A must have recipe to have on hand, this vegan tahini dressing with garlic and lemon is perfect on salads, as a dip, and my favorite way to use it is on top of buddha bowls! Make a large batch and add it to your favorite veggies!
If you’re in need of a creamy dressing or sauce to amp up the flavors of your plant-based meal, look no further! This vegan tahini dressing pretty much makes anything taste amazing!
It’s like sprinkling fairy dust on your food. You’re transported to a dream land of intermingling flavors. If you’re not a big fan of kale, pour a little of this tahini dressing on top, and it will become your favorite food.
I can’t get enough of it which is why I make a double batch and keep it on hand to use all week long.
I pour it over steamed veggies. Use it as a dip. Drizzle it on top of my buddha bowls. Spread it on a toasted bun with my favorite vegan black bean quinoa burger.
I use it as dressing for my wrap sandwiches. I could put this on virtually anything and be happy.
Why You’ll Love this Vegan Tahini Dressing with Garlic and Lemon
- Smooth and creamy consistency
- Slightly sweet and tangy
- Not too spicy
- Kids love it too
Add it to…
- Salads
- Sandwiches
- Wraps
- Veggies
- Buddha Bowls
- Steamed vegetables
- The options are endless
Ingredients You’ll Need
Scroll to the bottom for a printable version of this post. Here you’ll find all the ingredients you’ll need to gather to prepare this recipe and step by step instructions to help you recreate it in your kitchen.
Here is what you’ll need to gather to get started.
- Tahini paste
- Lemon juice
- Maple syrup
- Soy sauce
- Garlic
- Water
Tools and Equipment You’ll Need
You can either whisk the ingredients together in a large bowl, or use your food processor. I prefer using my food processor because I get a nice creamy consistency with less elbow grease!
How to Make Vegan Tahini Dressing – Step by Step
Step 1: Combine tahini, lemon juice, maple syrup, soy sauce, and garlic in a food processor or whisk together in a large bowl.
Step 2: Slowly add water to thin the dressing. Add 1 tablespoon more if needed. Different tahini pastes can have a slightly different consistency. Add less or more water depending on the consistency you prefer.
Tips for Making Vegan Tahini Dressing
Tahini paste can have a different consistency depending on the brand you purchase.
When first opening your tahini the oil will have risen to the top. Stir oil into the tahini paste to get an even texture. It’s similar to stirring other nut butters when you first open them.
If your tahini dressing is too thick after adding the water, slowly add 1 tablespoon of water at a time until you reach your desired consistency.
Slowly add the ¼ cup of water as you may not need all of it depending on the consistency of your tahini paste. I like Pepperwood Organic Farm Tahini.
What is tahini made of?
Tahini is made from sesame seeds. The sesame seeds are soaked in water. The bran from the seed separates from the kernel.
The kernel is then toasted and ground into a paste. Tahini is used in many mediterranean dishes such as hummus.
Variations
No Maple Syrup-Use agave syrup. It is a sweet syrup that is also vegan. If you don’t have agave you could use a tablespoon of coconut sugar or organic cane sugar.
Gluten-Free-If you’d like to make this recipe gluten-free eliminate the soy sauce and use ¼ teaspoon of salt or tamari.
No Lemon Juice-You could sub lime juice for lemon juice, although I recommend using lemon juice for the best flavor.
How to Serve and Keep
Serving Suggestions
Use this dressing as a dip for raw veggies, a sauce for steamed vegetables, on top of buddha bowls, on sandwiches, or spread on toast. This dressing is great on salads of any kind, on top of vegan burgers, and drizzled on rice or quinoa.
This dressing would be fantastic on my Lavash Wrap with Roasted Vegetables.
It’s a great sauce or dip anywhere you think needs a hint more flavor. It’s creamier than hummus but has a similar flavor since both use tahini.
Store and Keep
Store in an air tight container with a tight fitting lid in the refrigerator. I use a glass mason jar and write the date on the lid so I remember when I made the dressing.
Dressing will keep in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Is vegan tahini dressing healthy?
Whole Food Plant-Based Ingredients-Sesame seeds contain natural oils. This tahini dressing doesn’t add any additional processed oil of any kind. All ingredients are plant-based and natural. No preservatives added. The lemon in the dressing acts as a natural preservative.
Healthy Fats-Sesame contains natural “good” polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fat which some studies have shown to lower cholesterol.
High in Fiber-Sesame seeds are a good source of fiber. Fiber is essential
High in Protein-Drizzling this sauce on your veggies adds a little extra protein to your dish. There are 5 grams of protein per 3 tablespoons of sesame seeds. One serving of this dressing adds 2 grams of protein.
What does tahini dressing taste like?
Tahini has a natural sweetness. Lemon gives it a bit of tang. The soy sauce adds a bit of salt, and the maple syrup melds the flavors together to create a spectacular sauce that goes well with everything!
Check out these other vegan sauce recipes!
- Vegan Nacho Cheese Sauce
- Traditional Guacamole
- Vegan Alfredo Sauce
- Vegan Pesto Sauce
- 20 Vegan Salad Dressing Recipes
- Favorite Homemade Hummus by The Simple Veganista
If you’ve tried this Vegan Tahini Dressing, please rate the recipe and let me know how they turned out. You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest for more plant-based family recipes your whole family will enjoy!
Vegan Tahini Dressing
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ cup tahini paste
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 2 cloves garlic
- ¼ cup water
Instructions
- Combine tahini, lemon juice, maple syrup, soy sauce, and garlic in a food processor or whisk together in a large bowl.
- Slowly add water to thin the dressing. Add 1 tablespoon more if needed. Different tahini pastes can have a slightly different consistency. Add less or more water depending on the consistency you prefer.
Video
Notes
- Nutrition facts are an estimate.
- Stir tahini in jar before measuring it to use in the recipe. Oil tends to rise to the top.
- To make gluten-free eliminate soy sauce and sub in ¼ teaspoon of salt.
- Use food processor or whisk ingredients together.
- Add more or less water to get desired consistency.
- Store in an air tight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
I just made a half recipe of this dressing so that I could try it before committing to making more. The finished product was tasty but very runny, not thick like in the photos. As a result, I didn’t add any water which would have made it runnier. Any ideas on why mine was was not thick? I double-checked my proportions to make sure that I halved all the ingredients. I used Yehuda tahini from Turkey.
Hi Claire,
I’m glad you enjoyed the flavor the tahini sauce. I’m sorry it was not as thick as you would have liked.
The thickness likely has something to do with your tahini. Some are funnier than others. Always stir your tahini well in the container before using it as the oil rises to the top. So it will be runnier at the top and way too thick on the bottom.
How long does this keep in the refrigerator?
It will keep in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Always looking for good (great) Buddha Bowl dressings. I may have just missed it in your post, but what is a serving size besides 1/12 of the recipe, please and thanks?
A serving is about 2 tbsps.
This is so delicious!! I cannot have gluten or soy so I used coconut aminos, which is sweet, so I skipped the maple syrup. This is hands down the best recipe I have tried. Will definitely be in my fridge at all times! Thank you!
I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe!! It’s a favorite of ours too!
Tamari is the best substitute for soy sauce in my world, I use it in virtually everything.
Yes, I agree tamari is an excellent substitute!
Definitely going to try this recipe BUT to be correct this recipe is not “vegan” if you use soy sauce. Must substitute tamari for it to be vegan.
Hi Diane,
I hope you do try this recipe. However, I want to be clear, that soy sauce is vegan. It is made by brewing soybeans, wheat, salt, and water, and is then fermented for several months. Soy sauce is not however, gluten-free. Which is why tamari is recommended for those on a gluten-free diet. If you are both vegan and gluten-free then tamari is an excellent alternative.
Would coconut aminos work to sub out soy sauce?
Yes, coconut aminos would work well!
I’ve saved this as my “go-to” tahini sauce when making Buddha bowls! It’s so flavorful and goes perfect with roasted veggies and quinoa!
Hi Andrea!
Thank you for the wonderful review! We love this sauce too, and always keep it on hand!!
I used your recipe as the base for my dressing today and it was CRAZY good. My husband and his friend were scraping the bits of salad from the side of the bowl because it was so yummy. Thank you!!! I’m making this again next week!
Hi Jessica! I’m so happy to hear you and your husband loved the dressing!
I just crawled out of bed to eat the last 3 spoonfuls of this with some apple slices as a midnight snack! Obsessed!
Awesome! It is so good! You can really enjoy it with almost anything!
What is the serving size (ie 1 tbsp, 1oz?) I love that you have the nutrition facts on here! And it tastes amazing.
I’m so glad you love the recipe! Yes, you are correct, a serving size is about 1 tablespoon.
The best dressing ever. This is always in my fridge now.
I’m so glad you love this recipe! It’s one of our go-to dressings we keep in our rotation!
I love hummus so I’m sure I’d really love this tahini dressing! I’ll probably be adding it to everything like you!
So many awesome flavors and vegan sounds interesting. I want to surely make mine ready too.
I think I have a non-vegan version for this dressing with peanut butter! I bet I’m going to love this dressing with tahini too.
Ooooo, pass me a straw! I’m just going to drink this – delish!!
It looks delicious and I definitely am interested in what’s in a buddha bowl!