Tahini Sauce

Perfectly creamy, garlicky, and tart—this four-ingredient tahini sauce recipe makes everything taste better!

Tahini sauce–or “awesome sauce” as my girls like to call it–is a rich and savory condiment that’s loved all throughout Mediterranean and the Middle East. It’s a blend of nutty tahini paste with fresh lime or lemon juice, raw garlic, and a little bit of water.

Just like with hummus, good tahini paste gives the sauce a velvety quality that’s totally addictive. In this easy recipe, I also add freshly chopped parsley, a popular twist where I grew up in Egypt called tahini bqaudoonis. The parsley adds a nice freshness but is optional. You can also easily switch it up with fresh mint or dill if you prefer!

Use this tahini sauce as a vegan dip for falafel or fresh veggies, or drizzle on grilled meat–lots more ideas below. Trust me: you’ll want to put it on everything!

What is in Tahini Sauce?

Real-deal tahini sauce does not have sweetener, and you don’t need it. No surprise but the VIP ingredient here is the tahini–seek out the good stuff. It should taste smooth and mildly nutty (bad tahini is bitter and chalky). Here’s some tips for what to buy: 

• Garlic: I use 2 garlic cloves, but you can always do more or less to your taste. 
• Kosher salt: Perks up the flavor. 
• Tahini paste: A creamy, rich paste made by finely grinding roasted sesame seeds until buttery smooth.
  • READ MORE: What is Tahini?
  • TRY IT: My favorite is this organic tahini by Soom, but you can also check your local Middle Eastern market. 
• Citrus: Use lime or lemon juice, whatever you have on hand. 
• Parsley (optional): Swap with dill or mint, or use a combination. 

How to Make Tahini Sauce

Here’s how to make this authentic tahini sauce recipe:

• Make a garlic paste. Using a mortar and pestle, crush 1-2 garlic cloves with 1/2 teaspoon of salt to make a paste. (Or mince the garlic and season with salt.)
• Combine. Scrape the garlic paste into the bowl of a food processor. Add 3/4 cup tahini paste and 1/2 cup fresh lime or lemon juice. Blend. It will be thick as it emulsifies, so add a splash of cold water and blend again until you reach your desired consistency (you’ll use about 1/4 cup cold water). Tahini sauce should typically be runny like salad dressing, but if you prefer it more as a dip, simply use less water.
• Season and serve. Taste and adjust the seasoning with more citrus juice and salt if needed. Transfer the tahini to a serving bowl, and stir in the parsley (if using). Enjoy!

Mix it Up

This tahini sauce recipe can very much be a base to add other flavors. A few ideas: 

• Make it spicy: Add a pinch of cayenne, or Aleppo pepper for a milder heat.
• Make a “green tahini”: Check out my green goddess dressing recipe. 

What to Serve with Tahini Sauce

There are so many ways to enjoy tahini sauce. Some of my go-tos: 

• Part of a big mezze table.
• As a salad dressing.
• To jazz up sandwiches like falafel pitas or chicken shawarama.
• Drizzle on top of grilled meat, like my grilled chicken kabobs.
• On lunch bowls, like my falafel bowl. 
• I also serve it just with a few fresh veggies and some warm pita bread. 

Try These Mediterranean Sauces Next!

We’re all about the sauce in the Mediterranean! I always say they’re what takes a meal to next-level delicious. Here are 4 more to try:

• Tzatziki Sauce
• Turkish Tarator (Creamy Walnut Spread)
• Salsa Brava
• 5-Minute Romesco Sauce

More Ways to Use Tahini Paste

Dips and Condiments

Vegan Green Goddess Dressing with Tahini (5 minutes)

Breakfast

Tahini Date Shake

Dips and Condiments

Cucumber Tomato Tahini Salad

Appetizer and Mezze

Hummus Recipe (Authentic Homemade)

Browse all Mediterranean recipes. 

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*This post has recently been updated with new information for the readers’ benefit.