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Golden tahini dressing drizzled over a vibrant salad, a delicious and healthy choice.

Smoky Tahini Dressing

This luscious and easy tahini dressing features a unique twist: a pinch of smoked paprika, adding subtle smoky depth to complement nutty tahini and bright lemon. Versatile and simple to prepare, it's perfect for salads, grain bowls, roasted vegetables, and more.
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Prep Time 7 minutes
Total Time 17 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Condiment, Dressing, Sauce
Cuisine: Mediterranean, Middle Eastern
Calories: 140
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 cup well stirred tahini
  • 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice or more to taste
  • 1 teaspoon Celtic sea salt
  • Few twists of freshly ground pepper
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/3 cup filtered water plus more to thin out
  • 1/8 teaspoon smoked paprika

Equipment

  • Medium bowl
  • Whisk (or blender/food processor)

Method
 

Combine the Base Ingredients
  1. In a medium bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup of well-stirred tahini, 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice, 1 teaspoon of Celtic sea salt, and a few twists of freshly ground pepper. The mixture will initially be very thick, resembling a paste.
Emulsify with Oil and Water
  1. Next, whisk in 1 tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil.
  2. Gradually add 1/3 cup of filtered water, whisking continuously until the dressing becomes wonderfully smooth and creamy. Add more water, a tablespoon at a time, to achieve your desired pourable consistency.
Introduce the Unique Smoky Twist
  1. Stir in 1/8 teaspoon of smoked paprika until it is fully incorporated throughout the dressing.
  2. Let the dressing sit for about 10 minutes; this resting period allows all the flavors to meld beautifully and the smoked paprika to infuse its subtle depth.
Taste and Adjust Seasonings
  1. Taste your homemade tahini dressing and fine-tune the flavors. Add more lemon juice for a brighter taste, 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of maple syrup or honey to balance bitterness, or an extra 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of olive oil to mellow any sharpness.

Notes

This dressing keeps well for 5-7 days in an airtight container in the fridge. It will thicken when chilled; whisk well after removing from the fridge to restore its smooth consistency.
Nutrition information is estimated based on common ingredients and serving sizes and may vary.