Zesty Lemon Garlic Tahini Dressing Recipe for Fresh Salads

Drizzling with Mediterranean charm, this vibrant lemon garlic tahini dressing captures the essence of fresh, bold flavors.

Creamy tahini blends seamlessly with zesty lemon and pungent garlic, creating a sauce that sings with tangy brightness.

Each ingredient plays a harmonious role in this simple yet extraordinary condiment.

The dressing whispers promises of sunny kitchens and sun-drenched salads.

Whisked together in mere minutes, it adds a luxurious touch to roasted vegetables, grilled meats, or crisp salad greens.

Nutty, citrusy, and utterly irresistible, this dressing transforms ordinary meals into culinary adventures.

Dive into this recipe and let your taste buds dance with Mediterranean magic.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time:

Total Time: 5 minutes

Calories: 113 kcal

Servings: 5

Lemon Garlic Tahini Dressing Ingredients Overview

• Garlic: Adds robust, zesty punch and helps balance the creamy tahini with its sharp, pungent notes.
• Dijon Mustard: Provides tangy depth and helps emulsify the dressing for smooth, consistent texture.

• Tahini: Creamy sesame seed paste that creates rich, nutty foundation for the dressing.
• Olive Oil: Delivers silky smoothness and carries subtle Mediterranean flavor profile.
• Lemon Juice: Brightens the entire dressing with fresh, citrusy acidity and helps cut through richness.
• Maple Syrup: Introduces gentle sweetness that softens potential bitterness from tahini.
• Water: Helps adjust dressing's consistency and helps ingredients blend seamlessly.

• Salt: Enhances and harmonizes all the complex flavors in the dressing.

What You’ll Need to Make Tahini Dressing

• Mixing Bowl or Jar: Perfect for combining all ingredients and mixing.
• Whisk or Lid: Essential for blending dressing smoothly and creating creamy texture.
• Measuring Cups: Precise measurements for water, lemon juice, and other ingredients.
• Knife: Sharp tool for finely mincing fresh garlic.
• Cutting Board: Stable surface for preparing garlic and chopping ingredients.

Simple Prep: Lemon Garlic Tahini Dressing

• Flavor Foundation

Grab a mixing bowl or jar and combine all the zesty ingredients. The key is blending tahini with bright, punchy components that create a creamy, tangy sauce.

• Smooth Texture

Whisk or shake the mixture vigorously until everything melds together seamlessly. If the consistency feels too dense, splash in a bit of water to create a silky, pourable dressing.

• Taste Perfection

Sample your creation and play with the balance. Some tahini has an earthy undertone, so feel free to adjust sweetness or tanginess to match your palate. A touch more maple syrup can soften any sharp edges.

• Culinary Delight

Drizzle this vibrant sauce over crisp greens, roasted vegetables, or use as a gorgeous dip for crunchy snacks. Your taste buds are in for a delightful adventure!

Flavor Tips for This Savory Dressing

• Adjust maple syrup to balance tahini's natural bitterness, creating a personalized flavor profile that suits your taste buds.
• Sprinkle fresh chopped herbs like parsley, dill, or basil into the dressing for an extra layer of brightness and aromatic complexity.
• Keep the dressing in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, giving you a quick and versatile sauce for multiple meals.
• Whisk in a tablespoon of Greek yogurt or blend with soft tofu to create a creamier, protein-rich version of the dressing.
• Add a pinch of cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, or za'atar to introduce a warming kick or earthy Middle Eastern notes to the dressing.

How to Use Lemon Garlic Tahini Dressing

• Mediterranean Mezze Platter: Drizzle this zesty dressing over a colorful array of roasted vegetables, falafel, hummus, and warm pita bread for a stunning Mediterranean-inspired spread.
• Salad Sensation: Transform simple greens into a vibrant meal by tossing mixed salad leaves, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, and grilled chicken with this creamy lemon garlic tahini dressing.
• Veggie Dip Delight: Use the dressing as a cool, tangy dip for fresh raw vegetables like carrots, bell peppers, and cucumber sticks during summer gatherings or as a quick snack.
• Grain Bowl Magic: Elevate quinoa or rice bowls by drizzling this versatile dressing over roasted vegetables, grilled tofu, or crispy chickpeas for a protein-packed, flavor-rich meal.

Storing Lemon Garlic Tahini Dressing Right

• Refrigerator Storage Magic: Keep this zesty dressing in an airtight container for up to 5-7 days, ensuring maximum freshness and flavor intensity.
• Quick Mixing Convenience: Store the dressing in a sealed jar, allowing easy shaking before each use to re-blend separated ingredients seamlessly.
• Temperature Wisdom: Chill the dressing thoroughly before serving to enhance its creamy texture and allow flavors to meld together beautifully.
• Flavor Boost Technique: Let the dressing sit in the refrigerator for 30 minutes before serving, which helps garlic and lemon notes develop a more robust taste profile.

Tangy Lemon Garlic Tahini Dressing

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4.6 from 31 reviews

• Total Time: 5 minutes
• Yield: 5 1x

Print Recipe

Description

Mediterranean cuisine combines zesty Lemon Garlic Tahini Dressing with creamy tahini, bright citrus, and robust garlic. Drizzled over salads or used as a dip, this sauce provides rich flavor and nutritional balance for health-conscious diners.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• ½ cup (120 ml) tahini
• ¼ cup (60 ml) fresh lemon juice (about 2 large lemons)
• 3 cloves garlic, finely minced
• 2 tbsps (30 ml) olive oil
• 1 tsp maple syrup
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• ¼ cup + 2 tbsps (90 ml) water (or more as needed)

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Instructions

1. Garlic Preparation: Finely mince garlic cloves, releasing their intense aromatic flavor into a mixing bowl.
2. Ingredient Fusion: Whisk together minced garlic, tahini, extra virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, sea salt, Dijon mustard, and maple syrup until smoothly integrated.
3. Consistency Refinement: Gradually incorporate water, stirring continuously to create a luxuriously creamy and pourable dressing, adjusting liquid levels to achieve the ideal silky texture.
4. Flavor Balancing: Taste and fine-tune the dressing, potentially adding a touch more maple syrup to soften tahini’s inherent bitterness and create a harmonious flavor profile.
5. Serving and Presentation: Transfer the vibrant dressing to a serving container, ready to elevate salads, drizzle over roasted vegetables, or serve as an irresistible dipping sauce for fresh produce and artisan breads.

Notes

• Garlic Precision: Finely mince garlic to release maximum flavor and ensure even distribution throughout the dressing.
• Liquid Balance: Gradually add water to control consistency, creating a smooth, pourable texture without becoming too thin.
• Taste Calibration: Adjust sweetness with maple syrup to counteract tahini’s natural bitterness, creating a harmonious flavor profile.
• Storage Tip: Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 5 days, giving a quick whisk before each use to restore original texture.

• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Category: Snacks, Lunch, Dinner
• Method: Blending
• Cuisine: Mediterranean

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 5
• Calories: 113
• Sugar: 1 g
• Sodium: 164 mg
• Fat: 10 g
• Saturated Fat: 1 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 6 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 3 g
• Cholesterol: 0 mg