Tahini sauce
A creamy, lemony, garlicky sesame sauce that goes with falafel, shawarma, roasted vegetables and salads.
Make this once, then cook it into 21 different dishes.
- Time10 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £0.42 a head
- Makesabout 350 ml, enough for 6 to 8 servings
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Stir the jar of tahini well, because the oil separates. Spoon 150 g into a bowl.
- 2
Add the lemon juice, garlic, salt and cumin. Whisk. It will thicken and seize into a stiff paste. This is normal.
- 3
Whisk in the ice cold water a splash at a time. The paste will loosen and turn smooth, pale and creamy.
- 4
Keep adding water until the sauce is the texture you want: thick for a dip, pourable for a dressing. You may not need all of it.
- 5
Taste and add more salt or lemon juice if needed.
- 6
Leave for 10 minutes, then check the texture again. It thickens as it stands, so loosen with a little more water if needed.
About tahini sauce
Tahini sauce is a creamy sauce made from tahini (ground sesame paste), lemon juice, garlic, salt and cold water. It is served across the Middle East with falafel, shawarma, grilled meat and fish, roasted aubergine and cauliflower, and salads.
The method often surprises people. When you first stir lemon juice into tahini, it seizes into a stiff, grainy paste. That is normal. Keep whisking in ice cold water a splash at a time and the sauce turns pale, smooth and creamy, with a texture somewhere between double cream and a pouring dressing.
Choose a good quality, runny tahini with a mild, nutty flavour, as some brands are bitter. The sauce is vegan, gluten free, dairy free and egg free. Tahini is made from sesame, which is a major allergen in its own right, so it is not suitable for anyone with a sesame allergy.
Tips
- Use ice cold water. It helps the sauce turn pale and creamy. Warm water makes it oily.
- Do not worry when the tahini seizes. Keep whisking and adding water a little at a time.
- Grate the garlic finely, or rest it in the lemon juice for 10 minutes, to take the raw edge off.
- For a thicker dip, use less water. For a drizzle over salads, thin with more water and a little extra lemon.
- Try a spoonful of the sauce in a salad dressing with olive oil, or stir in chopped parsley for a green tahini sauce.
- Taste your tahini before making the sauce. If it is bitter, it will make the sauce bitter, so choose another brand.
Storing and freezing
Keep covered in the fridge for up to 4 days. It thickens as it chills, so whisk in a splash of cold water before serving. It can be frozen for up to 2 months, but may separate, so whisk well after thawing in the fridge.
Dishes you can make with tahini sauce
Green Curry Roast Cauliflower with Tahini Sauce
GFDFEFSheikh el Mahshi (Lebanese Lamb Stuffed Aubergines with Tahini)
DFEFSfiha (Levantine Open Lamb Pies with Tahini Sauce)
DFEFNFRoast Aubergine and Tahini Tart
NFFreekeh Pilaf with Roasted Vegetables and Tahini
VGVDFHarissa Roast Aubergine with Tahini Sauce and Pomegranate
VGVGFChermoula Chickpea Fritters with Tahini Sauce
VGVGFLamb Shawarma Wraps with Tahini Sauce and Pickled Red Onions
DFEFNFCrispy Falafel Plate with Tahini Sauce and Chopped Salad
VGVGFRoast Cauliflower with Tahini Sauce, Pomegranate and Parsley
VGVGFSabich (Aubergine and Egg Pitta)
VNFSamak bil Tahini (Baked Fish with Tahini Sauce)
GFDFEFQuestions
Why did my tahini sauce go thick and grainy?
That is a normal stage. The lemon juice makes the tahini seize. Keep whisking in ice cold water a splash at a time and the sauce becomes smooth and creamy.
Is tahini sauce vegan and gluten free?
Yes. It is made from tahini, lemon, garlic, salt and water, so it is vegan, vegetarian, gluten free, dairy free and egg free. It contains sesame, so it is not suitable for anyone with a sesame allergy.
Is tahini sauce nut free?
Sesame is a seed, not a tree nut or peanut, so tahini sauce contains no nuts. Some tahini is made in factories that also handle nuts, so check the label if you have a nut allergy.
Why is my tahini sauce bitter?
Usually the tahini itself. Some brands, especially those made from unhulled sesame, are more bitter. Add a little more lemon juice and salt, or try a light, hulled tahini from a Middle Eastern brand.
How long does tahini sauce keep?
Up to 4 days in the fridge in a covered container. It thickens in the cold, so whisk in a splash of water to loosen it.
More base recipes
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.