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    Home » Recipes » Appetizers Dips Sauces

    Lemon Herb Tahini Sauce

    Published Mar 13, 2023, modified Mar 14, 2023 by Nicole Shroff / This site uses cookies. See the privacy policy linked in my footer. This site generates income via ads/ Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe
    Pin image of lemon herb tahini sauce.

    Our lemon herb tahini sauce is wonderfully tangy, garlic-y and nutty. Great as a dip, salad dressing or sauce for your grilled dishes, it is also vegan, dairy free and gluten free.

    Dipping cucumber stick into tahini sauce as a dip.

    Do you sometimes get slightly bored with making the same dish too often? This lemon herb tahini sauce is a fabulous way of changing the flavour profile of your meal, plus its loaded with healthy fats, minerals and vitamins.

    It’s a delicious blend of nutty, garlic-y, tangy fresh flavours in a smooth creamy sauce which can be made in advance and kept in the fridge.

    We use it to drizzle over roasted meats, fish and vegetables, in wraps and sandwiches, as a dip, or thinned out with a little water for a tasty salad dressing.

    You may already have the ingredients required in your pantry and whats great about this recipe, it can be made all year round.

    Our lemon herb tahini sauce is also suitable for vegans, and those on gluten free and dairy free diets, making it a great recipe to bookmark for weeknight meals, holidays, summer cook-outs, tailgating, game-day, potlucks, picnics and lunch-boxes, etc..

    We think it goes wonderfully with these lamb ribs, in chicken wraps, on Turkish meatballs, or simply drizzled over beets.

    Comment down below to let us know how you like it.

    Click the subscribe button above to get more recipes like this to your inbox.

    Jump to:
    • About the ingredients
    • Helpful tips
    • Serving
    • Extra options
    • Storing
    • FAQ
    • Serve it with …
    • You may also like …
    • 📋 Recipe

    About the ingredients

    The ingredients are few and simple, most of which you may already have.

    Ingredients for tahini sauce on wooden board.
    • tahini paste – tahini is made from ground hulled or unhulled sesame seeds. Unhulled are darker and healthier but have a stronger and slightly bitter taste. We prefer to use lighter colored hulled sesame seeds for their milder flavour and creamier texture. Select a good brand where sesame seeds are the only ingredient. Like many nut butters, tahini tends to separate in the jar with the oil rising to the top. Do not discard the oil as it is not only healthy but also an essential part of a good tahini sauce.
    • lemon juice – juice of a fresh lemon for the tangy flavour.
    • garlic – for its pungent flavour.
    • salt – because it enhances the flavour of the other ingredients.
    • herbs – we like to use freshly chopped parsley or cilantro (fresh coriander leaves).
    • water – to thin the sauce out for drizzling and better mixing.
    • olive oil – (not shown) for flavour and extra creaminess.

    See recipe card for quantities.

    Helpful tips

    Follow these easy steps for great results.

    Layer of oil on tahini paste in open jar.

    Store bought tahini paste will have separated with the oil rising to the top. Stir the contents of the jar till mixed.

    Mixed tahini in open jar.

    Once mixed, it will be easier to pour out of the jar.

    Blended tahini sauce in glass bowl.

    In a small mixing bowl blend tahini paste, garlic, salt, lemon juice and water to make a smooth paste.

    Then stir in the chopped herbs and olive oil till combined.

    Serving

    This lemon herb tahini sauce will harden slightly when cold or kept in the fridge. Before serving bring it to room temperature and mix well.

    Serve as a dip, drizzled over meats, fish and vegetables, as a dressing for salads or in sandwiches, burgers and wraps.

    Extra options

    Here are some extra options to build even more flavour into the sauce as your dish might require.

    • add some heat – whisk in some freshly ground black pepper or red chilli flakes. Adjust quantities to your taste.
    • roasted red peppers – puree a medium roasted red pepper and mix into the sauce, with 1 teaspoon paprika plus a little extra water to thin it out to your required consistency.
    • spices – mix in ¼ teaspoon ground cumin and ¼ teaspoon ground coriander.

    Storing

    The high levels of healthy oils in tahini sauce will ensure it will keep in a sealed container in the fridge for up to a week.

    Tip: Cold tahini is difficult to stir so bring to room temperature mixing well before using.

    It can be frozen! Freeze in ice cube trays for single use amount, then transfer to a freezer bag and freeze for up to a month. Thaw before using.

    FAQ

    What is tahini?

    Tahini is a paste made from ground sesame seeds. It has an earthy nutty flavour, is high in healthy fats and protein and low in sugar.

    Serve it with …

    These are our favorite dishes to serve with this lemon herb tahini sauce:

    • Turkish Lamb Ribs
    • Spicy Chicken Wraps
    • Kuru Köfte Meatballs
    • Fried Zucchini

    You may also like …

    Looking for more homemade sauces or dips like this?

    • Creamy Roasted Red Pepper Dip
    • Cacik
    • Lemon Feta Dressing
    • Baingan Bharta

    Did you like this recipe? Please take a moment to rate it in the recipe card below, leave a comment, and if you are sharing it on social media please tag us @endofthefork. Thanks!

    📋 Recipe

    Closeup of tahini sauce with herbs in green bowl.

    Lemon Herb Tahini Sauce

    Nicole Shroff
    Our lemon herb tahini sauce is wonderfully tangy, garlic-y and nutty. Great as a dip, salad dressing or sauce for your grilled dishes, it is also vegan, dairy free and gluten free.
    5 from 1 vote
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    Prep Time 10 mins
    Total Time 10 mins
    Course Dip, sauce
    Cuisine Middle Eastern
    Servings 8 servings
    Calories 156 kcal

    Ingredients

    • 145 g tahini paste ½ cup, store bought or homemade
    • 2 medium cloves garlic roughly chopped
    • 3 tablespoons lemon juice juice of 1 lemon
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley or cilantro
    • 25 ml water ⅓ cup/5 tablespoons
    • 3 tablespoons olive oil

    Instructions
     

    • If the tahini paste has separated, stir it in the jar to make it easy to pour. Add 145 g tahini paste to a mixing bowl with 2 medium cloves garlic, 1 teaspoon salt, 3 tablespoons lemon juice and 25 ml water and blend to a smooth paste.
    • Sprinkle in 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, add 3 tablespoons olive oil and mix well to combine. Serve at room temperature.

    Notes

    Makes 1 cup of lemon herb tahini sauce, which is 8 servings of 2 tablespoons.
    Storing – the high levels of healthy oils in tahini sauce will ensure it keeps in a sealed container in the fridge for up to a week. Cold tahini is difficult to stir so bring to room temperature mixing well before using. Freeze in ice cube trays for single use amount, then transfer to a freezer bag and freeze for up to a month. Thaw before using.

    MEASUREMENT NOTES

    The ingredients here on EOTF are set out in grams & milliliters and in US cups & spoons.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 2tablespoonsCalories: 156kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 3gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gSodium: 298mgPotassium: 98mgFiber: 1gSugar: 0.2gVitamin A: 97IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 29mgIron: 1mg
    Did you make this recipe? I’d love to know how it turned out! Let me know by leaving a review below, or snap a photo and share it on Instagram tagging me @Endofthefork.
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