Hello, my lovely chickpeas! I don't know about you, but I am a full believer that the MOST important part of a salad is the dressing. It ties everything together, adds so much flavor, and can make or break your dish! That's why this Creamy Tahini Salad Dressing should definitely be on rotation in your kitchen. It pairs well with just about anything, has a wonderful balance of flavors, and is just what your next vegan salad needs. This is also a great option for you if you are on the hunt for a delicious oil free salad dressing, as it has no extra oil!

Creamy Tahini Salad Dressing recipe: vegan, oil free, and WFPB

I already think I hear your next delicious salad calling your name, so let's jump in!

Inspiration for Creamy Tahini Salad Dressing

Spinach salad with Creamy Tahini Salad Dressing

There's a stereotype in our society that "all vegans eat is salad". And while this definitely isn't true, I do think that vegans are often very good at putting together a great salad! Since going vegan I've definitely learned a lot more about what veggies pair well together, how to bulk up my vegan salads with tons of fun flavors and textures, and the importance of a complimentary salad dressing.

When creating this dressing I was on the hunt for something that could be paired well with just about any salad combination - and this recipe does just that! It's got some tanginess from the vinegar, creaminess and nuttiness from the tahini, sweetness from the maple syrup, and a bit of a kick from the dijon mustard. It's a great balance of flavors and I haven't found a salad yet that it didn't work on! This is also an oil free salad dressing for anyone who may be wfpb!

Ingredients

Believe it or not, this is a 5 ingredient recipe! And one of those ingredients is water, so really it's a 4 ingredient recipe in my book. Here's what we are working with today:

Tahini: this is my favorite ingredient for an oil free salad dressing because it gets your dressing creamy without the added oils! It also adds a beautiful savory and nutty flavor.
Balsamic vinegar: This adds some richness and a bit of a tangy flavor.
Maple syrup: For a bit of sweetness!
Dijon mustard: This adds a kick of spice to keep things interesting. I also LOVE how it and the maple syrup compliment each other!

How to Make Creamy Tahini Salad Dressing

This vegan salad dressing is not only delicious, but also super easy! Of course, full recipe down below, but here's the very short summary:

Combine all ingredients in a jar and shake to mix.

That's it!

Tips & Tricks

Tahini Oil Free Salad Dressing with side salad

As always, I love to give you guys ideas on how to make my recipes your own. Here are some thoughts on how you can make adjustments based on your taste preferences, and on how you can best enjoy this Creamy Tahini Salad Dressing!

The measurements in this recipe are my ideal combination of these flavors. However, I recognize that everyone has slightly different taste preferences! If you want one of these flavors to stand out a bit more, feel free to add more of it. For a sweeter option, add more maple syrup. For a thicker or creamier dressing, you can add more tahini. If the flavor is a bit too strong or you want to thin out your dressing, add a bit more water! Basically feel free to use this recipe as a base and adjust as you want.
As I mentioned earlier, I really think this salad dressing pairs well with just about anything. That being said, one of my absolute favorite pairings for it is hearty fall or winter salads! Ingredients like kale, pumpkin seeds, roasted veggies, and apples are such a nice compliment to these flavors.
If you have a side salad (or a main salad) at your holiday feast this year, this would be a great addition for it! It's super easy to make, and everyone will think you're so fancy for having a homemade salad dressing at your table.
Looking for more delicious vegan salad dressings? Check out my Vegan Caesar Dressing or my Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Dressing next!

Enjoy!

Creamy Tahini Salad Dressing (Vegan & Oil Free!)

Recipe by Delaney Romero - Joyful Balance

Servings

servings

From Start to Finish

minutes

This Creamy Tahini Salad Dressing is the perfect balance of flavors for just about any salad. It's got some tanginess from the vinegar, creaminess and nuttiness from the tahini, sweetness from the maple syrup, and a bit of a kick from the dijon mustard. This one is sure to become a staple in your kitchen!

Ingredients

2 tablespoon tahini*
2 tablespoon balsamic vinegar*
3-4 teaspoon pure maple syrup
2 teaspoon dijon mustard
2 teaspoon water

Directions

Add all ingredients to a small bottle or container of your choice. (For the maple syrup, stick with 3 teaspoon if you want it less sweet and 4 teaspoon if you want it more sweet!)
Shake the container vigorously to combine until all ingredients are incorporated evenly.
Give your dressing a quick taste test. If you'd like any of the flavors to be a bit stronger, add a small amount of any ingredient of your choice and shake again. You can also add a bit extra water if desired to thin out the dressing.
Add to your salad of choice and enjoy!

Notes

*Tahini: if you want to stay oil-free, be sure to get a tahini that doesn't have any added oil! I like Krinos Tahini and the only ingredient in it is "raw roasted ground sesame seeds"!
*Balsamic vinegar: any brand will work, but I like to use De Nigris Balsamic Vinegar of Modena

Happy cooking! If you made this recipe don’t forget to tag me (@joyfulbalanceofficial) on facebook or instagram so I can cheer you on for your dressing-making ways.

Stay joyfully balanced!