Middle Eastern Tahini Sauce Recipe (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Shadi HasanzadeNemati · This post may contain affiliate links .

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An easy everyday tahini sauce recipe that's perfect for falafel, shawarma and kabobs. You can make a big batch of this easy Middle Eastern sauce in only 10 minutes and always have it at hand.

Middle Eastern Tahini Sauce Recipe (1)

You know that amazing tahini sauce your favorite middle eastern place adds to their wraps? This is it! Use it alongside Lebanese garlic sauce (toum) to top your falafel wraps, chicken shawarma, garlic chicken or even as a dip with some pita chips! Simple yet delicious, this is the sauce you want to have on hand at all times.

Table Of Contents:
  • About This Recipe
  • What Is Tahini?
  • Tahini Sauce Ingredients
  • How To Make Tahini Sauce
  • Variations
  • Serving Suggestions
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • More Recipes Using Tahini
  • Middle Eastern Tahini Sauce

About This Recipe

Ever got a falafel sandwich at a Middle Eastern place and with the first bite you've wondered what that awesome sauce is? That's tahini sauce!

This easy Middle Eastern sauce, also known astahini dressing is perfect for dishes such as falafel, shawarma, kabobs and even roasted or raw vegetables. Middle Eastern and Mediterranean restaurants serve this sauce alongside the main dish and it's truly addictive!

Today we are going back to basics. We all know one of the staples of Middle Eastern cuisine isTahiniso let's learn a bit more about this magic sesame paste that's taking over the world.

Middle Eastern Tahini Sauce Recipe (2)

What Is Tahini?

Tahini, also known as Tahina is a creamy paste made of toasted ground sesame and is a common ingredient used in Middle Eastern and Eastern Mediterranean cuisine. It is the base for common Middle Eastern mezze and dips such as hummus and baba ghanoush. You can make tahini at home or purchase it at supermarkets.

It's common to use tahini in sweet recipes such as halva. In Iran and Turkey, people use sesame paste to make Halvardeh, a type of halva made with tahini, sugar and nuts and it's common to be served for breakfast.

Tahini Sauce Ingredients

Middle Eastern Tahini Sauce Recipe (3)
  • Tahini: A good tahini is made 100% of sesame seeds. It's smooth, creamy and not grainy at all. You can find tahini at Middle Eastern and Mediterranean shops or online. You don't need to refrigerate tahini after opening the jar.
  • Garlic: This recipe calls for a few cloves of garlic. I like mine to have a stronger garlic taste but if you like your tahini sauce to have less of a "kick", you can use one clove of garlic.
  • Lemon juice:Freshly squeezed lemon juice adds a nice bright flavor to the sauce. You can also use lime juice.
  • Spices: You need cumin, cayenne and salt. These spices add enough flavor to our homemade tahini sauce. The amount of cayenne pepper depends on how spicy you like the sauce to be.
  • Water: To thin out the tahini, we use water. The amount of water depends on the tahini's consistency and how thick you'd like the sauce to be.

How To Make Tahini Sauce

  1. Stir the tahini with garlic in a bowl to combine.
  2. Season with salt, cayenne pepper and cumin.
  3. Add in the lemon juice and water. Stir to combine and add more water if needed.
  4. Add the chopped parsley (if using), mix and taste to make sure the seasoning is right.
Middle Eastern Tahini Sauce Recipe (4)

Variations

  • Lemon: Double the amount of lemon juice in the original recipe for more acidity.
  • Spicy: Add ¼ teaspoon more cayenne pepper to the basic tahini sauce recipe.
  • Tahini yogurt sauce:Add 2 tablespoons yogurt to the original tahini sauce recipe and add more water if needed. Tahini yogurt sauce has more subtle tahini flavor and is a bit creamier.
  • Garlic: Add a few cloves of roasted garlic to sauce and mix or blend to combine for extra flavor!

Serving Suggestions

I love this easy garlic tahini sauce recipe because I can use it in many different dishes. Here are a few of my favorite ways to use it:

  • Sandwiches and wraps: You can serve this sauce with beef shawarma, lamb burger, arayes, chicken souvlaki, beef shish kabob, falafel or even chicken gyro. This sauce will make every sandwich and wrap 10 times better!
  • Plates and rice dishes:Top dishes such as Greek chicken and rice with some tahini sauce for more flavor!
  • As a dip:This sauce make a delicious dip that you can serve with some homemade pita chips, roasted vegetables, grille vegetables or fresh cut vegetables such as carrots and celery.
Middle Eastern Tahini Sauce Recipe (5)

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make this ahead of time?

Absolutely! I love making a large batch of this sauce and keep it in the fridge. Follow the recipe (you can double or triple the ingredients) and store in a jar with a tight lid. You can keep tahini sauce in the fridge for up to 7 days.

Where do I buy quality tahini sauce?

I always get mine at my local Middle Eastern or Mediterranean store. These stores usually carry brands that offer quality products.

More Recipes Using Tahini

  • Mediterranean Breakfast Hash with Tahini Sauce
  • The Best Middle Eastern Eggplant Recipe
  • Easy Homemade Hummus Recipe
  • Baba Ganoush Recipe

Did you make this recipe? I'd love to hear about it! Please comment and leave a 5-star🌟 rating below. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest or subscribe to our newsletter to get a free e-Cookbook!

Middle Eastern Tahini Sauce Recipe (10)

Middle Eastern Tahini Sauce

Shadi HasanzadeNemati

An easy everyday tahini sauce recipe that's perfect for falafel, shawarma and kabobs. You can make a big batch of this easy Mediterranean sauce and always have it at hand.

4.86 from 14 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 10 minutes mins

Course Side Dish

Cuisine Mediterranean

Servings 8 servings

Calories 91 kcal

Ingredients

  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • ½ cup tahini
  • ½ teaspoon cumin
  • teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • cup water more if needed
  • 2 tablespoon lemon juice freshly squeezed
  • 1 tablespoon chopped parsley optional

Instructions

  • In a bowl stir the tahini and minced garlic.

  • Add salt, cayenne pepper and cumin and mix well.

  • Add in the lemon juice and water. Stir to combine and add more water if you like the sauce to be thinner.

  • Add the chopped parsley (if using), mix and taste to make sure the seasoning is right.Add more salt, cayenne pepper or lemon juice if desired.

Notes

  • If you like your tahini sauce runnier, add more water, one tablespoon at a time.

Other flavor variations include:

  • Lemon tahini sauce: double the amount of lemon juice in the original recipe for more acidity.
  • Spicy tahini sauce: Add ¼ teaspoon more cayenne pepper to the basic tahini sauce recipe.
  • Tahini yogurt sauce:Add 2 tablespoons yogurt to the original tahini sauce recipe and add more water if needed. Tahini yogurt sauce has more subtle tahini flavor and is a bit creamier.

Serving suggestions

Here are a few dishes you can serve the tahini sauce with:

  • Chicken shawarma
  • Falafel
  • Mediterranean roasted vegetables

Nutrition

Calories: 91kcalCarbohydrates: 4gProtein: 3gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 151mgPotassium: 73mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 10IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 23mgIron: 1mg

Did you make this recipe? Let us know how it was by leaving a comment and a 5-star review!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sam

    Middle Eastern Tahini Sauce Recipe (11)
    This was so good, we drizzle it on everything!

    Reply

  2. Gina

    Middle Eastern Tahini Sauce Recipe (12)
    I could drizzle this on everything! So delicious and simple.

    Reply

  3. Naomi Binnie

    Middle Eastern Tahini Sauce Recipe (13)
    So good!! I added extra lemon and a little vegan (almond based) yogurt. Insanely delicious on everything.

    Reply

    • Shadi HasanzadeNemati

      Thank you Naomi! Happy to know you like this recipe!

      Reply

  4. Eva

    How long can this last in the fridge?

    Reply

    • Shadi HasanzadeNemati

      Hi Eva, This would last for up to 7 days in the fridge 🙂

      Reply

  5. Nellie Tracy

    Middle Eastern Tahini Sauce Recipe (14)
    I could eat this stuff straight from the jar with a spoon! It's so good!

    Reply

    • Shadi HasanzadeNemati

      Yes! Thanks you Nellie!

      Reply

  6. Sarah Averett

    Middle Eastern Tahini Sauce Recipe (15)
    Coincidentally, I just tried my first falafel last week and actually did think, "What is this amazing sauce?!" Haha Now I know. And I'll have to make my own now, ASAP! XO

    Reply

    • Shadi HasanzadeNemati

      Hi Sarah! Hope you enjoy this tahini sauce!

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Middle Eastern Tahini Sauce Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is tahini sauce made of? ›

What is tahini sauce? Tahini sauce is a Middle Eastern condiment that is served with many dishes from the region. It's made with only 3 main ingredients: tahini paste, which is crushed sesame seeds, lemon juice, and garlic. Tahini is made by grinding toasted, hulled sesame seeds to create a creamy, smooth spread.

What's the difference between tahini and tahini sauce? ›

Tahini paste is just ground sesame seeds. Period. In comparison, tahini sauce is made by thinning the paste to a consistency similar to a thick cream, typically by adding other ingredients. My family's recipe adds lemon juice, garlic, and olive oil to our tahini sauce.

What's the difference between tahini and tzatziki? ›

Although both of these delicious sauces start with a T, tzatziki is a refreshing cucumber and yogurt-based Greek dip while tahini is the Middle Eastern condiment that's a paste (similar to peanut butter) made from toasted and ground sesame seeds.

What ethnicity is tahini sauce? ›

References to tahini can be found as far back as the 13th century where there is a reference to it as a sesame paste. Tahini is found in Israeli, Middle Eastern, African, Chinese, Japanese, Iranian, Turkish and Korean cuisines. Tahini was used as a source of oil at one point.

Is tahini more healthy than peanut butter? ›

Is Tahini healthier than peanut butter? They're about the same. Tahini is a little less calorie-dense than peanut butter. But that doesn't mean it's healthier, just that you can eat a little more of it.

Why is tahini so healthy? ›

Tahini is made from ground sesame seeds. It's rich in important nutrients like fiber, protein, copper, phosphorus, and selenium and may reduce heart disease risk and inflammation. What's more, test-tube and animal studies suggest that sesame seeds may have anticancer properties.

Does tahini go bad? ›

Tahini can go bad, especially if it's exposed to moisture or direct heat. It will have a noticeable, sharp rancid smell.

Is it cheaper to buy or make tahini? ›

Homemade Tahini has a rich nutty taste and is easy to make with just two ingredients – sesame seeds and oil. It is so much better and cheaper than store bought tahini. Tahini paste is a perfect addition not only to hummus, but also to make salad dressings and dips.

What cuts the bitterness of tahini? ›

If you prefer a brighter sauce, add more lemon. If it is too bitter, stir in 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon maple syrup or honey.

What sauce is close to tahini? ›

Nut and seed butter tend to be the best replacements for tahini. They have a similar creamy consistency and add smoothness to recipes for hummus and dips. For those with nut and seed allergies, Greek yogurt may be the best choice.

What's healthier tzatziki or tahini? ›

When it comes to calories, tahini tends to be more calorically dense due to its higher fat content. On the other hand, tzatziki, with its lower fat content and higher water content from the cucumber, can be a lighter option in terms of calories.

Do you refrigerate tahini? ›

Store-bought tahini can either live in a cool dark place or in the fridge (we prefer the pantry, as the fridge can change the consistency of your tahini, making it less silky smooth). If you've mixed your tahini with other ingredients to make a sauce, always keep it in the fridge and use it within 5 days.

How long does tahini last in the fridge? ›

“Once the tahini is mixed with water, you're supposed to refrigerate it,” Zitelman says, “but it doesn't last for more than five to seven days in the fridge.”

Is tahini good for stomach? ›

Tahini may also have a cleansing effect on your body, which is good for all kinds of stomach issues (colitis, gastritis, gastric ulcer, etc.) In case this sounds familiar to you, we suggest you consume plain tahini.

What does tahini taste like? ›

How Does Tahini Taste? Tahini has a very earthy flavor and is slightly bitter, but not overpowering. Although the spread resembles peanut butter and other nut butters, it does not have a similarly sweet flavor profile. The toasted sesame seed flavor shines through in this creamy, rich ingredient.

Is tahini sauce the same as hummus? ›

You bet! In fact, tahini is one of hummus' main ingredients, along with chickpeas and olive oil. That's why our favorite dip can be so rich and delicious—in hummus, tahini adds smoothness to the texture, as well as a wide variety of vitamins and minerals.

Is tahini the same as mayonnaise? ›

Although both are creamy and commonly used as condiments, the two have very different flavors and textures. Tahini is rich, nutty, and can be slightly bitter tasting. Mayonnaise is very smooth, light, and creamy. If you're interested in a mayonnaise recipe, try my healthy mayo recipe.

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