Craving a smooth dressing to drizzle on your salads, grain bowls or even use as a dipping sauce? This creamy vegan tahini dill dressing is rich, savory, and full of fresh flavor. With simple ingredients and quick prep, it's bound to become a staple homemade dressing recipe in your collection.
Jump to:
You Will Love This Recipe
- It's quick. I know homemade dressing can feel extra when the store has many pre-made options, but this dressing only takes a couple minutes and tastes way fresher!
- It's full of flavor. Fresh dill is complemented by savory tahini and bright apple cider vinegar for a salad dressing that is bright and zippy yet rich and velvety.
- It's dairy-free. Creamy tahini replaces the need for any dairy in this creamy sauce.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Tahini: This paste made from sesame seeds adds rich, savory flavor and creamy texture.
- Apple cider vinegar: Brightens the dressing with subtle acidity. Feel free to use another mellow vinegar, such as white or red wine vinegar. Lemon juice will also work, though it tastes more acidic, so start with a bit less and taste your dressing.
- Fresh dill: Few ways are better than adding fresh herbs to create impactful flavor in a dish. You can also use dried dill in a pinch or a combination of fresh dill and parsley.
- Dijon mustard: Helps to emulsify (smoothly combine) this dressing.
- Seasonings: Freshly cracked pepper, salt, onion, and garlic powder all help to add layers of savory flavor for balance.
- Cold water: Thins out the dressing to the perfect drizzle-able consistency. Feel free to omit if you'd like a thicker sauce for dipping.
Instructions
1. Combine. Add all ingredients to a jar or small bowl.
2. Mix. Use a long-stem fork or small whisk to mix everything until well combined.
3. Adjust. Taste the dressing and adjust the seasonings to your preference. Add more water if a thinner consistency is preferred.
4. Serve. Drizzle this creamy dressing onto your fresh salad, potato salad, pasta salad, grain bowl, or use it as a veggie dip!
Variations
- Vegan ranch: Add more ranch-y flavor with some fresh parsley and chives or green onions.
- Spicy dill tahini sauce: Add some red pepper flakes to give this luscious dressing a little kick.
- Tahini lime cilantro dressing: Make a couple of swaps for a tahini-based dressing perfect for burrito bowls and similar dishes!
Storage
- Make-ahead: Combine this dressing a few days before enjoying it. Give it a good shake or stir just before drizzling in case any ingredients have settled.
- Store: Made ahead or leftover dressing can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. If the dressing appears to have thickened, stir in a small amount of water before serving.
Tips
- This dressing is also super delicious drizzled on some crispy potatoes! Almost like a spring version of patatas bravas!
- If you have a sesame allergy, a similar dressing may be achieved with sunflower butter (I have not attempted this substitution, but I have tried sunflower butter and believe the flavors should work).
- If you're looking for a salad to try this dressing on, my modern accompaniment salad is a great one!
- Eco tip: I love to snip the ends of my fresh herbs and store them in a jar of water, like a bouquet of flowers. I find they last 2-3 times as long this way.
FAQ
Yes. None of the ingredients in this recipe typically contain gluten or are at high risk of gluten contamination. However, it's always a good idea to check the ingredient labels of new products before buying.
Absolutely. Just use it all in 3-4 days for the best flavor.
There are so many! A fresh entrée or side salad, roasted veggies or crispy potatoes, pasta or potato salads, grain bowls, and I'm sure many other dishes could all be enhanced with this creamy dill dressing!
As long as the tahini does not contain added oil, yes, this dressing is considered oil-free.
If you omit the onion and garlic powder, yes, this dressing is easily low FODMAP. I have tested the recipe without garlic and onion, and it is still absolutely delicious!
Recipe
Creamy Tahini Dill Dressing
Ingredients
- ¼ cup tahini (raw tahini preferred)
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar (or white/red wine vinegar, see note 1)
- 2 Tablespoons fresh dill, stems removed and finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder (optional)
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder (optional)
- ¼ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper (or to taste)
- 1 Tablespoon cold water (add more 1 Tablespoon at a time if needed)
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a small bowl or jar.
- Use a long-stem fork to mix all the ingredients until well-combined.
- Taste the dressing and add more vinegar, salt, or pepper as desired. If the mixture is too thick, continue to stir, adding cold water 1 Tablespoon at a time until the desired consistency is reached.
- Serve the dressing on a salad, wrap, grain bowl, or as a dip.
- Store this dressing in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Leave a Reply