Tahini dressing

Tahini dressing

10 min
As the weather gets warmer, many people start to crave lighter, fresher foods that are perfect for summer. One easy way to add flavour to your light meals is by making a homemade yoghurt tahini dressing. By pairing mild yoghurt and flavourful sesame paste, you can create a delicious and refreshing dressing in a matter of minutes. With its rich flavour and creamy texture, this tahini dressing is sure to become a staple in your summer recipe arsenal.
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Instructions

  • Mix all ingredients, cover, and refrigerate.
  • Optionally, garnish with roasted sesame seeds and parsley.
Recommended information

Serving suggestion

Pita bread
1 h
Pita bread
(0)
Enjoy!
Tips

Tahini can be quite thick, so you may need to add some water to achieve the desired consistency. Start by adding a small amount of water and then gradually add more until you reach the desired thickness.

Tips

Consider using a blender or food processor to mix the ingredients. Whisking them together by hand can take some time and effort, and the tahini dressing may not come out as smooth and creamy as you want it to.

Questions about tahini dressing

Simple tahini dressing is a delicious summer sauce that can be used to elevate your picnic or barbecue selections. Learn more by reading our answers to the most frequently asked questions below.

How to make tahini dressing?
Tahini dressing is incredibly easy to make. Mix mild yoghurt with crushed garlic, cayenne pepper, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and sesame paste. Season with salt and pepper before covering the tahini dip and placing it in the fridge to allow for the flavours to blend. If you want to impress barbecue guests, you can garnish the dip with some toasted sesame seeds and flat-leaved parsley. The former will serve to enhance the flavours, while the latter will provide a burst of brightness to balance the richness.
What is tahini?
Tahini is a paste made from ground sesame seeds. It has been popular in many Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisines for centuries and has become increasingly popular throughout the rest of Europe and North America in recent years. The sesame seeds are toasted, then ground with a little oil to create a smooth and creamy texture. It is commonly used in popular dips such as hummus and baba ghanoush, as well as in dressings, sauces, and marinades. The popular ingredient is quite versatile and is used in sweet as well as savoury dishes.
What does tahini taste like?
Tahini has a rich and nutty flavour derived from the toasted sesame seeds used to make it. The taste is slightly bitter, with a subtle sweetness that can vary depending on the brand and quality. Tahini has a unique taste that can be described as earthy, slightly smoky, and pleasantly nutty, with a creamy and smooth texture. Overall, it has a distinctive and complex flavour that makes it a versatile ingredient in many different types of dishes.
Can you freeze tahini dressing?
Yes, you can freeze creamy tahini dressing for 1-3 months. However, the texture may change slightly when it is thawed, and it may separate or become grainy. To prevent this from happening, it is best to store it in an airtight container and stir it well before freezing to help distribute the ingredients evenly. When you are ready to use it, allow it to thaw in the fridge overnight, then stir well before serving. Keep in mind that frozen tahini dip may not have the same texture and flavour as a freshly made one, so it may be best to freeze it only if you have a large batch that you cannot use up within a week.

Ingredients

Tahini dressing
Yoghurt, natural
250 g
Garlic clove, crushed
1
Cayenne pepper (approx.)
½ tsp
Freshly squeezed lemon juice (approx.)
1 tbsp
Tahini
45 g
Salt (approx.)
½ tsp
Black pepper (approx.)
¼ tsp
For serving (optional)
Toasted sesame seeds (approx.)
1 tbsp
Flat-leaf parsley

Savour a simple and flavourful tahini dressing

Tahini dip is rich, creamy, and delicious. With a few high-quality ingredients, you can make a delectable dressing in just a few minutes. The yoghurt base ensures a velvety texture with a great mouthfeel. It also provides a subtle hint of tanginess that makes for a light and refreshing dressing even though the overall flavour profile is rich and intense.

A garlicky yoghurt sauce full of flavour

The intensity of tahini dressing comes from the key ingredients, tahini, which is a paste made from toasted sesame seeds that have been ground and combined with oil to ensure a smooth texture. The taste is nutty, earthy, and rich. It has plenty of depth and a slight bitterness. Acidic lemon juice is added to provide freshness, balance the bitterness, and mirror the brightness of the tangy yoghurt.

A bit of heat and smokiness is brought to the tahini yoghurt sauce through the cayenne pepper, while the crushed garlic adds a pungent and savoury note that enhances the other flavours. All these ingredients work together to create a flavourful and satisfying sauce that may be used to brighten different dishes through its savoury goodness.

Use it as a salad dressing or as a dip for falafels or vegetables

This nutty and earthy dressing is quite versatile and can be used in a variety of ways. For example, dress a light side salad with tahini dressing or use it with more filling summer salads such as an avocado salad or cabbage salad that will do well with a bold addition.

Another popular option is to use tahini dressing as a dipping for falafels, crunchy vegetable sticks, crackers, or chips. It is also perfect for drizzling over grilled vegetables or as a topping for grilled meat like steaks, chicken, or lamb skewers. You can also dip pieces of bread into the creamy salad dressing with tahini. Or use it to spice up a summer classic like bread on a stick while you enjoy the heat of cayenne pepper and bonfire alike.

Adjust it to your personal preferences

It is easy to play around with the flavour of a classic sesame tahini dressing without adding new ingredients. For instance, use more lemon juice for a tangier flavour, or more garlic for a garlicky tahini dressing. If you want to balance these acidic and aromatic ingredients, you can introduce honey or maple syrup into the mix for more sweetness.

You can also add additional spices to create a more complex flavour profile. Some popular options include depth-enhancing cumin, smoky paprika, citrusy coriander, and hot chilli powder. Add a small amount of the spice, taste, and adjust as needed. Adding finely chopped fresh herbs like peppery parsley, zesty coriander, or refreshing dill is another way to add fresh and vibrant flavour. Try different variations to discover the best tahini dressing for you.