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    Home » Recipes » Dips, Sauces, Dressings, and Condiments

    Smoky Tahini Dressing

    Published: Nov 6, 2020 . Modified: Feb 21, 2023 by Allie

    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe
    Smoky tahini dressing in a jar with a spoon.

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    Easy smoky tahini dressing, it’s great on buddha bowls, roasted vegetables, as a dip, sauce for roasted sweet potato nourish bowl, or as a creamy dressing for your salad. 

    smoky tahini dressing with a spoon

    This is a simple sauce for mealtime, I love throwing the ingredients together and being able to whip this up in just a couple of minutes. For more tahini-based dressings try oil-free hummus, lemon herb tahini sauce, or Dijon tahini dressing. For a spicy smoky dressing try vegan chipotle mayo for burritos, tacos, grain bowls, or roasted potatoes.

    Jump to:
    • What is tahini?
    • Tips 
    • Instructions
    • Serving suggestions
    • Related recipes
    • Recipe
    • Comments

    What is tahini?

    Tahini is made by grinding up sesame seeds to create a creamy paste.  It’s a great alternative to use as a base for nut-free dairy-free creamy dressings.  It has a nutty flavor and tends to be a little bitter, which will vary from brand to brand.   To cut through the bitterness I like to add a touch of sweetness with maple syrup.

    Tips 

    • If you can’t find smoked paprika you can substitute it with the more widely available sweet paprika but you won’t get that little hint of smokiness.  Or add ⅛ teaspoon of liquid smoke along with the sweet paprika.
    • How much water you’ll need depends on how thick the tahini is and your desired consistency, start with ⅓ cup then add more if needed.
    • Leftovers may thicken when the sauce is chilled, add a tablespoon of water at a time and whisk with a fork.  Add more water until it reaches your desired dressing/dip consistency. 

    Instructions

    All you do is whisk the ingredients together, then thin it out with cold water. 

    smoky tahini ingredients

    Add all of the ingredients except the water to a bowl.

    smoky tahini ingredients in a bowl

    Whisk until combined, when you mix everything together it will thicken up.  

    ingredients for smoky tahini dressing whisked together

    Then add the cold water and keep whisking and it will thin out.  How much water you need depends on how smooth your tahini is and your desired consistency.  Start with ⅓ cup for a thicker sauce and ½ cup for a thinner sauce.

    all ingredients whisked together

    It will also last up to a week in the refrigerator in an airtight container, so it’s great for meal prep.  If the recipe makes more than you need, it can be halved pretty easily.  

    Serving suggestions

    Need inspiration on how to use the dressing?

    • Roasted sweet potato nourish bowl
    • Chickpea vegetable rice bowl
    • Grain or Buddha bowls
    • Roasted vegetables or potatoes
    • On kale salads
    • Drizzle it on veggie burgers or sandwiches

    Related recipes

    • Dijon Tahini Dressing
    • Lemon Herb Tahini Dressing
    • Strawberry Vinaigrette
    • Creamy Cashew Dijon Dressing 
    • Peanut Dipping Sauce
    • Oil-Free Hummus
    smoky tahini dressing in a jar

    As always, I hope you enjoy this plant-based oil-free smoky tahini dressing! If you like the recipe feel free to rate it and leave a comment.

    Print

    Recipe

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    Smoky tahini dressing in a jar with a spoon.

    Smoky Tahini Dressing


    ★★★★★

    5 from 1 reviews

    • Author: Allie
    • Total Time: 10 minutes
    • Yield: 1 cup 1x
    • Diet: Vegan
    Print Recipe
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    Description

    Easy smoky tahini dressing, it’s great on buddha bowls, roasted vegetables, as a dip, or just a creamy dressing for your salad.


    Ingredients

    Scale
    • ½ cup tahini (stir well before measuring)
    • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
    • 1 tablespoon maple syrup
    • 2 teaspoons tamari 
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ¾ teaspoon smoked paprika (or ⅛ teaspoon liquid smoke and ½ teaspoon paprika)
    • ⅓-½ cup ice-cold water

    Instructions

    1. Add all of the ingredients except the water to a bowl, and whisk until combined.  
    2. When you mix everything together it will thicken up, then add the ice-cold water and keep whisking and it will thin out.  How much water you need depends on how smooth or thick your tahini is and your desired consistency.  Start with ⅓ cup for a thicker sauce and ½ cup for a thinner sauce.
    3. Store for up to a week covered in the refrigerator.
    4. If the dressing thickens up once chilled in the fridge, whisk in a tablespoon of water at a time to thin it out until you reach your desired consistency.

    Notes

    You can also add just a portion of the water needed in the recipe to the ingredients when you first whisk them together for ease, then add more to thin it out.

    How much water you'll need will depend on your tahini, if it's pourable or not (thick).

    • Prep Time: 10 minutes
    • Cook Time: 0 minutes
    • Category: dressing, sauce
    • Method: mix
    • Cuisine: American

    Keywords: Smoky tahini dressing without lemon, smoky tahini dressing with apple cider vinegar, Vegan oil free

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @threelittlechickpeasblog on Instagram and hashtag it #threelittlechickpeasblog

    More Dips, Sauces, Dressings, and Condiments

    • Vegan Chipotle Sauce
    • Lemon Herb Tahini
    • Vegan Honey Mustard
    • Oil-Free Hummus

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Kim

      May 08, 2022 at 4:51 pm

      I just made this and it is delicious!!! Planning to put it on my buhhda bowls for lunch next week. Thank you for the recipe!!

      Reply
      • Allie

        May 09, 2022 at 2:28 pm

        You're welcome, I'm so glad you enjoyed the recipe!

        Reply
    2. Jamie

      November 19, 2022 at 4:11 pm

      Came out delicious, I used it on your sweet potato bowl! I will definitely make it again.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Allie

        November 19, 2022 at 4:32 pm

        I'm glad you enjoyed the recipe and thanks for commenting!

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Allie! I love cooking and I want to share my simple plant-based meals with you. Eating this way doesn't have to be complicated or expensive. Just simply delicious!

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