Sauces are one of our favorite versatile ways to add MEGA flavor to just about any meal.
Inspired by one of our favorite meals at Prasad (a dreamy Portland, OR cafe), this 5-ingredient, 5-minute, 1-bowl tahini sauce does exactly that!
What is Tahini?
Tahini is made by grinding sesame seeds into a smooth paste. Sometimes the sesame seeds are hulled, sometimes they’re left unhulled; sometimes roasted, sometimes raw.
Origin of Tahini
Tahini is an Arabic name for ground sesame seeds. However, its origins are thought to have been in Persia, where it was called “ardeh.” Tahini later found its way to Israel and was held as a delicacy as sesame seeds were rather expensive to procure. In some cultures, tahini was even used as currency. (source)
How to Make Tahini Dressing
To prepare, whisk together tahini, lemon juice, maple syrup, salt, and fresh grated ginger (fresh ginger is key for best flavor!). Then thin with a little water until a pourable sauce is achieved. That’s it!
We hope you LOVE this sauce! It’s:
Gingery
Lemony
Creamy
Versatile
Simple
& SO delicious!
This sauce would be delicious on salads, bowls, and sandwiches, for dipping vegetables in, and so much more!
Love Tahini? Try Our:
- Quick Ginger Garlic Miso Tahini Dressing
- Curry-Roasted Fennel Salad with Rosemary Tahini Dressing
- Abundance Kale Salad with Savory Tahini Dressing
- Tahini Chocolate Banana Soft Serve
If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo #minimalistbaker on Instagram. Cheers, friends!
Gingery Lemon Tahini Sauce
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup tahini
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1 Tbsp maple syrup or agave nectar (or honey if not vegan)
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 4 tsp freshly grated ginger (you can try subbing dried, but we haven’t tested it)
- Water (to thin into pourable sauce)
Instructions
- To a medium mixing bowl, add tahini, lemon juice, maple syrup, sea salt, and ginger. Whisk or stir to combine. Then add water a little at a time until a pourable sauce is achieved.
- Taste and adjust flavor as needed, adding more lemon for acidity, maple syrup for sweetness, ginger for stronger ginger flavor, or salt to taste.
- Perfect for salads and bowl meals! Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator up to 1 week. Not freezer friendly.
Video
Notes
*Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated with maple syrup.
SNL says
This sauce is the bomb! I can’t wait to try over the black bean buddha bowl 😋😋
– I only had home frozen chopped ginger so I measured the tsp badly lol and then sprinkled ground ginger to taste for more fire-ness (less than 1/8tsp).
– I used 1 lemon, juiced and included pulp (slightly under the amount stated), and added less water than the picture so I still got lemon flavour.
– Lastly I used half the salt stated (I used table) and less maple syrup (probably half stated) for personal taste.
Thanks so much for the lovely review and for sharing your modifications! So glad you enjoyed!
Sharon says
Oh my God! Cast about last night for a simple dip to serve w/ celery and sliced apples. Tahini came to mind and ginger, so I searched google and landed here. It was incredible!!! My daughter loved it too! I have bookmarked the page and will definitely be making it again and again!
Woohoo! We’re so glad you both enjoyed it, Sharon! Thank you for the lovely review! xo
JPerry250K says
This sauce was everything! Super simple to make and nice flavor. As with most recipes, it is impt to adjust ingredients to taste, so I’m glad the author explicitly states that in the instruction. Definitely a keeper.
We’re so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for the lovely review! xo
Caroline says
Hi! I love tahini, lemon, garlic and ginger, so this recipe looks brilliant. The thing is, I’d like to use this as a dip, not a sauce. Can I omit the water and make it a bit thicker so it works as a dip for crackers and flatbreads? (I’m going to make your garlic and herb flatbread.)
Thanks!
Caroline
Sounds delish! Let us know how it goes!
Luisa says
The Gingery Lemon Tahini Sauce was really good. I only reduced the sweetener, used 1/2 tbsp coconut nectar, as this what I had. Made it with fresh ginger like recipe suggested. Fresh ginger adds a nice flavor to the whole ingredients combination. I also love that it is so quick to make.
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Luisa! Thank you for sharing! xo
Erin says
Wow this is soooo tasty and easy. I used it over roasted beets! Yum, thank you!!! Reposting with rating :)
xoxo!
Emma Paschen says
I made this recipe for a salad dressing in a pinch. It was oh so good! Thank you!!
We are so glad you enjoyed it, Emma! Thanks so much for sharing! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating with your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers. Thanks so much! Xo
Jacki says
YEESSSSS! This is a winner! I subbed orange juice because I had just a little left in the jug and didn’t want to juice lemons. I also did only 1tsp grated ginger because my kids are “meh” about ginger. STILL HAS GOOD FLAVOR AND SOOOO EASY TO MAKE! (I made it in a half pint jar and shook it.)
Yay! Thanks for sharing, Jacki!
Lisa says
Ginger lemon tahini where have you been all my life?? I’m never using dressing out of a bottle again. This was so so good and I want to put in on everything.
Whoop! We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Lisa! xo
Amanda says
oh my. are you the queen of sauces?? ginger + tahini together?? SO. GOOD. oh, i love it so so so much. i might cry.
Aw, thanks so much for the lovely review, Amanda! xo
Claire says
This sauce is AMAZING! With so few ingredients, I did not expect the delicious flavor, we have used it on salads, as a veggie and chip dip and we have drizzled on meats … very versatile, our whole family loves it!
Whoop! Thanks, Claire!
Liz K says
This is now my favorite dressing of all time. I added a few grated cloves of garlic and lemon pepper to really give it flavor :)
Thanks for the kind review, Liz!
Stella says
I recently stumbled upon this & made it just as described. I love it & have added it to my regular rotation. Thank you for sharing this gem!
We’re so glad to hear it, Stella! Thanks so much for the lovely review!
Sierra says
Yum! Perfect for veggies, grain bowls and salad 🥗
Kara says
Absolutely incredible! Put this on a throw together chickpea & sweet potato buddha bowl. I’ll be looking for other ways to use this sauce; I just may put it on everything <3
Sydney says
SOOO good and easy!! Lemon flavor is fresh and ginger adds a fun twist on typical tahini sauces. I’ve found it’s super versatile, thicker at cold temps so I’ve been using it as a dip or sandwich spread. Super yummy over kale and rice. I’ve made it two times this week already!
Whoop! We’re so glad you enjoy it, Sydney! Thanks for sharing!
Kate says
This was delicious and super easy
I also added a little garlic like from another tahini dressing from your site
I had it on salad with some rice vinegar and it had such nice flavor
I can’t wait to try it on some steamed and roasted veggies
Thanks!
So glad you enjoyed it, Kate! Thanks for sharing!
B says
Fantastic!
b says
I can’t stop eating this! On spinach, salmon, artichokes, rice and beans etc! Such a great twist on a classic!
Yay! We’re so glad you enjoy it! xo
Jaclyn says
Yum!!!
I made this tonight and used it over roasted yams, sauteed kale and your Mexican shredded chicken. With some sesame seeds on top. So good!!
I subbed in about 1.5 tsp dried ginger as I didn’t have any fresh, did the trick! I will be making a ton of salads with this.
I have never been disappointed by any of your recipes!
That sounds lovely, Jaclyn! We’re so glad you enjoy our recipes! xo
Elle says
Just made this and I couldn’t even wait for the rice to eat almost all of it!! Another hit Dana!!!
Whoop! Thanks for sharing, Elle!
Irene arellano says
This is tahini sauce is absolutely delicious and so easy to make!!
Thank you For another amazing recipe ?
xoxo!
Chad St Aiden says
Thank you, amazing recipe, and my guests loved the taste. :-)
Great, thanks for sharing!
Ornah Levine-Dolberg says
Sublime. I’ve been making Tahini at home for years, nay decades. Never thought of adding ginger. It is more lemony than usual and the ginger gives it an amazing ‘kick’. Love it. A new life for an old favorite. Thank you!
Whoop! Thanks for sharing!!
Heidi says
This is so delicious! Easy to make and great on veggies.
Yay! Thanks, Heidi! Next time would you mind adding a rating to your review? It’s super helpful to us and other readers! xo
Amélie says
Made this tonight with a tempeh bowl. Added some miso instead of salt. I blended it in the mixer to get something smooth. Really tasty! It’s a keeper for sure!
Yay! Thanks for sharing, Amélie!
Luci says
I added a squeeze of fresh lime in addition to the lemon. This is a delicious and easy to prepare versatile sauce. I served drizzled over roasted asparagus and topped wIth some toasted sesame seeds- yum!
So great! Thanks for sharing, Luci!
Emily says
Hi there,
I’d love to try this sauce! Is there a specific bowl recipe you’d recommend that would pair well with it?
Thank you!
We have one coming soon! Stay tuned. In the meantime, most of our bowls here would be great!
Anita says
I replaced the maple syrup with the Lakanto monkfruit syrup. Worked great! I love this sauce. It really does compliment just about anything! Thanks for the recipe.
Thanks, Anita! So glad you enjoyed it! Next time would you mind adding a rating to your review? It’s super helpful to us and other readers! xo
SHARON RUSSO says
Please provide a way for a person to email this recipe from your website. I avoid social network sites to the extent possible. Thank you.
You can email them the link!
Sara says
Just made this – I actually love it! I used the food processor to make sure it would get creamy and be less work to make. It came together in a flash. I tasted it and added a squirt of sesame oil which seems to have deepened and intensified the flavors. Also, I find that these tahini based sauces are a real mess in a bowl so, I put it into a squeeze bottle and everyone can squirt some onto anything with relatively little mess. It is good in salad, on crackers and we are trying it with steak tonight! I will certainly be making it again!
I discovered your website after getting your first book out of the library. I did end up loving it so much I purchased a copy – something I rarely do! Thank you so much and…….keep these wonderful, flavorful recipes coming!
I love that tip, Sara! Will have to keep the squeeze bottle in mind! And thank you so much for the kind words + support! Hope you’re enjoying the book! xoxoxoooo
Paige Cassandra Flamm says
This sauce looks amazing! I need to try it out asap!