Once you make this simple three ingredient tahini sauce, you will be drizzling it on everything. It only takes tahini, lemon juice, and garlic to make a ridiculously smooth and creamy sauce that will compliment wraps, shawarma, falafels and lunch bowls. It can also act like a dip with crudités and even be used as a salad dressing.

Tahini sauce in a blue stoneware bowl, sprinkled with coarse ground black pepper and garnished with finely chopped parsley

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What is Tarator in the Middle East?

Tahini is one of the most used ingredients across the middle east, in both sweet and savoury applications. The most common way you’ll find tahini is in this sauce format, with lemon juice and garlic, drizzled over all kinds of grilled chicken, shawarma, vegetables, and falafel.

In Lebanon, it is often referred to as “tarator”. It is also served alongside fish dishes and even poured over kofta and baked for a popular kofta and tahini dish.

Here’s How to Make It!

You just need tahini, lemon juice and garlic.

ingredients for tarator sauce which are tahini, water, lemon juice, garlic, salt and parsley

Making this tahini sauce is as simple as whisking all the ingredients together. Start by placing the crushed garlic in a bowl, then add the tahini.

Crushed garlic in a blue stone bowl, along with tahini in a bowl on the side, as well as a plate with parsley and a small whisk
Crushed garlic and tahini in a blue stone bowl

Next, add the lemon juice and the water and whisk. As you whisk, you’ll feel the sauce start to thicken suddenly, and sometimes it feels really dry.

Tahini tends to seize up when mixed with lemon juice but the trick is to just keep whisking. It will starts to loosen and become smooth again.

Crushed garlic, tahini, and water in a blue stone bowl with a small whisk inside
Crushed garlic, tahini, and water in a blue stone bowl with a small whisk inside. The sauce is whisked and looks like a cream/white sauce

Place the tahini sauce in a jar with a lid and refrigerate it. It will last up to a week. It will also thicken up in the fridge, so when you’re ready to use it, simply add a bit of water and whisk to loosen it up.

How to Serve It

My favourite use for it is drizzled over falafel, shish tawook and beef shawarma. I do this whether I’m using them in wraps or in a bowl.

I also love using it as a salad dressing; simply drizzle it over finely chopped vegetables similar to my Arabic salata.

Finally, I also love using it as a dip for crudités, crackers or pita chips, or drizzling it over roasted vegetables (especially roasted carrots and cauliflower).

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Tahini sauce in a blue stoneware bowl, sprinkled with coarse ground black pepper and garnished with finely chopped parsley
5 from 1 rating

Addictive Tahini Sauce (Lebanese Tarator)

Yield: 1 cup
Prep: 5 minutes
Total: 5 minutes
Author: Amina Al-Saigh
This 5-minute creamy 3 ingredient tahini sauce is the all-purpose addictive sauce you need. Use it in wraps, as a dip or a salad dressing!
Print Leave a Review Pin Recipe

Ingredients
 

  • 2 small garlic cloves, crushed
  • 1/2 cup tahini, 235 ml
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice, approx. 1.5 lemons (50 ml)
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, more per preference

Instructions
 

  • Crush the garlic and place it in a small bowl.
  • Add the tahini, lemon juice, and water to the bowl. Whisk vigorously for 1 to 2 minutes until the sauce becomes light in colour and very smooth. If it dries up and feels firm, keep whisking. You may add a few tablespoons more of water as needed.
  • Season with salt and pepper, then garnish with chopped parsley.

Notes

  • Use high quality tahini when making this sauce, and ensure it is not bitter. You can make your own tahini if you don’t have it.
  • You can adjust the garlic, lemon juice and salt to your taste.
  • Store it in an airtight container and in the fridge for up to a week. It will thicken in the fridge, you can simply add a few tablespoons of water and whisk to loosen it before using.
Serving: 1g, Calories: 734kcal, Carbohydrates: 32g, Protein: 22g, Fat: 64g, Saturated Fat: 9g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 28g, Monounsaturated Fat: 24g, Sodium: 1209mg, Potassium: 645mg, Fiber: 6g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 87IU, Vitamin C: 31mg, Calcium: 188mg, Iron: 6mg
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