Artificial Food Coloring Free Lemon-Tahini Dressing
Bright, nutty, and tangy all at once, this lemon-tahini dressing is the kind of thing you'll want to drizzle over absolutely everything. Store-bought dressings are one of the sneakiest sources of synthetic dyes and artificial additives, often hiding in color-enhanced bottles that look perfectly innocent on the shelf. This one is built entirely from whole, recognizable ingredients — tahini, fresh lemon juice, garlic, olive oil, cumin, and a little cold water — so you know exactly what you're pouring onto your plate. The technique is simple but satisfying: the tahini seizes up dramatically when the lemon hits it, then transforms into something silky and smooth as you whisk in the water tablespoon by tablespoon. A touch of ground cumin adds warmth and depth that makes this taste far more complex than the short ingredient list suggests. It works beautifully on grain bowls, roasted vegetables, salads, or as a dipping sauce, and it comes together in just one bowl with a whisk.
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Learn more →Ingredients
6 servings
- ⅓ cup tahini
- 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice (from about 1 large lemon)
- 1 small garlic clove, finely grated or minced
- 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 3–4 tbsp cold water, plus more as needed
- ½ tsp ground cumin
- ¼ tsp salt, plus more to taste
- ¼ tsp lemon zest (optional)
Instructions
- 1
In a small bowl, whisk together the tahini, lemon juice, garlic, and cumin until combined — the mixture will seize and look thick and paste-like at first.
- 2
Drizzle in the olive oil while whisking continuously until incorporated.
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