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    Home » Recipes » Appetizers & Side Dishes

    Lemon Herb Tahini

    Published: Jan 13, 2023 by In Fine Taste · This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This healthy lemon herb tahini sauce is creamy, nutty, fresh flavor that is so versatile it goes well on everything! This is a copycat of our favorite CAVA dressing, it takes 5 minutes to make is naturally vegan, dairy-free, paleo, whole30, and low-carb!

    bowl of tahini sauce with vegetables on side.

    Why This Recipe Works

    This sauce is so flavorful and a twist on traditional Middle Eastern and Mediterranean sauce. I bought a bottle of CAVA’s lemon herb tahini so I could do a side by side comparison of the two! I think you’ll agree, that we nailed the flavor!

    Ingredient Notes

    ingredients for recipe on white background.
    • Sesame Tahini. Tahini is made of ground sesame seeds and adds a creamy, nutty flavor with rich sesame taste.
    • Lemon juice. Fresh lemon juice adds a bright citrus flavor to this dressing.  
    • Cilantro. Fresh herbs are a necessity, no substituting dried herbs here!
    • Garlic. Garlic adds the perfect subtle spiciness.
    • Water. Water helps thin about this recipe while also mellowing out the flavor.
    • Salt. A hint of salt to balance out all the flavors.

    How to Make this Recipe

    two images showing how to make this recipe.

    This recipe is about as simple as it gets. 1) Just place all ingredients into a high-speed blender or food processor and 2) blend until smooth. If you do not have a blender or food processor you can chop all the ingredients finely and mix together by hand.

    Pro Tip: Don’t be afraid of cilantro stems! The stems have amazing flavor.

    spoon drizzling tahini sauce into bowl.

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs

    What is CAVA lemon herb tahini made of?

    CAVA’s lemon herb tahini has 6 simple ingredients: sesame tahini, lemon juice, water, cilantro, garlic, salt. Our copycat recipe uses the same 6 ingredients for an indistinguishable copycat recipe.

    What does lemon tahini taste like?

    This sacue/dressing has a rich nutty sesame flavor, bright citrus tang, refreshing cilantro, and a hint of garlic. Overall, it has an earthy, fresh flavor.

    Is lemon herb tahini healthy?

    Yes! This fresh lemon tahini sauce has fresh, natural ingredients, with no added sugar. The recipe is naturally vegan, paleo, Whole30, and low carb! The sauce is about 35 calories a tablespoon.

    overhead show of white bowl full of lemon herb tahini.

    Recipe Swaps

    One of the great things about this recipe is how easy it is to alter its flavor. Here are a couple easy ideas.

    • Swap the herbs. You can easily swap the cilantro for parsley, fresh basil, green onion, or any combination of herbs.
    • Make it Spicy. Add some heat to this tahini sauce by throwing in some fresh jalapeno or a little crushed red pepper.
    • Add some sweetness. Some people find the taste of tahini to be a little bitter, adding a little sweetness can balance out that flavor. if this is the case for you try adding a little sugar, honey, or your favorite sweetener to it. Start with a teaspoon and add more as needed.
    • Make it more Lemony. If you want a very lemon forward lemon tahini try adding some fresh lemon zest to this recipe.

    How to Use this Recipe

    sweet potato fries with tahini sauce drizzled over top.

    This sauce is incredibly versatile, I swear it goes good on everything! A few of my favorite things are roasted or fresh vegetables, pitas, falafel, grilled meat, sandwiches, salmon, cold pasta salad, buddha bowls, sweet potato fries or as a salad dressing.

    Storing this Recipe

    This tahini sauce should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge. It is best used within 7 days of making.

    signature: "Enjoy! Alyssa".

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    P.S. If you tried this recipe or any other In Fine Taste recipe take a second and rate it below! We love hearing what you think.  Let’s stay in touch! Sign up for our newsletter or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest for more recipe ideas.

    bowl of lemon herb tahini with vegetables on wooden board.

    Lemon Herb Tahini

    This healthy lemon tahini sauce is creamy, nutty, fresh flavor that is so versatile it goes well on everything! This is a copycat of our favorite CAVA dressing, it takes 5 minutes to make is naturally vegan, dairy-free, paleo, whole30, and low-carb!
    4.80 from 5 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Salads
    Cuisine: Mediterranean
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Total Time: 5 minutes
    Servings: 8 servings
    Calories: 70kcal
    Author: In Fine Taste--Alyssa

    Ingredients

    • ½ cup tahini
    • ¼ cup fresh lemon juice (about 2 medium lemons)
    • 2 cloves garlic
    • ¾ cup cilantro roughly chopped
    • ¼ + ⅛ teaspoon salt
    • 2-4 tablespoons water see notes
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    Instructions

    • Place all ingredients in a food processor or high-speed blender and blend until smooth.

    Notes

    Water. Use 2 tablespoons of water for a thicker sauce, more like a dip. Use 3-4 tablespoons of water for a thinner, runnier sauce for drizzling.
    Storing this Recipe. This lemon tahini sauce should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge. It is best used within 7 days of making.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 2tablespoons | Calories: 70kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 115mg | Potassium: 88mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.2g | Vitamin A: 112IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 24mg | Iron: 1mg
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    Meet Dianna & Alyssa

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    We are Dianna & Alyssa, a mother-daughter duo, and food lovers! We are the stomachs behind all the recipes we share here on In Fine Taste.

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