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You are here: Home ยป Recipes ยป Fresh Salads

Published: Nov 1, 2020 ยท Modified: Mar 12, 2025 by Trish ยท This post may contain affiliate links ยท This blog generates income via ads ยท

All-Purpose Lemon Tahini Dressing

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cream lemon tahini dressing with freshly squeezed lemons in the background
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A simple all-purpose dressing that works on just about anything. This recipe is enough to last you for a few meals. It will keep about 1 week refrigerated.
Prep Time10 minutes mins
Total Time10 minutes mins
Servings: 8 servings (about 2 tablespoons each)
Calories: 55kcal
Vegan, WFPB (Whole Food, Plant Based)
Condiment

A simple lemon tahini dressing that works on everything! I make this recipe almost weekly as part of my regular meal prep. Toss roasted vegetables or fresh kale with this creamy, lemon dressing for instant dinners. This recipe is just the thing to bring all your best meal bowls together.

A bottle of homemade lemon tahini dressing in a glass bottle with kale salad and lemon

I believe everyone needs a simple lemony dressing in their refrigerator at all times. Lemon is the flavour that brings all other flavours together and makes them play nice.

I like to make my own salad dressing just so I know what is in it. No extras. No stablizers or perservatives. Store-bought can be full of all kinds of things that I don't understand. Homemade is healthier, or a least made from simple, clean ingredients.

This is lemon tahini dressing is my go-to recipe. It works with everything. It's bright and creamy. Not too sweet. Not too tart. Tahini gives it a bit umami.

This basic dressing is starting point for all kinds of healthy dinners!

I often make a batch of this dressing when I prep on the weekends. It's quick and easy to do. And once it's made it's ready for lunches and dinners during the week.

Sometimes just having this little bit of a meal made ahead elminiates all the stress of dinner time.

You will find variations of this very salad dressing in a few of my other recipes, like this roasted beet and carrot salad or this lentil salad.

Consider this recipe a basic "all-purpose" lemon tahini dressing. A starting point. Feel free to mix things up from time to time, to keep things interesting.

Lemon Tahini Dressing flavour variations:

  • Add minced garlic and fresh grated ginger
  • A tablespoon of soy sauce instead of sea salt
  • Elminate the maple suryp for a more savory dressing, or double it for something on the sweeter side (nice with apples or other fruity salad ingredients).
  • Add some cumin and/or corinader (about ยฝ teaspoon of each)
  • Paprika instead of cayenne. Smoked paprika is nice on sweet potatoes.
creamy lemon tahini dressing with kale salad

How to serve this lemon tahini dressing

I like to think of this dressing as truly an all purpose, go-to, sauce. It is good for lunch, dinner, salads or mains. Here is how we like to use it.

Kale salad. This is a thick dressing that works especially well with kale salads. Drizzle on top of kale and toss well, then let sit for about 30 minutes -- or up to four hours. For dinner, toss the salad first then get the rest of the dinner ready. For lunches -- toss in the morning and pack for great take away lunch.

Simple green salads. For softer greens, like spinach or romaine, thin the dressing with a bit of water so it pours more easily. Serving immediately.

Roasted vegetables. Drizzle on top of hot roasted vegetables.

Grain bowls. I love to add a clove of garlic to about half of this recipe and then drizzled it on top of a dinner bowl. It pulls everything together. Add to your favorite combo of greens, grains and veggies. Fresh or roasted veggies, doesn't really matter.

Try these recipes:

roasted beet and carrot salad with sesame seeds

Roasted Beet and Carrot Salad with Tahini Dresssing

roasted peppers with lentils and tahini | The infinebalance Food blog

Lentil Salad with Roasted Red Peppers

What is Tahini?

Tahini is a paste made from toasted sesame seeds. Think of it as sesame seed butter, peanut butter's distant cousin ๐Ÿ˜‰.

You will usually find it in the ethnic or health food section of most grocery stores. Near the coconut oil and natural nut butters (not in the peanut butter and jam aisle).

Good tahini is runny and smooth. Must thiner than peanut butter. It should run and drizzle off your spoon. Find a brand that you like and stick with it. Not all are created equal. Buy the good stuff. It can be pricy but will last you a long while. Keep your tahini refrigerated.

What else can I do with tahini?

Tahini is a traditional ingredient in many Mediterranean foods. You will often find in hummus. I like to add a little to smoothies sometimes too. It's also kinda fun to bake with. Try these sesame cookies.

lemon tahini dressing in a glass jar with fresh lemons

Meal prep and serving

The following recipe makes about 1 cup of dressing. Which I find is enough for two meals - say one night we do a large dinner sized salad and later in the week we will roasted some veggies and drizzle on top before serving.

Alternatively, you have enough dressing for about 4 or 5 lunch sized salads.

If the dressing settles as it sits in the refrigerator, give it a good shake or stir before serving.

It also seems to thicken as it sits, just add a little water to loosen it up so it is pourable again.

๐Ÿ“– Recipe

cream lemon tahini dressing with freshly squeezed lemons in the background
Average rating: 5 stars

Lemon Tahini Dressing

A simple all-purpose dressing that works on just about anything. This recipe is enough to last you for a few meals. It will keep about 1 week refrigerated.
Prep Time10 minutes mins
Total Time10 minutes mins
Servings: 8 servings (about 2 tablespoons each)
Calories: 55kcal

Ingredients

  • 6 tablespoon lemon juice about 1 large lemon
  • 1 tablespoon lemon zest from one large lemon
  • 4 tablespoon tahini
  • 5 tablespoon water
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • ยฝ teaspoon cayenne pepper or to taste
  • 1 clove garlic minced (optional)

Instructions

  • Add all ingredients to the jar of a blender, secure lid, and blend until smooth and creamy. Transfer to a storage container with a tight-fitting lid. I like to use a mason jar. Keep refrigerated until needed. The dressing may thicken over time, just a little warm water (1 tablespoon at a time) if needed to thin to desired consistency. Will keep refrigerated for about 1 week.

Notes

I find this dressing most useful for meal prep if I do not add garlic. Garlic adds nice spice and flavour, however gets stronger as the dressing sits. If I'm planning to make ahead and use all week, I leave out the garlic. Adding only to the portion I'm using if the recipe calls for it.ย 
The dressing will keep about 1 week in the refrigerator.ย 
Calories: 55kcal (3%) Carbohydrates: 4g (1%) Protein: 1g (2%) Fat: 4g (6%) Saturated Fat: 1g (6%) Sodium: 294mg (13%) Potassium: 52mg (1%) Fiber: 1g (4%) Sugar: 2g (2%) Vitamin A: 47IU (1%) Vitamin C: 6mg (7%) Calcium: 13mg (1%) Iron: 1mg (6%)
Trish | The In Fine Balance Food Blog
Tried this recipe?Mention @infinebalance or tag #infinebalance!

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Trish Cowper

Hi. I'm Trish.

I'm a curious home cook, just as enthusiastic about healthy ingredients and whole foods as I am about cookies.

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