This easy dairy-free Lemon Tahini Dressing is zesty and creamy and simply perfect on salads, grilled vegetables, baked sweet potatoes or Buddha Bowls. You can easily customize it to your personal taste.
Recently I had a dressing that was creamy, zesty and dairy-free. I couldn’t get enough, it was freaking delicious. Thankfully as a recipe developer, I realized I could try to recreate it at home. It’s a perk of the job. What can I say.
Making your own condiments at home is a breeze. It doesn’t take much effort, especially for dressings, and it’s far more economical. With that said, yes I still buy some of my own but really do find it convenient to make them at home. Besides, aren’t they always better tasting when you make them yourself? When was the last time you had a store-bought ranch dressing taste better than one made from scratch? Never. The answer is never.
If you’d like some other make-at-home condiment ideas, make sure to check out my Magic Green Sauce, Dairy-Free Bacon Ranch , this Whole30 Balsamic Dressing or my Dairy-Free Thousand Island Dressing.
Back to this lemon tahini dressing. I mentioned I had it elsewhere and loved it. I didn’t like the price point though. It was from a reputable source that focuses on real, fresh foods so I understood why it was a bit pricier than other dressings.
I know much of the cost that comes with real food products isn’t always in the ingredients themselves but in the shipping and storing perishable foods that aren’t loaded with preservatives. It’s the way the market is now but I am certain as the demand increases for better quality food products the market will adjust.
In the meantime, the good news is that it’s really easy to make at home if you aren’t looking to spend some extra money on convenience. I wish I could say it involved some lengthy process that I discovered but the truth is, you just add all of the ingredients into a blender and blend them until it’s perfectly smooth.
If I had to offer any tips for this easy recipe, make sure you blend the dressing very well until the garlic is fully combined. There’s nothing worse than getting a raw hunk of garlic schplop onto your salad. You may have to blend it a few seconds longer than you normally would to ensure a smooth dressing.
As far as what types of salads this Lemon Tahini Dressing goes best on I find hearty greens to be the way to go. Greens like Tuscan kale (my favorite) or spinach have an earthiness that balance out the zest of the dressing. Iceberg lettuce, not so much.
When I first had this dressing it was served in a bowl, not necessarily a salad. It was loaded with quinoa, kale, dried fruit and seeds. It was phenomenal! Therefore I’m going to say not only does this dressing go well salads but all sorts of things. Grains, over top of proteins (hello, grilled salmon anyone?). You name it.
This lemon tahini dressing will keep for about a week stored in the refrigerator so make a batch early in the week and use it throughout.
Tips for making this dairy-free tahini dressing:
- Make sure to fully blend your dressing so there are no pieces of garlic floating in it.
- You can also use extra light tasting olive oil or avocado oil for a milder tasting dressing.
Add some fresh herbs like dill for even more flavor.
FAQ
Is this Lemon Tahini Dressing recipe Whole30 compliant?
No. The maple syrup is not a compliant ingredient. Simply omit it for a Whole30 compliant dressing.
I don’t like tahini, can I use a nut butter?
While they may have a similar texture you will not get the same flavor profile from a nut butter. I highly recommend not using it.
Can I use lime instead of lemon juice?
Yep!
Can I substitute another sweetener for the maple syrup?
Yes, I recommend honey.
Lemon Tahini Dressing
Ingredients
- 1 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup tahini
- 1 clove garlic
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoons maple syrup
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients to a blender or a food processor and blend on high until smooth.
Notes
- Make sure to fully blend your dressing so there are no pieces if garlic floating in it.
- You can also use extra light tasting olive oil or avocado oil for a milder tasting dressing.
Add some fresh herbs like dill for even more flavor.
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