Tahini Sauce Recipe (5 Minutes!) - Wholesome Yum (2024)

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Table Of Contents hide

  • Why You’ll Love This Tahini Sauce Recipe
  • What Is Tahini Sauce?
  • How To Make Tahini Sauce
  • Tahini Sauce Recipe Variations
  • Storage Instructions
  • Ways To Use Tahini Sauce
  • Recommended Tools
  • Tahini Sauce Recipe (5 Minutes!)

If you’re bored with the same old sauces, you need to change it up and learn how to make tahini sauce. It’s delicious, it’s versatile, it takes just 5 minutes, and I think you’re going to want to put this tahini sauce recipe on just about everything! Whether you use it as a salad dressing, scoop it as a dip, or drizzle it over your zucchini noodles, this sauce has become one of my new faves — and soon yours, too. 😉

Why You’ll Love This Tahini Sauce Recipe

  • Nutty, tangy, and savory toasted sesame seed flavor
  • Smooth, creamy texture
  • Simple ingredients
  • Naturally low carb, gluten-free, vegan, nut-free, and just plain healthy
  • So many ways to use it
  • The best tahini sauce in just 5 minutes!
Tahini Sauce Recipe (5 Minutes!) - Wholesome Yum (2)

What Is Tahini Sauce?

Tahini sauce is a creamy Mediterranean or Middle Eastern sauce made from ground sesame seeds and common pantry staples. The flavor is somewhat similar to hummus. Tahini paste by itself is like a nut butter in texture, but tahini sauce is thinner and used for drizzling over vegetables, salads, meats, and more.

Ingredients & Substitutions

This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for homemade tahini sauce, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.

  • Tahini Paste – Sometimes just labeled tahini for short, this is simply sesame seeds that have been ground to make a seed butter, similar to how almonds are ground to make almond butter. It’s the key ingredient in tahini sauce (and also the key ingredient in hummus).

Tahini Sauce Recipe (5 Minutes!) - Wholesome Yum (3)

VARIATION: Make your own tahini!

I usually buy tahini (this is my favorite brand), but you can also make your own from sesame seeds. Simply blend (raw or toasted) sesame seeds in a food processor for about 5 minutes, until a smooth sesame seed butter (tahini) forms. If it’s too thick, you can add a little sesame oil.

  • Garlic – Fresh garlic cloves give this sauce the best flavor, but you could use 1 teaspoon jarred garlic instead. 1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder would also work in a pinch, but is less ideal.
  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil – You can also try sesame oil, or a neutral oil like avocado oil.
  • Water – Thins out the sauce.
  • Lemon Juice – Adds a tangy flavor. Fresh lemon juice tastes best, but I sometimes use bottled lemon juice for convenience. You can also use lime juice for a different flavor.
  • Spices – A combination of ground cumin, smoked paprika, sea salt, and black pepper.
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How To Make Tahini Sauce

This section shows how to make basic tahini sauce, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.

  1. Blend the ingredients. Combine the tahini, garlic, olive oil, water, lemon juice, and spices in ablender or food processor. Puree until smooth.
  2. Thin out as needed. Add more water, a tablespoon at a time, until the tahini sauce reaches your desired consistency.

Tahini Sauce Recipe (5 Minutes!) - Wholesome Yum (5)

TIP: Adjust the thickness based on how you’ll use it.

Leave it thicker if you plan on using it as a dip, and add water to thin it out if you are going to use it as a dressing or sauce.

Tahini Sauce Recipe Variations

This is a basic lemon garlic tahini sauce recipe, but you can also customize it with different flavors. Try these variations:

  • Spicy – For a spicy tahini sauce, add a tablespoon of sriracha or a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes.
  • Herby – Make a green tahini sauce by adding 1/2 cup of fresh herbs! Try fresh parsley, cilantro, basil, dill, chives, mint, or a combination.
  • Sweet – Add a tablespoon of maple syrup or honey for a hint of sweetness. You can also use zero sugar maple syrup or zero sugar honey for this!
  • Yogurt – Stir in 1/2 cup of plain Greek yogurt. Any of the fresh herbs above would also work nicely in tahini yogurt sauce.

Storage Instructions

  • Store: Keep in a jar in the fridge for up to 1 week. If it gets too thick, bring to room temperature first, and if it’s still thick, whisk or blend in some water to thin it out again.
  • Freeze: Transfer to an airtight container or freezer bag, and freeze for up to 3 months. I love freezing in this silicone tray for perfect portions!
Tahini Sauce Recipe (5 Minutes!) - Wholesome Yum (8)

Ways To Use Tahini Sauce

This tahini sauce recipe goes with all kinds of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dishes, but it also works well on simple, neutral foods. Here are a few ideas:

  • Salads – This sauce doubles as a tahini dressing! Swap out the dressing in a Mediterranean chickpea salad, classic Greek salad, Mediterranean quinoa salad, or a simple cucumber tomato salad.
  • Raw Veggies – Use it as a dip for cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, carrots, or bell peppers.
  • Cooked Veggies – Drizzle it over roasted asparagus (pictured above), sweet and smoky shish*to peppers, tender roasted cauliflower, or my personal favorite, sauteed eggplant recipes.
  • Falafel – One of the most popular uses for tahini sauce!
  • Bowls – Make a bowl with rice or cauliflower rice, your protein of choice, and veggies, then drizzle the sauce over it. I even like it on burger bowls!
  • Noodles – The original reason I made this sauce was to serve over cucumber noodles, but it would be just as delicious on regular pasta if it fits your lifestyle, spaghetti squash, or zoodles.
  • Meats – Pair it with lamb kofta kebab, use it instead of tzatziki sauce for gyros (with or without pita bread), or serve over grilled foods (I love it with Mediterranean chicken kabobs).
  • Blender – I use this blender daily and it makes this tahini dressing recipe so easy.

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Recipe Card

Tahini Sauce Recipe (5 Minutes!) - Wholesome Yum (10)

5 from 13 votes☝️ Click stars to rate or click here to leave a review!

Tahini Sauce Recipe (5 Minutes!)

Make this tahini sauce recipe in 5 minutes, with simple ingredients: tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic and spices. Amazing on everything!

Prep: 5 minutes

Total: 5 minutes

Author: Maya Krampf from WholesomeYum.com

Servings: 6 (adjust to scale recipe)

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Ingredients

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Instructions

Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.

  1. Combine all ingredients for the tahini sauce in a blender. Puree until smooth.

  2. Check the consistency and add more water, a tablespoon at a time, if needed to thin out to a dressing consistency.

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Recipe Notes

Serving size: 2 tablespoons

Makes 3/4 cup.

Nutrition Facts

Amount per serving. Serving size in recipe notes above.

Calories121

Fat12.1g

Protein1.9g

Total Carbs2.8g

Net Carbs2.2g

Fiber0.6g

Sugar0.2g

Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see our nutrition policy.

Course:Condiment

Cuisine:Mediterranean

Keywords:tahini sauce, tahini sauce recipe

Calories: 121 kcal

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead. 🙂

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FAQs

How do you make tahini sauce not bitter? ›

If it is too bitter, stir in 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon maple syrup or honey. And if the flavor is too sharp, mellow it with 1/2 to 1 teaspoon olive oil.

Why does tahini thicken with lemon juice? ›

Much of its makeup is carbohydrates, and when a small amount of juice (or any water-containing liquid) is added to tahini, a portion of each carbohydrate molecule is drawn to the water. As a result, clumps of carbohydrates appear.

Why is my tahini sauce not smooth? ›

The key to smooth and runny tahini is to give it time, so keep blending. Transfer to a container and enjoy!

What is the difference between tahini and tzatziki sauce? ›

Although both of these delicious sauces start with a T, tzatziki is a refreshing cucumber and yogurt-based Greek dip while tahini is the Middle Eastern condiment that's a paste (similar to peanut butter) made from toasted and ground sesame seeds.

Why does my homemade tahini taste bitter? ›

Bitterness is generally part and parcel of tahini - it's how ground sesame seeds taste. What you will find, however, is that some tahini can taste more bitter than others. This is down to a few things; like how that particular tahini is processed, or the levels of something called oxalic acid in the hulls of the seeds.

Why does tahini upset my stomach? ›

Effect on Digestion

It was difficult to mix, which I imagine might mean it is slow and difficult to digest and move through the body." For some clients, the dryness and difficulty to digest made tahini constipating, with one describing "lower abdominal discomfort, gas, bloating and mild constipation" after eating.

Can too much tahini be bad for you? ›

Potential Side Effects of Tahini

However, in excess, it can interfere with normal body metabolism. As a result, it might decrease glucose levels and also blood pressure. Other side effects of overeating tahini are: High fibre content can cause bloating and abdominal pain.

Should I refrigerate tahini after opening? ›

Store-bought tahini can either live in a cool dark place or in the fridge (we prefer the pantry, as the fridge can change the consistency of your tahini, making it less silky smooth). If you've mixed your tahini with other ingredients to make a sauce, always keep it in the fridge and use it within 5 days.

Should you stir tahini? ›

Once you get your jar of tahini home, you want to open it up and give it a stir to make sure it's incorporated. (If the oil has fully separated, such as in the photo above, Food editor Joe Yonan uses an immersion blender to reincorporate it, after which he says it stays emulsified.)

Should tahini have oil on top? ›

Because tahini contains no extra ingredients or emulsifiers, it can—and usually will—separate into oil (on the top) and solids (at the bottom), just like an all-natural peanut butter. A quick stir or shake should be enough to return it to a cohesive pourable or spoonable state.

What can I add to tahini to make it thinner? ›

but, if you would like it to be thinner and more on the drizzling side of spectrum, just whisk a bit of water in a little at a time to get your desired consistency - don't forget to taste it after and season the tahini if need be, the water can dilute it, especially if you add enough.

Why is my tahini sauce so thick? ›

Because tahini is made from ground sesame seeds, the sesame oil in it tends to separate. Even when you stir the oil back into the tahini, it might be too thick for your purposes. Fortunately, it's easy to thin the tahini using ingredients you already have on hand.

Is Tajin the same as tahini? ›

Though its name sounds similar to the Middle Eastern condiment tahini, Tajín has little in common with the sesame paste, and in fact was named after an archeological site where its founder learned the Nahuatl word for chile, Aji.

What sauce can replace tahini sauce? ›

Because tahini is the butter of sesame seeds, you might want to consider a nut or seed butter as a go-to substitute. Other options include greek yogurt and sesame oil. These tahini substitutes will complement your dish since they are all sources of healthy fats and contribute to a creamy consistency.

What is the spice called tahini? ›

Tahini is made from sesame seeds that are soaked in water and then crushed to separate the bran from the kernels. The crushed seeds are soaked in salt water, causing the bran to sink. The floating kernels are skimmed off the surface, toasted, and ground to produce an oily paste.

How do you counteract tahini? ›

You cannot “remove” the bitter taste, bur you can counterbalance it using more salt, adding sugar or honey.

How do you take the bitterness out of sesame seeds? ›

Preparation of sprouted and de-bittered sesame seed flour

After sprouting, the seeds were divided into two portions. The first portions were properly rinsed, put in a cooking pot, covered with water and boiled to a temperature of 100 °C for 20 min in a covered container to remove bitterness.

Which tahini is not bitter? ›

#1: Baron's Organic Tahini

Naturally mild sweetness and not too bitter. Texture: 5 – About as creamy and smooth as it gets. Overall thoughts: 4.25 – We love how easy it is to stir and how creamy it is, and the flavor was pretty delicious.

How do you mix tahini before using? ›

If you're working with a jar of tahini, the first thing you'll need to do is give it a good stir. Tahini can be quite thick and can settle at the bottom of the jar, so it's important to make sure it's evenly mixed before using it. Once your tahini is mixed, you can start adding it to your recipes.

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