• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
The Whole Smiths
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Recipes
    • Cooking Method
      • 5 Ingredients or Less
      • 30 Minutes or Less
      • Easy-to-Make
      • Instant Pot
      • Make Ahead, Keep on Hand
      • One Dish, Pan, Pot or Sheet Pan
      • Weekend Living
    • Dietary Guidelines
      • Dairy-Free
      • Gluten-Free
      • Grain-Free
      • Paleo
      • Vegan
      • Vegetarian
      • Whole30
    • Meal Type
      • Breakfast + Brunch
      • Dinner
      • Lunch
      • Soups, Stews, + Chilis Too
      • Vegetables, Sides + Salads
      • Smoothies + Beverages
      • Dessert
      • Snacks + Appetizers
  • COOKBOOKS
    • Good Food Cookbook
    • Real Food Every Day
  • Podcast
  • About
    • Meet Michelle
    • Food Philosophy
    • Michelle This Month
  • Resources
    • Discounts
    • Shop
    • Cooking Staples
    • Better Beauty
  • Contact
    • Work with Me
    • Contact
The Whole Smiths

The Whole Smiths

Whole Eating + Happy Living

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Recipes
    • Cooking Method
      • 5 Ingredients or Less
      • 30 Minutes or Less
      • Easy-to-Make
      • Instant Pot
      • Make Ahead, Keep on Hand
      • One Dish, Pan, Pot or Sheet Pan
      • Weekend Living
    • Dietary Guidelines
      • Dairy-Free
      • Gluten-Free
      • Grain-Free
      • Paleo
      • Vegan
      • Vegetarian
      • Whole30
    • Meal Type
      • Breakfast + Brunch
      • Dinner
      • Lunch
      • Soups, Stews, + Chilis Too
      • Vegetables, Sides + Salads
      • Smoothies + Beverages
      • Dessert
      • Snacks + Appetizers
  • COOKBOOKS
    • Good Food Cookbook
    • Real Food Every Day
  • Podcast
  • About
    • Meet Michelle
    • Food Philosophy
    • Michelle This Month
  • Resources
    • Discounts
    • Shop
    • Cooking Staples
    • Better Beauty
  • Contact
    • Work with Me
    • Contact

Lemon Tahini Dressing

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. 

side view of a glass bottle with Lemon Tahini Dressing

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.

Lemon Tahini Dressing on a silver spoon

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.

overhead shot of ingredients needed for making dairy-free lemon tahini dressing

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.

a halved lemon on a wooden cutting board next to a garlic bulb

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.

a glass mason jar with homemade dairy-free lemon tahini dressing

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.

a small dressing bottle filled with homemade dairy-free lemon tahini dressing

 

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.

Michelle JPEG

a small dressing bottle filled with homemade dairy-free lemon tahini dressing
print recipe

Lemon Tahini Dressing

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.
Prep Time2 mins
Total Time2 mins
Course: Appetizer, Dinner, Main
Cuisine: American, Dairy-Free, Vegan
Keyword: dairy-free lemon dressing, dairy-free tahini dressing, healthy tahini dressing
Servings: 2 servings
Author: the Whole Smiths

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.
did you make this recipe?Tag @thewholesmiths on Instagram
404 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email
Previous Post: « Chocolate Banana Eggs
Next Post: Kale Quinoa Harvest Bowls »
Note: I only work with companies and products that I feel passionately about and that align with the Whole Smiths’ views and that this post contains sponsored content. While I am compensated for the work I do, my opinions and bad jokes are always 100% my own.

you might also like

  • The very best Bacon Ranch Dressing one can imagine! It's even dairy-free, paleo, and Whole30 compliant.
    Whole30 Compliant Bacon Ranch Dressing
  • This Whole30 Green Magic Sauce from the Whole Smiths is paleo and Whole30 compliant. It's bursting with fresh flavors and perfect on anything. Anything.
    Magic Green Sauce
  • This easy-to-make Summer Shrimp Salad from the Whole Smiths is PERFECT for your Whole30. So easy to prep ahead of time, delicious and filling!
    Whole30 Summer Shrimp Salad + Zesty Chipotle Dressing
  • A refreshing dairy-free Blueberry Lemon Floats from the Whole Smiths that's paleo-friendly, vegan and vegetarian. Fresh blueberries and low in sugar, a must-make!
    Dairy-Free Blueberry Lemon Float
Real Food Every Day Book

available now

my new cookbook

  • 100 simple recipes designed to keep things easy in the kitchen
  • Health and wholesome, family-friendly recipes labeled for your dietary needs
  • Chapters such as 30-Minute Meals, 5-Ingrediends or Less and Meal Prepping

take a peek

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Comments

  1. Shelly says

    July 20, 2021 at 1:31 pm

    This sounds so amazing. How long would you say this will keep in the fridge? Thanks for sharing such amazing recipes.

    Reply
    • Michelle says

      September 6, 2021 at 4:38 pm

      First, you are so welcome! I’d say about a week or so. 🙂

      Reply

Primary Sidebar

available now

my new cookbook

Real Food Every Day Booktake a peek

welcome!

Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the internet, I’m Michelle and welcome to the Whole Smiths. These days I’m a mother to two smiley girls, a happy wife to one fantastic dude and we live in the San Francisco Bay Area.

don’t miss a recipe!

Keep your kitchen tasty with a new recipe delivered to your inbox each week as well as our latest cooking tips, event information and favorite food finds.

REAL FOOD FOR REAL PEOPLE.

don’t miss a recipe!

Keep your kitchen tasty with a new recipe delivered to your inbox each week as well as our latest cooking tips, event information and favorite food finds.

Footer

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
These Lemon Pepper + Parmesan Brussels with Caper These Lemon Pepper + Parmesan Brussels with Caper Aioli are one of the December recipes ready for you! Fancy enough for Christmas dinner, easy enough for a Wednesday evening. Bada bing, bada boom.Grab the recipe at the link in my profile. ✨
GF Egg Nog Sheet Pan PANCAKES! Sneak peek at jus GF Egg Nog Sheet Pan PANCAKES! Sneak peek at just one of the recipes coming to you next month.Can I suggest these may be *the* perfect Christmas morning breakfast? No flipping, no batches, no time at all! Not to mention, NO COLD PANCAKES WHILE YOU WAIT FOR THE OTHERS TO COOK! 😳Join us at the link in my profile to get the recipe.
#thankful 📸: @angelaspillerphotography 🤍 #thankful📸: @angelaspillerphotography 🤍
Regular sweet potatoes on Thanksgiving? BO-RING! Regular sweet potatoes on Thanksgiving? BO-RING!CHAI SPICED Sweet Potatoes?? Way cooler.Seriously, chai anything just sounds way cooler than plain anything. Not to mention obviously tastier too. Recipe on www.TheWholeSmiths.com, use the search bar to search “chai sweet potatoes”.
I love these guys so much. That’s it. That’s t I love these guys so much. That’s it. That’s the post. #sundaysnuggles
Obsessed. Let’s talk...🛌🥱 In early 2020 I Obsessed. Let’s talk...🛌🥱In early 2020 I polled my audience because we were on the hunt for a new mattress. You overwhelmingly recommended @avocadogreenbrands. And then we all got locked down and I put our mattress hunt on hold. I bought a cheapie mattress online instead since we couldn’t try things out and none of us had any clue what was happening. Big mistake. HUGE. It was the worst mattress ever. So earlier this year we decided it was time to get a PROPER GROWN UP MATTRESS and went with @avocadogreenbrands.I’m not going to lie, I was a little nervous about ordering online and not being able to “test” it in person. I’m here to tell you it’s one of the best things in my life. It is THE MOST comfortable mattress I have ever laid my pretty little face on. And Brad agrees.Not to mention is green and environmentally friendly.Legit, slipping into bed at night feels like a hug from heaven and I can’t even handle it. I told Brad that, God forbid, we ever divorce I’m taking the mattress with me. So, if you are on the hunt go with @avocadogreenbrands. We went with the Avocado Green mattress with pillow top. And I just looked and they’re having an early cyber/Black Friday Sale. Anyways. Obsessed and eagerly awaiting my next nap. ✌🏼
Gluten-Free Cranberry Bars Personally, one of my Gluten-Free Cranberry BarsPersonally, one of my fave desserts ever is pumpkin pie. I wish it was a year ‘round thing. BUT! If you aren’t pumpkin crazy, not into pies and need something DIFFERENT to bring to Thanksgiving this year, let it be this. Think a lemon bars more festive friend. In fact, it’s great for a Christmas too. It’s available now to my community a the link in my bio. ❤️

© 2023 · The Whole Smith · Privacy Policy · Website Design by Anchored Design