great backup so you always have the option of adding lemon juice to your weeknight cooking.
An optional ingredient for this recipe is:
- Sesame oil
We tend to make this dressing without the addition of the oil but it’s great if you prefer a more savoury, toasty flavour. I do find that it dominates the flavour if added in so if you are hoping for a lighter and more lemony taste I would pass on the sesame oil.
What Is Tahini
If tahini is a new ingredient for you, The Spruce Eats has an article that should answer many of your questions.
In short, Tahini is a sesame paste made from ground toasted sesame seeds. Most traditionally, it is used to thicken hummus and can be a fantastic creamy substitute for anyone with a nut allergy.
Recipe Cost
Since this dressing is so simple to make with the ingredients we always keep on hand… we have actually stopped buying any store-bought salad dressings.
… Another perk to making quick dressings from scratch is that you can control the salt!
This simple dressing recipe makes roughly ½ cup of dressing (118 ml) and costs us approximately: CAD $0.83 with the optional sesame oil.
If you like the sound of this recipe, make sure to try our Miso Maple Tahini Dressing. It’s a little saltier and more savoury tasting due to the addition of miso paste and we love drizzling it over our Spicy & Sweet Sesame Strip Fajitas!
So let us know in the comments below if this lemon tahini dressing becomes your go-to and make sure to try it on a delicious roasted vegetable salad like our Ultimate Holiday Leftover Roasted Veg Salad!
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Simple Lemon Tahini Dressing With Maple Syrup
- Total Time: 3 minutes
- Yield: 118 ml (roughly ½ cup) 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
A creamy and simple lemon tahini dressing you can stir up in seconds! 3 pantry friendly ingredients and an oil-free option!
Ingredients
- ¼ cup tahini
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- ½ – 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 tsp sesame oil (optional for a richer and toasty sesame taste)
- 3 tbsp fresh water (or more as needed to thin the dressing)
- Pinch of salt
*All the ingredients for this recipe are from our pantry and freezer tips!
Instructions
- Mix all the ingredients in a small dish and stir or whisk until combined and smooth.
- Add more fresh water as needed to thin the dressing to your desired consistency.
- Taste and adjust to your liking. Add more maple syrup for extra sweetness or lemon juice for tang. I find that the sesame oil is quite prominent if added. If you prefer a lighter and more lemony tasting dressing I would omit the sesame oil. If you want a richer, toastier flavour… add it in!
- Keeps well in the fridge for up to 5 days. It may thicken as it sits, simply add more fresh water to thin when ready to serve.
- Use over salads, fresh bowls, or even as a marinade for tofu!
Notes
Approximate Cost: $0.83 with the optional sesame oil.
- Category: Sauces & Dips
- Method: Stirred
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern Inspired
Simon
This was surprisingly good (just because I don’t enjoy the taste of tahini on its own). My partner made it as a dipping sauce for falafel and with all the other flavours it was great. We will definitely make it again.
Kathryn Alexandre
I feel the same way about tahini! I’m glad you enjoyed it with the flavour from the falafel and thank you so much for letting me know! Thank you for the lovely star rating too (it really helps our blog).
Maria
I highly recommend this super easy dressing. I added the sesame oil and love the toasty essence it adds!
Kathryn Alexandre
You’re welcome! I make this one quite often and I really like adding the touch of sesame oil too. Thank you for the lovely star rating!