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Tahini Sauce

Creamy, nutty tahini sauce with lemon and garlic — the perfect drizzle for falafel, shawarma bowls, roasted vegetables, and salads.

Prep 5 min

Cook 0 min

Total 5 min

Serves 8

Side·Middle Eastern·Easy

Ingredients

Step 1 — Whisk the sauce

½ cup tahini
Juice of 2 lemons
2 garlic cloves (grated)
½ tsp ground cumin
1 tsp kosher salt
¼–½ cup cold water
2 tbsp olive oil (optional)

Instructions

1
Whisk until smooth
Whisk tahini with lemon juice — it will seize and thicken. Add garlic, cumin, and salt. Whisk in cold water a tablespoon at a time until pourable and creamy.
2
Serve
Taste and adjust salt and lemon. Drizzle over falafel, grain bowls, roasted cauliflower, or use as a salad dressing. Keeps refrigerated up to 1 week.

Nutrition per serving: 110 cal · 3g protein · 4g carbs · 10g fat · 1g fiber

For informational purposes only. Not medical or dietary advice. Verify ingredients for allergens, cooking times, and safe internal temperatures before serving.

SideMiddle EasternEasy

5-Minute Tahini Sauce

Name: Tahini Sauce
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Ingredients: ½ cup tahini; Juice of 2 lemons; 2 garlic cloves (grated); ½ tsp ground cumin; 1 tsp kosher salt; ¼–½ cup cold water; 2 tbsp olive oil (optional)

Jump to recipe

Creamy, nutty tahini sauce with lemon and garlic — the perfect drizzle for falafel, shawarma bowls, roasted vegetables, and salads.

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Servings

Why You'll Love It

Ready in 30 minutes
Budget friendly
Feeds a crowd

Prep

5 min

Cook

0 min

Total

5 min

Serves

For 8 servings: 7 ingredients to shop. Check ingredients below to exclude pantry items, then review your shopping list on Instacart before adding products to your cart.

Instructions

Review the full ingredient list, then follow each cooking step. Cooking Mode offers larger text.

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Tips for success

Tahini seizes when you add lemon — that is normal. Keep whisking in cold water until it turns creamy and pourable.
Grate the garlic so it disappears into the sauce instead of leaving raw chunks.
It thickens in the fridge; loosen leftovers with a splash of water before serving.

Frequently asked questions

What is tahini sauce made of?+

Tahini (ground sesame), lemon juice, garlic, cumin, salt, and cold water. Olive oil is optional. That is the drizzle for falafel and grain bowls — not the same as hummus.

How do you make tahini sauce from scratch?+

Whisk tahini with lemon until it thickens, then add garlic, cumin, salt, and cold water a spoonful at a time until it pours. Ready in 5 minutes.

What can I use tahini sauce for?+

Falafel, shawarma bowls, roasted cauliflower, salads, and grilled chicken. It also works as a dip for raw vegetables.