Tahini Balsamic Dressing
Tahini balsamic dressing is thick, creamy, tangy and so simple to make. Made with simple pantry ingredients, making your own homemade salad dressing is so easy! This balsamic tahini dressing can be used on salads, on sandwiches, wraps, or as a dip.
If you love making your own salad dressing at home, try this basil balsamic vinaigrette or maple tahini dressing.
Bites of Wellness was created to be a place where you can easily find gluten free recipes that are quick, simple, and easy to prepare. Most of the recipes (just like this homemade dressing) are made from scratch with easy to find ingredients. If you would like to learn more about Bites of Wellness and what sets my approach to cooking apart from others, check out the about page.
Recipe Spotlight
- So easy to make, no special equipment needed
- 5 simple pantry ingredients
- Versatile – use as a dressing or a dip
- Thick and creamy, with the perfect sweet/savory combination
Ingredient you need to know about
- Balsamic vinegar – balsamic vinegar is the star of this recipe. Be sure to use a balsamic vinegar that you enjoy (they can range in flavor based on the acidity of the vinegar).
- Tahini – tahini is a paste made from ground sesame seeds (with a texture similar to runny almond butter). Tahini is nut free and a great way to make creamy sauces and dips. You could also use almond butter or sunbutter if you don’t have tahini.
How to make tahini balsamic dressing
Start by combining the balsamic vinegar, tahini, salt and garlic powder together. Once they are well combined, add the water and stir well.
The dressing will look runny and like it’s not going to come together. That is normal. Let it rest for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, stir again and determine if you need more water.
Ways to use balsamic tahini dressing
- On salads (I love this dressing on green salads, brussel sprouts salads or on kale salads)
- On wraps or sandwiches
- In grain bowls, buddha bowls, nourish bowls
- As a dip for vegetables (roasted vegetables or crudité)
Common questions
Where to buy tahini
Tahini can be found in most grocery stores. Sometimes with nut butters and peanut butter and other times in the ethnic food section around other Mediterranean and Middle Eastern foods.
I really love the tahini from Trader Joe’s, the 365 Brand from Whole Foods and the tahini from Thrive Market. Another great brand is Soom Foods tahini which can be found online and in many health food stores like Whole Foods.
Other recipes to use leftover tahini in
If you buy tahini for making this tahini balsamic dressing and now have leftover tahini, here are some great recipes that use tahini:
What to do if the dressing tastes bitter?
If your dressing tastes bitter, add some sweetness from maple syrup or honey to help balance out the flavor.
What if the dressing is too thin
If you find that you made the dressing too thin, add 1-2 tablespoons of tahini and a splash of balsamic to help thicken it up. Remember to let the dressing “rest” for about 5 minutes to thicken before you decide if it’s too thin.
What if the dressing is too thick?
If the dressing is too thick, add water, 1-2 teaspoons at a time.
Substitutions
- Balsamic vinegar – Make it with white balsamic vinegar, apple cider vinegar or red wine vinegar but note the taste will be very different.
- Tahini – use almond butter or sunbutter. The flavor will be slightly different but the dressing will still be delicious.
Tahini Balsamic Dressing
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup balsamic dressing
- 1/4 cup tahini
- 2 tbsp water
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
Instructions
- Combine the balsamic vinegar, tahini, salt and garlic powder in a bowl. Stir well.
- Add the water and stir well. Wait about 5 minutes then add 1-2 additional tablespoons of water if needed.
- Store in the fridge for up to a week.
Notes
- This dressing will thicken as it sits. Let the dressing sit for about 5 minutes to thicken after stirring together all the ingredients.
- Tahini will thicken in the fridge, if you refrigerate this, let it sit out for a few minutes to get the original texture back.
- Make it a little sweeter – if you like your dressing to be a bit less acidic, add a tablespoon or two of maple syrup or honey.
- You will likely notice the dressing separates when stored in the fridge, just stir it up right before serving.
- Add more water (1-2 teaspoons at a time) to thin out the dressing if needed.
- If you don’t have tahini, use almond butter or sunbutter.
- Fridge: Store in the fridge for up to a week in a well-sealed container.
- Freezer: You could freeze extra tahini dressing for up to 3 months in the freezer. I would recommend freezing it in 2 tablespoon portions using Soupercubes or an ice cube tray so you only have to defrost what you need.
