Lemon Herb Tahini Sauce
Make Cava’s Lemon herb tahini sauce at home with this copycat recipe. This creamy sauce combines lemon, cilantro, garlic, and tahini. Try it on top of falafel, wrap sandwiches, and salads.
For at least a year, my close friend Autum has told me, “Go to Cava!” It is one of her favorite restaurants, and she knew I would love their Mediterranean-style food. I finally gave it a try, and she was right: I love it! Naturally, I knew I had to make copycat recipes to save money and time on travel.
Lemon herb tahini sauce is my first Cava copycat recipe. It took me a few tries to get it right. But I did, and I am so excited to share it with you!
You might be asking yourself, what can you put it on? Because the flavor is subtle, it complements many recipes, including Lebanese falafel, Mediterranean wrap, or Arab rice. I like it as a simple oil-free salad dressing with arugula and avocado.
Lemon Tahini Sauce Ingredients
Key Ingredient Notes
Cilantro
I recommend using fresh cilantro. If you use dried cilantro, 1 tablespoon is the equivalent.
Lemon
Fresh lemon juice balances out the bitterness of the tahini. Always use fresh lemon; bottled lemon never tastes right.
Tahini
In my tahini recipes, I always say the same thing: Buy quality tahini. Not all tahini is created equal, and bitterness can vary by brand. When you open a jar of tahini, the oil will most likely have separated and risen to the top, which is normal. Just give it a quick stir to bring it back together. Use the pourable tahini, and as a general rule, avoid the clumps that settle at the bottom.
How to Make Tahini Herb Sauce
1
Blend With Water
Place the tahini, lemon, cilantro, and salt in a food processor. Blend into a thick paste.
2
Slowly Add Water
Slowly add cold water while pulsing. Add more water for a thinner paste. When you reach your preferred consistency, serve and enjoy!
Tahini Tip
Tahini can seize and become thick or grainy when you first mix it with water. To avoid this, use cold water and add it slowly while blending. This method helps the tahini emulsify into a smooth, creamy consistency. I use the same technique when making Lebanese hummus or tahini pasta.
Perfect Pairings
- Lemon herb tahini sauce is perfect with Lebanese falafel or gyros.
- Try using this sauce in my tahini pasta recipe for a lighter, fresh flavor.
- Pair with roasted cauliflower or harissa carrots for a fresh-flavored dipping sauce!
- Mix it up and use lemon herb tahini as an oil-free salad dressing on my kale crunch salad recipe.
Frequently Asked Questions
More Tahini Recipes
- Tahini Pasta with Zucchini and Leeks
- Mediterranean Kale Salad with Tahini Dressing
- Lebanese Hummus
- True Foods Roasted Cauliflower with Tahini Sauce
If you tried this recipe or any other recipe on my blog, leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below.
Lemon Herb Tahini Sauce
Equipment
- 1 medium bowl
Ingredients
- ½ cup tahini
- 2 tablespoons fresh-squeezed lemon
- ¼ bunch cilantro
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 pinch salt
- ¼ cup cold water
Instructions
- Pulse the Ingredients: In a food processor, combine the tahini, lemon juice, garlic, cilantro, and salt into a thick paste.
- Add Water: Slowly pour in the cold water while pulsing. Add more water for a thinner sauce. When you reach your preferred consistency, serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Tahini will separate, with solids settling at the bottom and natural oils rising to the top. If this has happened, use a fork to stir and recombine the ingredients.
- Tahini can seize and become thick or grainy when you first mix it with water. To avoid this, use cold water and add it slowly while blending. This method helps the tahini emulsify into a smooth, creamy consistency. I use the same technique when making Lebanese hummus or tahini pasta.
Fresh and full of summer flavors!