Creamy Lemon Tahini Dressing
Spring is in the air! Time to break out the floral dresses, trim the tulips and daffodils, and change up your nutrient intake in alignment with warmer weather. After all, nutrient dense living is about eating with the seasons and listening to what your body wants throughout the year. As the days get longer, I notice my cravings shift from creamy squash soups and comforting meaty casseroles to lighter faire like freshly grilled fish and crispy, crunchy salads. When made well with colorful ingredients and a balanced flavor profile (sweet and sour, rich and light), a good salad can stand alone as a complete meal or become a highly praised complement to grass-fed burgers or a wild salmon filet. But to really perfect a salad, the secret is in the dressing. I'm always in search of interesting and flavorful salad dressings that aren't compromised by hidden hydrogenated oils (canola, sunflower, safflower), sugar, corn syrup or dairy products. (Read those pre-made dressing labels...99% have at least one of these ingredients, if not multiple). Inspired by my love of light and tangy Mediterranean flavors, I created this nutrient dense and delicious Creamy Lemon Tahini Dressing.
Tart and rich, this Creamy Lemon Tahini Dressing pairs beautifully with a wide variety of fresh ingredients. The recipe below makes a light and mildly creamy version perfect for summer salads with a touch of tang. One of my favorite iterations is my Mediterranean Shrimp Salad, tossed with spring greens, green olives, mandarin orange sections, pumpkin seeds, red onion slivers, avocado and shrimp grilled with lime and cumin. Or massaged with kale in my signature Summer Kale Salad - always a hit at picnics and barbecues. The options are endless!
If you add another teaspoon of tahini, the dressing becomes thick and rich, a perfect 1:1 substitute for your classic Caesar dressing with much less fat, and no dairy or hydrogenated oils. Toss the creamy version with chopped romaine, sunflower sprouts and a sprinkling of hemp seeds, and your simple, Nutrient Dense Caesar Salad is ready to go.
Keep in mind that the lemon and apple cider vinegar do make this dressing a little tart, so it is best paired with sweeter salad toppers like fruit or candied nuts.
May your spring season be as zesty and bright as this Creamy Lemon Tahini Dressing!
creamy lemon tahini dressing
- YIELD: 1/4 cup (4 Servings)
- PREP: 5 mins
Inspired by light and tangy Mediterranean flavors, this Creamy Lemon Tahini Dressing pairs beautifully with a wide variety of fresh ingredients.
ingredients
- 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
- Juice of one lemon
- 1 1/2 Tbsp raw tahini
instructions
- Mix together ingredients until they emulsify into a smooth and creamy dressing. Toss with your favorite salad.