Update your salads, veggie platters, or pita wraps, and serve them with lemon herb tahini. It’s nutty and herby and packed with citrus flavor. Easy to make and wonderful to have on hand!

A bowl of lemon herb tahini surrounded by fresh vegetables.

The first time I tasted tahini I was blown away by its flavor, texture, and versatility. It’s nutty (it is made from sesame seeds after all!), earthy, and smooth, and is one of the main ingredients in homemade hummus. That’s not all you can use it in! It works really well in dressings, marinades, and other types of dips too.

I was looking for ways to put my own unique spin on tahini dressing, and suddenly it hit me — it would taste great with the addition of garlic, herbs, and lemon. What resulted was this incredibly tasty lemon herb tahini sauce! It’s a vegan tahini sauce so it works for any diet. You may have seen it in the supermarket from brands like Cava, but as always it’s best made fresh at home.

I love it drizzled over salads, as a spread in veggie wraps, and as a dip for tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, bell peppers…basically any type of vegetable you may have in the fridge. Serve it alongside chopped veg, crackers, and pretzels as an app for your next party, or keep a jar handy to add to a variety of dishes!

Ingredients needed to prepare lemon herb tahini.

How to Make Lemon Herb Tahini

A full printable version of this recipe with ingredient measurements is available at the bottom of this post.

Ingredients for Lemon Herb Tahini added to a food processor.

STEP ONE: Add the tahini, oil, basil, parsley, lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic, and ¼ cup of water into a large food processor or blender and close the lid.

Ingredients for Lemon Herb Tahini pulsed until smooth in a food processor.

STEP TWO: Pulse until the lemon tahini dressing becomes smooth — you’ll still see some pieces of herbs, which is totally fine. Add extra water as you go to get the consistency you’re after.

STEP THREE: Taste the lemon herb tahini and add salt and pepper to taste. Store it in the fridge before you’re ready to serve and enjoy!

A spoon holding a bite of lemon herb tahini.

Ways to Use Lemon Tahini Dressing

Chopped vegetables
Crackers, chips, and pretzels, and air fryer tortilla chips
Use it as a dressing for salads
Add it to sandwiches and wraps for added flavor
Drizzle over cooked vegetables like broccoli or kale
Use it as a marinade for chicken, pork, or seafood

Variations for Lemon Tahini

Add more herbs: Garlic, herbs, and lemon complement each other wonderfully. I love using basil and parsley, but you can feel free to add cilantro, chives, dill, and/or rosemary as well.
Make it spicy with cayenne pepper, chopped jalapenos, or chopped green chiles.
Add Greek yogurt: The addition of creamy yogurt will thicken the sauce and add a certain tang that is super tasty. Incorporate ½ tablespoon at a time and taste test until you’re happy with it.
Switch up the citrus: Experiment with lime or orange juice!

A slice of zucchini dipped into a bowl of lemon herb tahini.

More Sauce and Dip Recipes

How Long Does Lemon Herb Tahini Sauce Last?

Store your lemon herb tahini sauce in an airtight container in the fridge.

It will keep for up to 1 week — the sauce will also thicken over time so you may need to add a bit of water to loosen it up again. Use a whisk to stir so that it returns to a smooth consistency.

Can I Make Lemon Tahini Dressing Ahead of Time?

Yes! In fact, I find that it tastes even better after a night in the fridge as it gives the garlic herb flavors a chance to really meld together.

Remember that it will last in the fridge for up to 1 week, so you can certainly get ahead for an upcoming party (or simply for your weekly meal prep!) and make it in advance.

What Do I Do If The Sauce Is Too Tart?

Lemons are naturally tart, and because you’re using both lemon juice and zest, you could end up with overly-citrus results.

If that happens, you can balance out the tartness with added sweetness. A touch of sugar or honey goes a long way. Add 1 teaspoon at a time until you get the flavor you’re after.

More Recipes You’ll Love:

Love air frying? Join our newsletter! You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or join our free Facebook Air Frying Community.