• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
From Scratch Fast | Recipes from scratch for busy cooks! logo
  • Recipes
    • Recipe Index
    • Main Dishes
    • Breakfasts
    • Appetizers
    • Soups
    • Salads
    • Side Dishes
    • Desserts
    • Drinks
    • Web Stories
  • Classes
  • Videos
  • Books
  • About Nicki
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • Classes
  • Videos
  • Books
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home > Recipe Index > Easy Sauces > Creamy Green Tahini Sauce or Dressing (Vegan!)

    Creamy Green Tahini Sauce or Dressing (Vegan!)

    Published: Apr 7, 2022 by Nicki Sizemore · This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Two frames, one showing green tahini sauce in a bowl and one showing green tahini sauce on a halloumi salad.
    Two frames, one showing green tahini sauce in a bowl and one showing green tahini sauce on a halloumi salad.

    This creamy green tahini sauce is made with fresh herbs and spinach, with a nutty-sweet flavor that will instantly elevate nearly any meal, from grilled or roasted meats and vegetables, to grain bowls, salads and more!

    A hand holding a spoon of green tahini sauce in a bowl.

    What does green tahini sauce taste like?

    If you’ve followed along here (or if you own my book, Build-a-Bowl) you know that I love easy, no-cook sauces. A good sauce can instantly take a meal from ordinary to extraordinary, and this green tahini sauce/dressing is one of my favorites. It’s nutty and earthy, with brightness from fresh lemon juice and a hint of sweetness from dates. This is a creamy sauce that’s naturally vegan.

    Ingredients:

    All of the ingredients for the green tahini sauce recipe arranged on a surface with labels.
    • Tahini: This sauce gets its rich, creamy texture from store-bought tahini (which is made from ground sesame seeds).  
    • Fresh lemon juice: Fresh lemon juice provides acid, balancing the earthiness of the tahini. 
    • Medjool dates: Dates are the secret ingredient, giving the sauce a subtly sweet flavor without any added sugar. 
    • Baby spinach and parsley: The sauce gets its green color from baby spinach and parsley. 
    • Extra Virgin Olive Oil: A touch of olive oil rounds out the flavors. 

    How to make green tahini dressing:

    • In a blender combine water, lemon juice, tahini, Medjool dates, spinach and parsley. Season with salt and pepper, and blend until smooth.
    Process shot showing the ingredients for the green tahini dressing in a blender.
    • Pour in extra virgin olive oil (adding the olive oil at the end prevents it from turning bitter).
    Process shot showing a hand drizzling olive oil into the dressing in the blender.
    • Blend the green tahini sauce until smooth.
    The green tahini dressing in a blender.

    Serving suggestions:

    This green tahini dressing is incredible on this seared halloumi salad (pictured below) or with these pan-fried falafel. You can also spoon it over grilled or roasted vegetables, fish or chicken. Try it on a mezze platter with flatbreads, or you can drizzle it over your favorite grain bowls and salads. You can even use it as a dip for veggies. The options are endless!

    A bowl of halloumi salad drizzled with the green tahini sauce, with a small bowl of sauce alongside.

    Tips for this recipe:

    • Medjool dates give the sauce a balanced sweetness. If you don't have a high-speed blender, soak the dates in warm water before using. That will help them to better incorporate into the dressing.
    • If you prefer a thinner sauce or dressing, simply blend in a few more splashes of water. 
    • While you can use any store-bought tahini for this sauce, I prefer brands that are creamy and not too thick. My favorite brands are: Soom, 365 Organic and Brad’s. 
    • Find a ton of other no-cook sauces in my book, Build-a-Bowl!
    Close-up of a spoonful of the green tahini sauce.

    FAQs

    What is green tahini made from?

    Green tahini is made from store-bought tahini (ground sesame seeds), fresh herbs, lemon and spinach. This version also includes dates, which give the sauce a subtle sweetness, balancing the other flavors. 

    What does tahini go well with?

    Tahini pairs wonderfully with both Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dishes, such as falafel, halloumi, hummus, babaganoush, lamb and fish. It’s also delicious with salads and grain bowls. 

    What do you put tahini dressing on?

    You can drizzle tahini dressing over any leafy green or kale salad, or try it over sliced tomatoes or cucumbers. It’s also fabulous on cooked vegetables and on hearty grain salads. 

    What is the difference between tahini and tzatziki sauce?

    Tahini is made from ground sesame seeds and has a rich, nutty flavor, while tzatziki sauce is a yogurt-based sauce that incorporates cucumbers and herbs. 

    *This post contains Amazon and other affiliate links to products I use and love (from which I earn income, at no cost to you). Thank you or supporting From Scratch Fast!

    Related recipes:

    • Easy, Creamy Tahini Sauce (and how to serve it!)
    • Healthy Pan-Fried Falafel (Gluten Free & Easy!)
    • Easy Mediterranean Quinoa Bowls with Green Tahini Sauce
    • Easy Gluten Free Vegan Flatbreads (No Yeast Naan Bread!)

    Stay connected

    I'd love to answer any of your questions and see what you're cooking!! Don't forget to rate this recipe and leave a comment below. Follow along on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube & Pinterest, and be sure to tag @fromscratchfast so that I can share your creations!

    Get the recipe!

    A hand holding a spoon of green tahini sauce in a bowl.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe

    Green Tahini Sauce / Dressing (Vegan!)

    This creamy green tahini sauce/dressing is made with fresh herbs and spinach, with a nutty-sweet flavor that will instantly elevate nearly any meal. Try it on a vibrant Halloumi Salad or Pan-Fried Falafel. It’s also fabulous over grilled or roasted meats, vegetables and grain bowls. Medjool dates give the dressing a subtle sweetness with no added sugar. If you have a high-speed blender such as a Vitamix there’s no need to soak the dates, but if you have a regular blender, soak the dates in warm water for 15 minutes to soften (this will help them incorporate better into the dressing).
    Prep Time5 mins
    Total Time5 mins
    Course: Salad
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: green tahini dressing, green tahini sauce
    Servings: 1 cup
    Author: Nicki Sizemore

    Equipment

    • blender

    Ingredients

    • ½ cup water
    • ¼ cup fresh lemon juice (from 1-2 lemons)
    • ¼ cup tahini
    • 3 pitted medjool dates, soaked in warm water for 15 minutes (unless you have a high-speed blender), coarsely chopped
    • ⅓ cup lightly packed baby spinach leaves
    • ⅓ cup lightly packed fresh parsley
    • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
    • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

    Instructions

    • Put all of the ingredients except for the olive oil in a blender, and season with salt and pepper. Blend on high until smooth. Add the olive oil and blend just until emulsified. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper as needed.

    Notes

    Do Ahead: The green tahini sauce can be refrigerated for up to 2 weeks.
    Tips:
    • Medjool dates give the sauce a balanced sweetness. If you don't have a high-speed blender, soak the dates in warm water before using. That will help them to better incorporate into the dressing.
    • If you prefer a thinner sauce or dressing, simply blend in a few more splashes of water. 
    • While you can use any store-bought tahini for this sauce, I prefer brands that are creamy and not too thick. My favorite brands are: Soom, 365 Organic and Brad’s. 
    • Find a ton of other no-cook sauces in my book, Build-a-Bowl!

    Did you make this recipe? If so, I'd love to hear what you think! Please leave a comment and star review below - it's helpful to me and to others!

    More Easy No-Cook Sauces (to transform any meal!)

    • Mint Pesto (Vegan option!)
    • Easy Homemade Strawberry Sauce (and how to serve it!)
    • Creamy Sriracha Mayo Sauce
    • Creamy Cilantro Lime Dressing

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Angelique Ramsay says

      January 26, 2023 at 4:55 pm

      4 stars
      I made this and the dressing was super thick despite me adding extra liquid. It tasted great but was hard to mix into the salad and I had to dollop rather than drizzle.

      Reply
      • Nicki Sizemore says

        January 28, 2023 at 8:34 am

        Hi Angelique! I suspect this was due to the tahini you used (some brands are much thicker than others). In the future you can thin it with water (be generous if needed). So glad you enjoyed the flavor regardless!!

        Reply
    2. Ari says

      April 09, 2022 at 11:25 am

      5 stars
      Hi, can this sauce be freezed?

      Reply
      • Nicki Sizemore says

        April 11, 2022 at 9:30 am

        Hi Ari, you can freeze the sauce, but be sure to stir it well once defrosted as it might affect the texture. I hope you enjoy!

        Reply

    Leave a Comment Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Search recipes

    Meet Nicki

    Headshot of Nicki Sizemore.

    Welcome! I’m Nicki Sizemore, a trained chef, recipe developer and cookbook author. My mission is to help you make wholesome & delicious food from scratch without spending hours in the kitchen. All of my recipes are naturally gluten-free.

    Latest Video

    Butternut Squash Savory Galette #shorts

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms & Conditions

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Articles & Press

    Copyright © 2022 From Scratch Fast