The BEST Creamy Tahini Sauce Recipe | Ambitious Kitchen (2024)

Did I self-proclaim the nickname #TahiniQueenie a few years ago? Yes, yes I did.

Why you ask? Because after a trip to Israel where we ate a good amount tahini-based dips and dishes, I couldn’t stop cooking and baking with tahini. If you haven’t tried my favorite recipes using tahini yet, here’s a list to get you started.

Lately, I can’t stop drizzling and dipping things in this easy-to-make, basic tahini sauce. It’s nut free, and perfect to drizzle over roasted sweet potatoes, carrots or cauliflower or to spoon over a quick buddha bowl or salad. Creamy, quick to make, earthy and ridiculously addicting — I hope you give it a try!

The BEST Creamy Tahini Sauce Recipe | Ambitious Kitchen (1)

What is tahini?

Tahini is simply ground sesame seeds and it’s very similar to how peanut butter or almond butter is made. Good tahini is creamy, mild, nutty, toasty and spoonable. It should not be overly bitter, thick or pasty. My favorite brand of tahini is bySoom (plus it’s female-owned!).

Ingredients in basic tahini sauce

You’ll only need a handful of super simple ingredients to make this incredible tahini sauce. Here’s everything you’ll need:

  • Tahini: you’ll want to use a natural tahini that’s just ground sesame seeds. More info on tahini and my favorite brand below! It’s a nut-free option to using nut butter that’s creamy, mild and toasty. Great for adding your favorite flavors like in this easy sauce. Use the code ‘ambitiouskitchen’ to get 10% off my favorite brand, Soom!
  • Garlic: for a punch of delicious flavor.
  • Lemon juice: a little lemon juice adds the perfect acidity to this tahini sauce recipe.
  • Water: you’ll want to add a bit of water, just a small amount at a time, to thin out the sauce to your liking.
  • Salt & pepper: to bring all of the flavors together.
  • Optional add-ins: dijon mustard for a slightly tangy flavor and pure maple syrup for a little sweetness to pair with the nutty tahini and zippy lemon juice.

The BEST Creamy Tahini Sauce Recipe | Ambitious Kitchen (2)

How to make creamy tahini sauce

A one-step, one-bowl recipe? Yes, please:

In a small bowl mix together tahini, garlic, lemon juice, water and salt until well combined and creamy. Add maple syrup if you’d like it to be a little sweeter or dijon mustard if you want some tang. Drizzle over whatever your heart desires.

Customize your sauce

Feel free to get a little creative with your tahini sauce. Here are a few suggestions:

  • Get herby. Blend it up with cilantro, parsley, basil or even mint for an herby dip or dressing.
  • Go earthy. Add 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric for an earthy yummy yellow dressing or dip.
  • Add protein. Stir in 1/2 cup plain greek yogurt for a creamy, protein packed dressing.

The BEST Creamy Tahini Sauce Recipe | Ambitious Kitchen (3)

Ways to use this tahini sauce

Not only will you fall in love with this easy, creamy tahini sauce, but you’ll also be obsessed with all of the ways you can use it. Here’s what I suggest:

  1. As a dip. It’s the perfect dip for yummy sweet potato fries, raw veggies or even chicken nuggets.
  2. As a topping. Spoon it onto your favorite burgers like this one or this one, or on your go-to sandwiches.
  3. As a dressing. Use it as a salad dressing like this salad for creamy, delicious flavor.
  4. As a drizzle. Drizzle it on roasted or grilled veggies for a wonderfully savory side dish.

The BEST Creamy Tahini Sauce Recipe | Ambitious Kitchen (4)

How to store homemade tahini sauce

Store this creamy vegan tahini sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. If the sauce appears too thick for your liking when you take it out of the fridge, simply add a bit of water and mix it well.

More sauces, dips & dressings

  • Spicy Green Cashew Dip
  • Creamy Tahini Poppy Seed Dressing
  • Our Favorite Homemade Tomato Sauce (using fresh tomatoes!)
  • Sunshine Dressing
  • Jalapeño Cashew Cream Sauce

Get all of my sauces recipes here!

I hope you love this delicious basic tahini sauce recipe and find some fun, creative ways to use it! If you make this recipe, please leave a comment and rate the recipe below so others know how you liked it! Thank you for your readership! xo.

The Best Creamy Tahini Sauce Recipe

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The BEST Creamy Tahini Sauce Recipe | Ambitious Kitchen (5)

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

ServesServes 8 servings

The BEST basic tahini sauce made with simple ingredients like all natural tahini, lemon juice, garlic and optional flavor add-ins. This creamy, easy tahini sauce recipe is vegan, nut free and delicious as a dressing or dip for tons of different recipes.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup tahini
  • 2 cloves garlic, grated (or sub ½ teaspoon garlic powder)
  • ¼ cup lemon juice
  • Optional: ½ teaspoon dijon for a little zing
  • 2-3 tablespoons warm water, to thin out a bit
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • Optional: 1-2 teaspoons pure maple syrup to sweeten a little

Instructions

  • In a small bowl mix together tahini, garlic, lemon juice, water and salt until well combined and creamy. Drizzle over whatever your heart desires.

Recipe Notes

I like to use hulled tahini for tahini sauce. Soom is my favorite brand!

See the full post for fun ways to customize your tahini sauce, plus storing tips.

Nutrition

Serving: 2tablespoonsCalories: 92calCarbohydrates: 4.1gProtein: 2.6gFat: 8.1gSaturated Fat: 1.1gFiber: 1.4gSugar: 0.3g

Recipe by: Monique Volz // Ambitious Kitchen | Photography by:Eat Love Eats

The BEST Creamy Tahini Sauce Recipe | Ambitious Kitchen (2024)

FAQs

How do you make tahini sauce not bitter? ›

If your tahini is dry, or if you prefer a thinner sauce, add more water, as needed, to reach your desired consistency. Then, taste and adjust your seasonings. If you prefer a brighter sauce, add more lemon. If it is too bitter, stir in 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon maple syrup or honey.

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 thickens tahini? ›

Adding a small amount of water to tahini causes it to thicken into a paste because of carbohydrate binding.

Why does my tahini sauce 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 my tahini taste weird? ›

The taste will be sour, kind of metallic, and just plain weird. Utilizing a trusty sniff test is another way of finding out if it's time for your tahini to take a one-way trip to the bin. But something that's important to remember is that ground sesame seeds do naturally have a slightly earthy, bitter aftertaste.

Does lemon juice thicken tahini? ›

The acid in the lemon juice causes a very runny tahini sauce to thicken up and become stiff and solid.

Do you stir tahini before using? ›

Stir your tahini well before using, as the oil separates during storage. Once opened, you may have to vigorously stir the oil back into the sesame paste. Store the jar in your fridge to prevent spoiling. Tahini keeps for many months, but the oils will go rancid over time.

How do you make tahini more liquid? ›

Stir really well as you add water. The water will cause the tahini to clump together at first, but these clumps will disappear as you add more water. Continue to add spoonfuls of water until the tahini is as thin as you want it.

Can too much tahini be bad for you? ›

- It has a high fat and calorie content, so consume in moderation. - The lectin content in tahini may cause leaky gut by restricting the proper absorption of nutrients. - Consuming it excessively can cause abnormal endocrine function and increased blood viscosity.

Why does tahini seize with lemon juice? ›

Tahini is simply sesame-seed butter, made by grinding hulled sesame seeds into a paste. 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.

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.

Why does tahini go bad? ›

Soom Tahini can last for a year after opening. The only thing that will make tahini “turn” is contamination with moisture. That's why we always stress using a clean, dry utensil when scooping that liquid gold from the jar.

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.

Do you refrigerate tahini after opening? ›

How to Store Tahini. Since it's very high in oil, keep tahini refrigerated once you've opened it to prevent it from going rancid too quickly. It gets difficult to stir once it's chilled, so be sure to thoroughly mix it before putting it in the refrigerator.

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.

What happens when you add water to tahini? ›

A small amount of added water acts like a glue, wetting particles just enough to get them to stick together, but eventually if you add too much water, the mixture turns into an evenly thinned-out liquid.

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