The Easiest Homemade Tahini Sauce
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Published Jun 03, 2025
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This creamy tahini sauce is made with just 5 simple ingredients and comes together in minutes! It’s incredibly versatile — drizzle it over grain bowls, use it as a dip for veggies, or turn it into a quick salad dressing.
I go through phases when it comes to my favorite dressings and staple sauces, but this creamy tahini sauce has been on regular rotation in my house for years!
I also have an epic garlic tahini dressing that I love and highly recommend, but this tahini sauce recipe is a bit thicker, perfect for drizzling over a grain bowl or veggies.
I’m obsessed with the nutty yet mild flavor of this sauce because it works in a wide variety of recipes from my butternut squash and tofu sheet pan meal to my buddha bowl. I can’t wait for you to try this one–I know it’s going to be a hit!
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Sauce
A true staple – This is one of those sauces you’ll want to keep in your fridge at all times. It goes with just about everything.
- Ridiculously easy: All you need is a blender or food processor and 5 minutes. That’s it!
- Flavorful: The combo of tahini, lemon, and garlic is so flavorful without being overpowering.
- Healthy: Made with simple pantry ingredients, there are no weird fillers or preservatives here! Plus, it’s vegan and gluten-free.
- Perfect for meal prep: Whip up a batch on Sunday and drizzle it on everything all week long—from roasted veggies (it’s so good drizzled on roasted broccoli) and baked falafel to salads and grain bowls like this Mediterranean quinoa bowl.
// ★★★★★ Review //
“Who knew this would be the first thing I comment on?! All of the recipes I’ve tried in your site have been 5*’s. But today it’s a rainy day and I didn’t fell like cooking…so I’m thoroughly enjoying some of this tahini sauce with raw veggies. It’s awesome! Thanks for sharing!” – Rosa
Ingredients Needed
You only need 5 simple ingredients for this sauce. I bet you already have most, if not everything in your kitchen right now!
- tahini – the star of the show! This sesame seed paste gives the sauce its rich, nutty base. My favorite tahini is the organic Whole Foods 365 tahini, but Soom and Seed + Mill are also great brands. You can also make homemade tahini!
- fresh lemon juice – adds brightness and balances the richness of the tahini. Freshly squeezed is always best here!
- garlic – for a punch of flavor. I like to mince it up before adding it to the blender to ensure it gets fully blended.
- sea salt – enhances all the flavors and helps bring everything together.
- water – to thin out the sauce to your desired consistency. Start with a little and add more as needed.
Substitutions + Variations
Want to switch things up or make this sauce work with what you have? Here are some easy options:
- Love spice? Add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes, cayenne, or a splash of hot sauce for a little kick.
- Make it herby: Blend in a handful of fresh parsley or cilantro for a green tahini sauce that’s perfect for bowls or roasted veggies.
- Want it sweeter? A tiny drizzle of maple syrup or honey (if not vegan) can round out the flavors if your tahini is on the bitter side.
How to Make Easy Tahini Sauce
Step 1: Combine all of the ingredients in a blender or food processor.
Step 2: If needed, you can add more water to get to your desired consistency. Serve as desired!
Brittany’s Tips for the Best Tahini Sauce
- Use high-quality tahini: All tahini isn’t created equal! For the best flavor and texture, look for a smooth, pourable tahini made from roasted sesame seeds. Brands like Soom or Seed + Mill are great options.
- Stir tahini well: Tahini often separates in the jar, with oil rising to the top. Give it a good stir before measuring to ensure you’re getting a consistent texture and flavor.
- Adjust the consistency: You can control how thick or thin your tahini sauce is! Add more water to thin it out or keep it thick for a hearty dip. Just don’t add too much water or your sauce will become diluted.
- Use it on everything: Tahini sauce isn’t just for falafel. Try it on grain bowls, roasted veggies, salads, sandwiches, wraps, or even as a dip for fresh veggies and pita.
How to Serve Tahini Sauce
This sauce goes with everything. Here are a few ways I’ve been loving it lately:
- With fresh veggies – This dip is delicious served with fresh veggies. My go-to choices would be carrots, cucumbers and bell pepper as they’re easier to dip. It’s also a great addition to any mezze platter!
- As a spread – Use it as a protein-packed spread for sandwiches, wraps or pita pockets. I love it with my easy pita pocket.
- With crackers or chips – Serve it with your favorite whole grain crackers, pita chips, or tortilla chips. It’s also delicious with my almond flour crackers if you want a gluten-free option.
- With roasted veggies – Drizzle it over roasted broccoli or roasted sweet potatoes for a nutty element.
- With grain bowls – Drizzle this sauce over your favorite grain bowl of veggies and protein. This chicken shawarma bowl or falafel bowls are the perfect options!
How to Store
Store any leftover tahini sauce in an airtight container or jar in the fridge for up to one week. It may thicken as it sits. Just stir in a splash of water to loosen it back up before serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Tahini is a paste made from sesame seeds. I actually have a homemade tahini recipe if you feel like making your own–it’s really easy! You’ll see tahini used in a lot of Mediterranean sauces and recipes. It works really well with lemon and garlic but is also delicious in baked goods. I told you it was versatile!
It has a rich, nutty, slightly bitter flavor with a creamy texture. The lemon and garlic in the sauce help brighten it and balance the bitterness.
Don’t worry—this is normal! When tahini mixes with lemon juice or water, it can seize up after sitting. Add more water and whisk it until it smooths out.
Yes, but the texture may change slightly upon thawing. If you freeze it, whisk it well after defrosting and add water to bring back the creamy texture.
More Tahini Recipes
If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐ star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below.
The Easiest Homemade Tahini Sauce
Ingredients
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.
- Add more water, 1 Tablespoon at a time to get your desired consistency.
- Enjoy immediately or store in the fridge for up to one week.
Notes
- I updated this recipe on 6/3/25 to just include water and no olive oil. If you still want to use olive oil, I recommend extra-virgin olive oil and you can swap 2-3 Tablespoons of water with the olive oil.
- Storage: Store any leftover tahini sauce in an airtight container or jar in the fridge for up to one week. It may thicken as it sits. Just stir in a splash of water or lemon juice to loosen it back up before serving.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How much olive oil? It’s not listed in the ingredients.
Hey Shanna – So sorry for the confusion, I recently updated this recipe to only include water instead of olive oil, as that’s how I’ve been making it recently. That said, you can still add olive oil if you want… I’d just replace 2-3 Tablespoons of the water with olive oil instead. 🙂 I hope you enjoy this sauce if you end up trying it!
Hi there, Many thanks for the recipes. My sauce is to lemony and garlicky. (No fault of yours)Any tips for taming it down.
Hi Patti – You could try adding some more water to help tame it a bit. Hope it works out. Enjoy!
Who knew this would be the first thing I comment on?! All of the recipes I’ve tried in your site have been 5*’s. But today it’s a rainy day and I didn’t fell like cooking…so I’m thoroughly enjoying some of this tahini sauce with raw veggies. It’s awesome! Thanks for sharing!
Yay!! So pumped you loved this dressing, Rosa. Thanks for making it and for the review. I so appreciate it!
Great sauce. I did have to add water as per your recommendation. I served it with your chickpea, butternut squash, and tofu 1 pan meal. My hubby had 2 helpings so I call it a success!
Woo!! So glad this sauce was a hit, Deb. Thanks for trying it. 🙂
Love this sauce. How long do you think it will keep? I made it a couple weeks ago and just found the leftovers in the fridge. It still smells and looks the same… have you ever pushed it that long? 🙂
Hi Lindsay! I’m so happy to hear that you love this sauce. I normally keep mine in the fridge for about a week. I would just use your best judgment. I know tahini stays fresh in the fridge for a couple months, so if your sauce still smells and looks the same it should be okay.
Thanks so much for leaving a comment and star rating, I so appreciate it! <3
Thanks for the quick reply! I ended up eating it (too good to let it go to waste), and I lived to tell the tale! Will definitely make again.
Woo-hoo! Glad the sauce was still good to eat. 🙂