BHA & BHT Free Easy Cucumber Tahini Dip
Cool, creamy, and packed with bright flavor, this cucumber tahini dip is the kind of thing you'll want to keep in the fridge at all times. The base is built entirely from whole, recognizable ingredients — fresh cucumber, tahini, lemon juice, garlic, and dill — with no preservatives or additives in sight. That matters more than you might think, because BHA and BHT show up in a surprising number of store-bought dips, spreads, and even some tahini brands, so making your own is the most reliable way to stay clear of them. Salting and squeezing the grated cucumber before mixing everything together is the key step here — it pulls out excess moisture so the dip stays thick and scoopable rather than watery. A pinch of cumin adds just enough warmth to round out the tang from the lemon, and the fresh dill keeps it tasting lively. Finish it with a drizzle of good olive oil and a dusting of smoked paprika and it looks genuinely impressive on the table. Serve it with pita, raw vegetables, or a spoon — honestly, no judgment.
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Learn more →Ingredients
6 servings
- 1 medium english cucumber (about 10 oz), unpeeled
- ½ tsp kosher salt, plus more to taste
- ⅓ cup tahini
- 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice (from about 1 lemon)
- 1 small garlic clove, finely grated or minced
- 2 tbsp cold water, plus more as needed
- 2 tbsp fresh dill, roughly chopped
- ¼ tsp ground cumin
For serving
- 1–2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling (optional)
- pinch of smoked paprika, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Grate the cucumber on the large holes of a box grater into a fine-mesh strainer set over a bowl. Toss with the 1/2 tsp kosher salt and let stand for 10 minutes, until the cucumber has released its liquid.
- 2
Gather the salted cucumber in your hands and squeeze firmly over the sink to remove as much liquid as possible — the cucumber should feel nearly dry. Transfer to a mixing bowl.
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