Tahini is a paste made from ground sesame seeds. You can make a delicious and versatile tahini sauce by combining it with lemon juice, garlic, salt, and a small amount of water. Serve it with pita, kebabs, salad, falafels, and other Middle Eastern dishes.
What is tahini sauce?
Homemade tahini sauce, also called tahina, is made by mixing the paste with lemon juice, garlic, salt, and cold water until smooth and creamy. You don’t need a blender or food processor — just a bowl and whisk. Serve it with falafel, shawarma, grilled meats, salads, or roasted vegetables.
If you opened my fridge right now, there’s a 99% chance you’d find a jar of tahini sitting front and center. I love the stuff — it’s creamy, nutty, and endlessly versatile. I drizzle it over salads, use it as a dip, and often stir it into yogurt to make a quick, punchy sauce that works on everything from roasted veg to grilled chicken. It’s my go-to alternative to mayo-based dressings because it still gives you that satisfying creaminess, but with way less saturated fat.
In our house, tahini is basically a food group. My husband, who’s Israeli, could live on fresh pita and tahini alone — and honestly, sometimes he does. To him, it’s “poor man’s food,” but there’s something so comforting about it. No frills, just good, honest flavor. And over the years, it’s become part of my comfort food too. Whether I’m throwing it on a grain bowl or just spooning it onto a salad, tahini sauce is the one thing I never get tired of.
Why make homemade tahini sauce?
- It takes just three ingredients to create a creamy, light, and delicious homemade tahini sauce.
- Best of all, it takes less than 5 minutes to make this sauce, and you don’t need anything other than a mason jar. You don’t need a blender or any other special equipment.
- In addition, it is dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegan, which means you can serve it to anyone.
- You can also flavor tahini by blending it with fresh herbs, such as cilantro, dill, parsley, or mint, when serving it with grilled meat.
Ingredients and substitutes
- Tahini paste – is ground sesame seeds with olive oil. Most supermarkets have tahini paste or tahini sauce in the condiments aisle these days. In some grocery stores, you can find it besides peanut butter, listed as nut butter under healthy products, or in the aisle that sells foreign products. Sometimes, the aisle that sells Middle Eastern or Asian foods.
- Garlic – I love to use garlic powder so it disappears; there is no taste of fresh garlic in the mouth. If you use fresh garlic cloves, mince them into a smooth paste so they disappear into the sauce. You can easily do this by adding salt to the garlic as you chop it. Press the garlic and salt with the flat of your knife to make a paste.
- Lemon juice – Use fresh lemons to make fresh lemon juice. While I say 3 or 4 tbsp, it certainly is to taste. When I make my tahini salad dressing, I often use apple cider vinegar instead of lemon juice.
- Cold water – Some people recommend using warm water. However, a chef once told me that using cold, refrigerated water yields a brighter color. I find that room temperature water works just fine, too.
How to Make Tahini Sauce by Hand ( No blender needed)
- Sauce – In a mason jar, add the tahini paste, garlic, salt, pepper, and lemon juice. Then, add the water. Close the lid and give it a good shake for 30 seconds.
Pro tip – You can also use a bowl and a whisk to make this sauce. - Taste and adjust – Adding more salt, pepper, or lemon juice to taste.
- Check consistency – Add more water or more tahini paste if necessary.
For example, make a thinner consistency to pour over salad and a thicker consistency to serve with hummus or grilled meats
Creative variations
- Classic Tahini sauce on its own with a drizzle of olive oil, and a sprinkle of paprika, ground cumin, or zaatar.
- Thick sauce – Served with kebabs and meats. You do not need more water. Keep it thick.
- Salad dressing – Add a few more tablespoons of water so it’s a pouring consistency. Better yet, add a few tablespoons of yogurt to make a tahini yogurt dressing.
- Mint Tahini – Use a blender or food processor to make the sauce and add a few parsley and mint leaves. Blend to a smooth paste first, then add the sesame paste and other ingredients to make a mint tahini sauce with the desired consistency. Perfect with lamb kebabs or grilled meats.
Tahini paste vs tahini sauce
Tahini paste is made from ground sesame seeds and has a thick, concentrated texture. And tahini sauce (tahina) is made by mixing tahini paste with lemon juice, garlic, salt, and water to create a creamy sauce used in Middle Eastern dishes.
Why did my tahini get thick or separate?
- It became very thick after adding lemon juice – This is normal. Tahini often seizes at first. Keep adding cold water slowly while whisking, and it will become smooth and creamy again.
- The sauce tastes bitter – Some brands are naturally more bitter. Add a little more lemon juice, salt, or a pinch of sugar to balance it.
- The sauce is too thin – Add another spoonful of tahini paste and whisk again.
- The sauce is too thick – Add cold water, one tablespoon at a time, until you get the consistency you like.
Tahini Sauce Recipe
Tahini is a paste made from ground sesame seeds. A delicious and versatile tahini sauce can be made with tahini by adding lemon juice, garlic, salt, and a little water to it. Serve it with pita, kebabs, salad, falafels, and other Middle Eastern dishes
Video
Ingredients
- 1 cup (250 ml) Tahini paste
- ¾ cup (180 ml) Cold water
- ½ tsp Garlic powder or 1 large garlic clove minced
- ¼ tsp Kosher salt
- ¼ tsp Black pepper
- 2 – 4 tbsp Lemon juice or lime juice
Method
- Sauce – In a mason jar add the tahini paste, garlic, salt, pepper, and lemon juice. Add the water. Close the lid and give it a good shake for 30 seconds.Pro tip – you can also use a bowl and a whisk to make this sauce.1 cup Tahini paste, ¾ cup Cold water , ½ tsp Garlic powder, ¼ tsp Kosher salt, ¼ tsp Black pepper, 2 – 4 tbsp Lemon juice
- Taste and adjust – adding more salt, pepper, or lemon juice to taste.
- Check consistency – add more water or more tahini paste if necessary. For example – make a thinner consistency to pour over salad and a thicker consistency to serve with hummus or grilled meats
Notes
- Tahini paste has a long shelf life. I can stay in the pantry for a few months.
- And, tahini sauce can stay in the fridge for her week 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.
A little tip – store the tahini in a mason jar because it does become thicker over time. Instead of going through 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. - Tahini Sauce – served with kebabs and meats – you do not need more water. Keep it thick
- Salad dressing – add a few more tablespoons of water so it’s pouring consistency. Better yet, add a few tablespoons of yogurt to make a tahini yogurt dressing
- Mint Tahini – use a blender or food processor to make the sauce and add a few mint leaves (1/4 cup) – Perfect with lamb kebabs.
Equipment you will need
Nutrition
Tried this recipe?
Mention @veenaazmanov_kitchen or tag #veenaazmanovkitchen!What do you serve tahini sauce with?
- Top it over Hummus, and serve it alongside Shakshuka with Israeli salad.
- A drizzle of little over my healthy Hummus made without tahini.
- Perfect with my Ultimate Ground Beef Kebabs.
- Of course, drizzle over Shish Kabobs.
- Dip your Crispy Falafel Recipe in tahini.
- And, of course, over shawarma, try my Easiest Chicken Shawarma, Sheet Pan Shawarma Chicken.
Frequently asked questions
Homemade tahini will keep in the refrigerator for about 5 to 7 days in an airtight container. It may thicken as it sits, so stir in a little cold water before serving.
Tahini sauce, as you can see, is made with tahini paste. Often, yogurt may be used to dilute the sauce, especially when making a salad dressing. Tzatziki, on the other hand, is a yogurt dip made with drained, grated cucumber with salt, lemon juice, and garlic.
You can freeze tahini sauce, but the texture may separate after thawing. For best results, freeze plain tahini paste and make fresh sauce when needed.
You certainly can, but there is no need. As you can see in the video, you can make perfectly creamy tahini by simply combining the ingredients in a bowl.
more recipes to serve with tahini
- Hummus with Meat
- Roasted Eggplant Dip – Baba Ganoush
- Lebanese Roasted Eggplant Salad
- Nutty Tahini Cookies
- Kofta Wraps with Yogurt Tahini Sauce
- Sautéed Chicken Tahini Eggplant Mediterranean salad
- Roasted Eggplant with Beef Kababs and Tahini Yogurt Sauce
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Hi, I’m Veena
I’m the recipe developer, baker, and food photographer behind Veena Azmanov Kitchen.
I’ve spent years developing and testing recipes, from everyday meals and homemade breads to cakes and desserts.
I share the practical tips and little details I’ve learned along the way so you can get great results in your own kitchen.
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 ?
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.
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!
Thank you, Angela.
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!
Thank you Adrianne.
I love tahini sauce! I add it to just about anything. Looks so delicious ♥
Thank you, Natalie.
Thank you so much for sharing. I use tahini all the time but it has never occurred to me to make my own.
Julie
Thank you, Julie.
Who knew this would be so simple to make!! Love it!
Thank you Tisha.
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.
I hear ya Helen. I love tahini too! Nothing beats a thick creamy sauce over salad and chicken recipes.
homemade tahini is the best! Good share!
Absolutely Savita!