Harissa Tahini Sauce

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This Harissa Tahini Sauce is a flavorful vegan and dairy free dip or dressing! It's made with harissa powder, za'atar, garlic and lemon juice.

Prep Time10

Total Time10

Course: Sauce

Cuisine: Middle Eastern

Diet: Gluten Free, Low Lactose, Vegan, Vegetarian

Keyword: vegan tahini sauce, tahini dipping sauce, harissa tahini dressing,

Servings:

Calories: 63kcal

Author: Christine Rooney

Ingredients

½ cup tahini
¼ cup water
¼ cup lemon juice equals 2-3 lemons
1 ½ tsp. harissa seasoning add more for a spicier sauce
¾ tsp. za'atar seasoning
¼ tsp. garlic powder
¼ tsp. onion powder
¼ tsp. kosher salt add more if needed
¼ tsp. pepper

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Stir the jar of tahini sauce in case the oil has separated and risen to the top of the jar. Just like natural peanut butter, the oil can separate and must be stirred until creamy. Stir the tahini vigorously until it is smooth and creamy.
Squeeze 2-3 lemons into a glass measuring cup until it reaches ¼ cup. Remove any seeds and discard.
Pour ½ cup of tahini into a small mixing bowl.
Add ¼ cup each water and lemon juice to the tahini and stir until incorporated with a small whisk. The mixture will look clumpy and separated at first. Simply continue to stir with a small whisk or fork until it is smooth and creamy.
Add 1 ½ tsp. harissa seasoning, ¾ tsp. za'atar seasoning, and ¼ tsp. each of garlic powder and onion powder along with ¼ tsp. each of kosher salt and pepper.
Stir all of the spices into the tahini sauce until completely incorporated.
The sauce should be thick and creamy, but pourable.
Adjust the seasoning to your liking. Feel free to add more harissa if you prefer a spicier sauce. Add more kosher salt if needed. If the sauce seems too thick, simply add a bit more water or lemon juice to thin it out.
To Serve: Serve as a dipping sauce, dressing for salads, or drizzled onto grilled or roasted meats.

Notes

Feel free to adjust the seasoning to your liking. Add more harissa if you prefer a spicier sauce. If the sauce is too spicy, add some honey or maple syrup to balance the flavors.

If the sauce is too thick, add a bit more water or lemon juice. Add more salt if needed.

The flavor and consistency may vary depending on the brand of tahini and spice blends used.

Nutrition