How to Make Homemade Tahini Sauce
This creamy, light and delicious homemade tahini sauce make a perfect accompaniment to any meal. This middle eastern Tahina sauce is heart healthy and works a treat served with meat dishes, as an ingredient in dishes like Hummus and Babaganoush or drizzled over your favorite falafel or shawarma. Try it as a salad dressing or drizzle over a bowl of steamed vegetables.
Homemade Tahini Sauce aka Middle Eastern Tahina | Tahina Recipe| Homemade tahina in 5 mins
What is Tahini? What is Tahini sauce made of?
Well, if you have eaten Middle Eastern food at any time, whether it’s Lebanese, Armenian, Arabic, Egyptian or even Israeli you must have seen this bowl of creamy sauce either as an appetizer or over a salad. Definitely served alongside meat dishes like Kebabs and shawarma or the popular Falafel.
This tahini sauce is made from a thick paste made of sesame seeds! The sesame seeds are soaked in water overnight, then crushed so the bran and kernel are separated. The paste made from the kernels sold in supermarkets for us to use.
You get two types of tahini paste. A light colored paste which is made from only the kernels but you can also find a more cream pale tahini paste which has the kernel and bran both made to a smooth paste. I usually use the second because it’s got the kernels too. It’s just like choosing processed white flour or whole wheat flour. The thick tahini paste makes a great base for many different uses such as this tahini sauce.
The best part about tahini sauce? It’s healthy for your heart! It has healthy fats and amino acids and is a great source of essential vitamins and minerals. Also, it regulates blood pressure and cholesterol, even improves skin health. These are just a few of the ones that fascinate me. But if you do a search on the benefits of Tahini.. there is so much more.
Where can I find tahini sauce?
Most supermarkets have tahini paste or tahini sauce in the condiments isles these days. In some, you can find it in the aisle that sells foreign products. Sometimes the isle that sells, Middle Eastern or Asian foods.
Is tahini sauce healthy?
It is said that sesame seeds contain healthy fats which lower cholesterol and a great way to add them to your diet is, of course, tahini sauce. One tablespoon is said to have about 8 grams of total fat of which 80% is unsaturated.
What is the difference between tahini and tahini?
Some Middle Eastern Countries refer to this as tahini paste while some called it tahina. It is a the same and often uses the same ways blended with chickpeas to make hummus or with eggplants to make a Roasted Eggplant Dip Baba Ganoush or Mutable or as a dip and sauce with falafel. Yes, the dipping sauces served with falafel are usually made from tahini sauce. It makes a delicious salad dressing too
Do you need a food processor to make tahina? NO!!
The tahini paste is really smooth and blends well with just a spoon. Unless you want to mince two garlic cloves in the food processor you don’t need a food processor. I mince my garlic with a zester or kitchen knife and chopping board. As you can see in the video below, I make my tahini sauce in a mason jar and just give it a good shake.
How do you store tahini sauce? & a Little Tip
Tahini sauce has a long shelf life. I can stay in the fridge for a month but ours never last more than a day or two. My husband is middle eastern so he can eat Tahini with pita bread for dinner with a side salad. Yup!
A little tip – store the tahini is a mason jar because it does become thicker over time. Instead of going thru the process of mixing it again. Just add a few tablespoons of water to the mason jar and give it a good shake. Voila!! It’s back to consistency. Can you tell that I’ve had one too many tahini sauce jars over the years? Well, we do love a good tahini sauce over not just our middle eastern dishes but I love creamy salad dressing so tahini sauce works a treat.
What can you use Tahini Sauce with?
Well? the possibilities are endless!!
- Try it just on its own as a dip! I serve a bowl of veggie stick for my kids’ pajama party. Kids love to dip their carrot and cucumber sticks in tahini sauce.
- I use it as a salad dressing. If you love creamy dressings but can’t afford all the extra mayo fat? (that’s me). This tahini sauce works a treat.
- Do you steam veggies and then add lots of melted cheese over it to get your kids to eat veggies? Well, I drizzle a good old tahini sauce.
- If you make my homemade Falafel (a popular recipe on this blog) recipe – I serve a side of tahini. Because tahini just makes falafel taste better.
- Have you tried my Shawarma Pita Pockets that get done in 15 minutes? (another popular recipe) always serve it with tahini – Tahini and meat – a perfect combination.
- Tahini sauce works best with any meat or fish dishes. If you love kababs? This is a must-have with kebabs. Have you tried my Moroccan Chicken skewers or Chicken Kebabs?
Let’s talk ingredients and substitutes (Save/Pin)
- Garlic – You want to mince the garlic to a smooth paste so it disappears into the sauce. This is easily done by adding the salt to the garlic when chopping it. Press the garlic and salt with the flat of your knife to make a paste.
- Lemon juice – While I say 3 tbsp – it certainly is to taste. So before you store it in a mason jar? Taste your seasoning first. When I make my salad dressing I often use Apple Cider Vinegar instead of lemon juice. It does have a much stronger flavor but… its’ good for my diet.
- Cold water – Many people say to use warm water but once a chef told me if you use cold fridge water – it gives you a brighter color. Never questioned it; have been doing that for many years now. Room temperature works just fine.
Do you see that little bowl in front of my mason jar? That’s the Tahini paste. It comes in this pale or a lighter color. It’s thick and oily. You will find a lot of it gets stuck at the bottom of the jar. That’s normal and can still be used. Just scoop it up with a metal spoon.
Heart Healthy Tahini Paste, Homemade Tahina, how to make tahina sauce, tahini sauce, easy tahini in 5 mins
Recipe – Homemade Tahini Sauce aka Middle Eastern Tahina (Save/Pin)
Tools
- Mince the garlic with a Kitchen Knife and chopping board or use a citrus zester like I do.
- If it feels easy you can use a Mixing Bow to combine the tahini.
- You can make tahina in a food processor
- You can also make tahini in a Mason Jar as I have shown you in the video below.
Heart Healthy Tahini Paste, Homemade Tahina, how to make tahina sauce, tahina in 5 mins
Ingredients (video shows 1/2 recipe)
- Tahini paste – 250 ml (1 cup)
- Cold water – 180 to 250 ml
- Garlic – 1 tbsp minced (2 large cloves)
- Salt – 1/2 tsp
- Pepper – 1/4 tsp
- Lemon juice – 4 tbsp
Method
- In a bowl add the tahini paste, garlic, salt, pepper, and lemon juice.
- Add 3/4 cup water and stir to a smooth paste.
- Adjust seasoning – adding more salt, pepper or lemon juice to taste.
- Check consistency – adding more water if necessary.
- Pour into a bowl or mason jar.
- To serve as a sauce – drizzle with some olive oil and sprinkle with paprika.
Tahini sauce consistency
- To serve it as a sauce – you do not need more water.
- For a salad dressing, you may need a few more tablespoons of water so it’s pouring consistency
- If you plan to serve it over meat – Keep it thicker.
Save this recipe on Pinterest for later.
You can find a collection of my tutorials and recipes here on Pinterest.
Homemade Tahini Sauce aka Middle Eastern Tahina, how to make tahina sauce, best tahina recipe in 5 mins
Homemade Tahini Sauce aka Middle Eastern Tahina
Print Pin RateDescription
Ingredients
- 250 ml Tahini paste
- 180 ml Cold water
- 1 tbsp Garlic minced
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1/4 tsp Pepper
- 4 tbsp Lemon juice
Conversions - Switch between Metric & US for other measurement options
Instructions
- In a bowl add the tahini paste, garlic, salt, pepper, and lemon juice.
- Add 3/4 cup water and stir to a smooth paste.
- Adjust seasoning - adding more salt, pepper or lemon juice to taste.
- Check consistency - adding more water if necessary.
- Pour into a bowl or mason jar.
- To serve as a sauce - drizzle with some olive oil and sprinkle with paprika.
Depending on what you need to use this tahini for
- To serve it as a sauce - you do not need more than water.
- For a salad dressing, you may need a few more tablespoons of water so you can pour it over.
- If you plan to serve it over meat - I highly recommended not to make it too watery.
Recipe Video
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Nutrition Information
The nutrition information and metric conversion are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee its accuracy. If this data is important to you please verify with your trusted nutrition calculator. Thank you
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Mary Glasse
Hi Veena,
I am doing the Daniel Fast with a church group & needed a Tahini Sauce without yogurt. (no dairy). I had made Falafels and wanted something other than Hummus to dip them in.
Your recipe is perfect! Thank you 😋
Veena Azmanov
Thank you, Mary. So happy you enjoyed this recipe. The original tahini is not with yogurt. We only add yogurt when you want to use it over salads as a dressing. Thanks for coming back to write this feedback. Loving know how my recipes are used. Have a great day.
Angela
What a fantastic idea! I didn’t even think about making homemade Tahini sauce. I love to cook mediterranean and all definitely be trying this out. Thanks for sharing!
Veena Azmanov
Thank you, Angela.
Adrianne
Yes, what a great idea making your own tahini sauce! I love using it in energy balls. So I will give your recipe a try instead of buying it from the shops, thanks!
Veena Azmanov
Thank you Adrianne.
Natalie
I love tahini sauce! I add it to just about anything. Looks so delicious ♥
Veena Azmanov
Thank you, Natalie.
Julie
Thank you so much for sharing. I use tahini all the time but it has never occurred to me to make my own.
Julie
Veena Azmanov
Thank you, Julie.
Tisha
Who knew this would be so simple to make!! Love it!
Veena Azmanov
Thank you Tisha.
Helen of Fuss Free Flavours
I am such a big fab of tahini, such a lovely flavour. This sauce sounds like a delicious addition to many dishes, particularly falafels, or chicken kebab.
Veena Azmanov
I hear ya Helen. I love tahini too! Nothing beats a thick creamy sauce over salad and chicken recipes.
Savita
homemade tahini is the best! Good share!
Veena Azmanov
Absolutely Savita!
Joyce
I am SO addicted to this sauce. I just had some last week and thought to myself, WOW I can put this on everything! I am so happy to have found this, now I can make this anytime at home! 😀
Veena Azmanov
I so agree with you. I love anything creamy so this is a real savior when I want a healthier alternative.
Sharon Glascoe
Having homemade sauces on hand in the refrigerator is a perfect way to brighten up boring weekday meals. Delicious!
Veena Azmanov
Absolutely Sharon!! We love having this on hand all the time. Even simply tahini with Pita bread is an acceptable meal to my husband
Jenni LeBaron
This looks like a tasty sauce! I love that you added in a series of tips too. I would have never considered cold water vs warm, but if it gives it a brighter color that’s always helpful because we eat with our eyes first!
Veena Azmanov
Thank you Jenni. I do believe it does. Thank you !
Soniya
Nothing beats homemade sauce and this tahini sauce is perfect and looks so creamy! Saving it for later
Veena Azmanov
Thank you Soniya. Yes homemade tahini sauce is absolutely the best to have on hand. Enjoy!
Megan Marlowe
Ok, I am all over this! I cannot wait to make my own tahina at home and drizzle it on everything! Looks so simple!
Veena Azmanov
Absolutely Megan. Tahini is definitely a perfect sauce to have on hand. You will love it on just about anything
Renee @ The Good Hearted Woman
I make a similar sauce, and you’re so right – it’s such a versatile sauce to keep on hand. Your tip about using cold water is interesting – I’ll try that next time.
Veena Azmanov
Absolutely Renee.. Yes this sauce is so versatile.
Teri Stephens
I always (ALWAYS) learn something new about food or preparation when I visit your blog. Thank you for sharing this recipe, and great tip on storing it in a mason jar. 🙂
Veena Azmanov
Aww thank you so much Teri. I am so happy to hear you say that. Thank you for the lovely comment
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Love middle eastern food and tahini so this recipe sounds perfect to me! Can’t wait to try this!
Veena Azmanov
Thank you Stephanie. We love middle eastern food too! I hope you try this.
Denise
I grew up on middle eastern food and I never knew you could make homemade tahini! This looks awesome and I can’t wait to make it!
Veena Azmanov
Thank you Denise. I love tahini sauce very much and we have it at home all the time. You must try this you will love it.
Shalu
I love tahini sauce and like you I too use it as my salad dressing. I made your falafel recently and made this sauce; was perfect! The falafel was to die or. And so true I did not need a food processor for this at all. It mixed up instantly. I love the taste of tahini sauce and this recipe definitely is just the right amount. Thank you so much for always sharing your recipes with such clarity.
Veena Azmanov
Thank you so much Shalu. I’m happy to see that you are enjoying my recipes so much. Thank you for always giving me your valuable feedback and for coming back to leave these comments – Appreciate it very much.