Lime Tahini Dressing

Recipe features

• Vegan, dairy-free, plant-based, and oil-free!
• Simple ingredients!
• Easy, creamy, and quick to make!
• Great for meal prep!
• It's versatile, use it on a variety of dishes for added flavor!

Ingredient notes and substitutions

The recipe uses simple ingredients, but please see the recipe card below for the full list of ingredients and exact measurements.

Tahini - This is made from ground sesame seeds and can vary in consistency with different brands.  Your brand will most likely have a layer of oil on top that has separated.  The oil needs to be stirred back into the rest of the tahini, then measure out the needed amount for the recipe. 
The contents at the bottom of the jar tend to be drier than what's at the top, so each time I use tahini for a recipe, I give it a good stir to redistribute.  Depending on your brand and if the tahini came from the bottom of the jar, you may need to add more water.  Since it's a major contributor to the flavor of the cilantro tahini dressing, use a pourable, high-quality tahini. For more recipes with tahini, try a tahini pasta sauce recipe.

Cilantro - Fresh cilantro packs a refreshing herby flavor to the tahini-based dressing.  If you're not a fan of cilantro, it can be left out.  I wouldn't substitute it with another herb.

Lime - Fresh lime juice is best to give the tahini lime dressing a burst of tart flavor.  Lemon juice should work fine as a substitute, or try lemon herb tahini dressing.

Maple syrup - This cuts through the bitterness of tahini.  It can be substituted with agave syrup.

Garlic powder and ground cumin - The spices add a more complex flavor to the salad dressing without oil.  You can substitute the garlic powder for 1 minced clove of garlic. Instead of ground cumin, try ground coriander.

Tips

• When you add the lime juice to the tahini, it will most likely seize up.  Adding water will thin it out to create a creamy dressing.
• If you prefer a thinner dressing, add more water.  How much water you'll need will depend on how thick your tahini is and how thin you want your dressing.
• Sweeten the tahini dressing to suit your palate.
• Season with salt to taste.
• Use quality tahini; it should be creamy and pourable. 
• If you want to increase the lime flavor, add a little lime zest.

How to make tahini lime dressing

1. In a bowl, whisk together tahini, lime juice, maple syrup, salt, garlic powder, and ground cumin. 

2. Then whisk in water to thin, start with 1 tablespoon at a time, and then add more if needed.

3. Then stir in chopped cilantro, taste, and adjust for seasoning.

Serving suggestions

The tahini and lime dressing can be used in a variety of ways, but here are a few suggestions.

• Drizzle on roasted vegetables.
• Enjoy it on Buddha bowls.
• Try it on kale salads.
• Serve it with roasted sweet potatoes.
• Try it on zesty quinoa salad, skip the lime juice in the recipe.
• Drizzle on chickpea rice salad instead of vegan ranch dressing.
• Add it to a wrap with falafels and veggies.
• Add it to a chickpea Buddha bowl.

Storage

Store leftover tahini dressing in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about 5 days.  Tahini dressings tend to thicken after being refrigerated.  Add a splash of water until it's thinned to your desired consistency.

Frequently asked question

Related recipes

• Smoky tahini dressing
• Lemon herb tahini dressing
• Tahini mustard dressing

I hope you enjoy the recipe!  If you did, feel free to rate the recipe and leave a comment.