Herbed Tahini Sauce

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This Trader Joe’s copycat tahini sauce recipe is perfectly creamy and zesty! Making it one of best sauces to use as a dressing, dip, or marinade! It's easy to make and so versatile!

lemon herb tahini sauce in a white ramekin with copper spoon

My favorite way to use this sauce is in this samke harra recipe, which is a Lebanese spicy tahini fish that's always a hit with my family and guests!

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Trader Joe’s tahini sauce copycat

Growing up with Tahini as a main staple in the kitchen, there is no shortage of recipes using it in Mediterranean cuisine. It’s used in much more than Hummus, and often made into desserts. Like this classic Middle Eastern dessert called Halva that I used as inspiration for this Tahini Banana Bread.

I made this dip often and was delighted when I saw Tj’s carrying a similar one called herbed tahini sauce. So in true Mediterranean fashion I head to give you this cheat sheet recipe for you to make your own.

You can use this sauce on just about anything, from sandwiches, to salad dressing, to a dip for your veggies, and so much more. It's also a great vegan dressing and sauce for pasta!

lemon her b tahini sauce with sweet potatoes

HOW TO MAKE THIS SAUCE

First, you'll want to grab a food processor.

No food processor? If you don't have one, a good alternative is to very finely chop the parsley and dill and of course, mince the fresh garlic. This way, using the food processor can be avoided entirely.

To proceed with a food processor, add all the ingredients to a food processor and blend until completely mixed and the sauce is smooth.

lemon parsley dill garlic tahini lemon zest in food processor, all ingredients to make lemon herb tahini

INGREDIENTS YOU NEED

Tahini: A Middle Eastern paste made of crushed sesame seeds. It's widely used in the Middle Eastern and one that I grew up using regularly. You can find it in most grocery stores either in the health section, in the ethnic section, or near the nut butters. Another good place to get one is on Amazon.
Purchase one that's good quality and make sure to stir it really well prior to using.

Lemon: Clean it really well, and use the zest and the juice for this recipe. Make sure the zest is fragrant, as some are more mild than others. Lemon is a use part of this Middle Eastern sauce!

Fresh Parsley: For best flavor and to make it the authentic Mediterranean way, use fresh herbs. Chop them extra fine, or roughly chop them to blend further in a food processor.

Fresh Dill: It's readily available in a small herb container in most grocery stores. Typically stored in the refrigerated section near other produce.

Fresh garlic: Provides the best, most amazing garlic flavor for this recipe. Most recipes will suggest garlic powder, but I've tried them both ways, and fresh is much better. It's how I've always made it growing up as well.

Honey or Maple syrup: Use either honey or maple syrup - whatever you have in your pantry or in the fridge. A little bit of sweetness helps offset the acidity of the lemon.

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS

step by step making lemon tahini sauce in food processor

EXPERT TIPS

Stir the tahini! It is similar to peanut butter in that it separates, and the oil sits on top while the bottom is a stiff paste. Stir it really well to ensure you're using the right amount. The sauce may come out too runny if it isn't mixed correctly.
Use a food processor - To properly mince and blend the sauce, I suggest using a food processor. It's the best way to get all the flavors in every little bite.
Allow time for flavors to meld - Once you make the sauce, store it in an airtight container or wrap the bowl using plastic wrap and store in the fridge for at least 30 minutes, but. I prefer to make it the night before.

SERVING TIPS

How do you use this sauce?

This sauce is highly versatile in Middle Eastern cuisine and its uses range from a dip, dressing, marinade, and sauce.

Here are just some of the ways to use it:

Falafel. Using it on falafel is the most authentic way of using it. Growing up we couldn't have falafel without it.
Use on chicken, steak, pork, or seafood. After cooking your protein, drizzle as much as you'd like to serve.
Salad dressing. Top it with your kale, lettuce, spinach, or arugula salad.
Dip with veggies. Use instead of ranch in a tray of fresh raw veggies.
Top to roasted veggies. Make extra sauce to top over roasted veggies for a Mediterranean flare.

STORAGE TIPS

Store in an airtight container in the fridge for about 3-4 days. Fresh lemon juice doesn't always stay fresh too long. Look at the serving tips above if you want more ideas on how to use it.

HOW TO PREP AHEAD

It's actually a good thing to prep this sauce in advance. The flavors have more time to develop.

So to make ahead, you can prep the recipe the morning of, or even the night before. Let sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes prior to serving.

WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS

This recipe is made using my family's authentic Lebanese tahini sauce recipe and adding a twist with fresh dill. Using fresh dill adds more dimension and flavor to the sauce. It's not too uncommon to slather this sauce in a sandwich, or pair with falafel, beef, shawarma or even fish!

This recipe is tested, loved, and approved by my Mediterranean-cuisine loving household.

lemon herb tahini sauce with olive oil and aleppo pepper

VARIATIONS AND SUBSTITUTIONS

Switch up the herbs: Use mint, cilantro or basil instead of dill. I've made it various ways, and I love it with any herb really. So, you can't go wrong with mint, cilantro or basil!

Make it spicy: Make spicy by adding Aleppo pepper; a Mediterranean red pepper, Cayenne, or Red pepper flakes. I love doing this when I make this sauce to pair with seafood.

FAQ

What does Lemon Herb Tahini taste like?

This sauce is so fresh, from the fresh lemon and herbs, to the nutty sesame flavor that shines through. When mixed with fresh garlic, lemon, parsley and dill it becomes a light, fresh, and creamy sauce.

It's an excellent option for seafood, especially with fish, or used as a salad dressing.
It's also a wonderful option for vegans to use as a substitute for dairy-based sauces.

Is lemon and herb tahini healthy?

Yes, it absolutely is. Tahini is a sesame paste that's filled with nutrients from fiber, selenium, protein, and more. All of which are important for overall health, especially in battling inflammation.

It is commonly used in Mediterranean cuisine, which is an overall healthy lifestyle diet consisting of high-nutrient food, good protein, and fresh ingredients that are sourced locally when possible.

Can I make this sauce without a food processor?

Yes! You can make it without a food processor as long as you finely chop the herbs and allow some time for the flavors to meld. Typically a food processor cuts the time down for melding. Use a whisk to mix the sauce when you make it outside the processor.

Where can I buy Tahini?

It can be purchased in most large grocery stores. It's typically in the natural aisle, near the ethnic food, or near the nut butters.

If you'd rather purchase it online, you can grab some on Amazon.

RELATED RECIPES

My other favorite Middle Eastern sauce is this Toum Garlic Sauce that my family has used for generations! It's absolutely bursting with garlic, and paired beautifully alongside roasted veggies, and just about any protein.

With any leftover tahini, make this Authentic Citrusy Hummus. If you're looking for something sweet, you have to give this Banana Bread a try, and when paired with chocolate cake or cupcakes this frosting is delectable!

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This Trader Joe’s copycat training sauce is absolute perfection to use as a dressing, dip, or marinade! It's easy to make and so versatile!

5 from 5 votes

Cuisine: Mediterranean

Course: sauce, Seafood Sauce

Prep: 5

Total: 5

Servings: cup

Print Pin Rate

Equipment

1 Food Processor

Ingredients

½ cup tahini
⅓ cup lemon juice, plus zest of 1 lemon
⅓ cup roughly chopped parsley leaves
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh dill or mint
2 cloves medium-sized garlic
1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
¼-½ teaspoon salt
2-4 tablespoon water use as much as you need

Instructions

Add tahini, lemon zest, lemon juice, parsley, dill, garlic, and honey.
Add just 2 tablespoons of water to start, along with a minimum amount of salt, and add more as needed later.
Pulse the sauce until the herbs are finely minced and the sauce is well combined. For at least a few minutes.
Store at room temp or in the fridge for at least 30 minutes prior to serving.

Notes

Herbs: Use mint, dill, parsley, cilantro or basil. It works well with any herb depending on how you're using it.

Water: Use as much as you need for your desired consistency. Depends on how you're using the sauce.

Storage: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for about 3 days.

Usage: Use on any protein, in a sandwich, as a dressing on a salad, or as a sauce for veggies instead of other dips.

*calories are only an estimate.

Nutrition

Serving: 2tablespoon | Calories: 109kcal

Keywords: Lebanese sauce, Lebanese sauce for fish, mediterranean sauce, Middle east cuisine, middle eastern sauce, sauce for fish

Hi! I'm Suzy, welcome to my blog! The Perfect Tide is a hub of Mediterranean and seafood recipes and experiences from my Lebanese Mediterranean upbringing, as well as my family's current life on the Pacific Coast. You will find traditional and modernized Mediterranean recipes, and unique Seafood recipes I cook up that I'd love to share with you. Happy cooking, from my dinner table to yours!

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