This creamy za'atar dressing is rich, savory, and tastes amazing on everything from salads and falafel to grains and sandwiches! Lemon and tahini complement the bright, floral, nutty flavors of za'atar. To make it all you need are a bowl, whisk, and five minutes!
In case you aren't familiar with za'atar, it's a Middle-Eastern spice blend with flavors that pair well with so many dishes. It's herbal, fresh, zesty, and great in this lemon and tahini-based salad dressing.
Za'atar is also the name of a specific herb, which is how the spice blend got its name. Some za'atar blends include the herb, and some don't. Similar to other spice blends from around the world, the exact ingredients in za'atar tend to vary by region and recipe.
The most typical ingredients you'll find in za'atar are sesame seeds, sumac, and other dried herbs such as thyme and oregano.
Some za'atar blends contain salt and some don't. But you can easily bump up the amount of salt if needed.
Related: Next, try this creamy za'atar hummus!
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What You'll Need
- za'atar spice blend - I use the za'atar by Spicewalla. Their spices are amazing, and they're located here in Asheville, NC. So I try to support them whenever I can.
- tahini - any brand of tahini you enjoy is great, or you can even make your own at home.
- lemon juice - just 1 or 2 tablespoons adds brightness and acidity to the dressing.
- garlic - I like to use one medium-size clove, but you can include garlic powder if needed.
- sea salt - salt balances the bitterness of the tahini and enhances all of the flavors. Feel free to adjust the amount to suit your tastes and depending on how salty your za'atar is.
See the recipe card below for quantities and full instructions.
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How to Make It
There's not much better than dressings and sauces that don't require a blender or any special equipment. If you agree, you'll love this! Maximum flavor for minimal effort.
- Simply whisk together the tahini, za'atar, and garlic until fully combined. Then add the lemon juice, water, and salt.
- Taste and adjust the za'atar, lemon, and salt as desired.
Tip: most za'atar seasoning blends contain salt, but if yours doesn't, you'll want to increase the amount of salt to taste.
Ways to Use Za'atar Dressing
- on green salads or kale salad
- as a dip for vegetable trays and roasted veggies
- spread on sandwiches and pita
- as a sauce for noodles, rice, and other grains
Substitutions
- tahini - other nut or seed butters might work, but tahini is the only one we've tried so far. Similar to this Bitchin' Sauce recipe, I suspect almond butter would taste great!
- water - if you prefer a creamy vinaigrette, replace the water with olive oil, reduce the tahini, and add more lemon juice to taste.
FAQs
No, za'atar is not a hot or spicy seasoning. The flavors are more herbal, nutty, citrus-y, and floral thanks to sumac, sesame seeds, oregano, and thyme. Some blends contain dried aleppo chili pepper, a moderately spicy pepper, but it's usually a small amount.
Stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, za'atar dressing is good for up to 4 days.
I hope you love this quick and flavorful za'atar sauce as much as we do. If you try the recipe comment below to let us know!
Recipe
Creamy Za'atar Dressing
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup tahini
- 3 to 4 teaspoons za'atar seasoning blend - see Notes
- 1 clove garlic, grated or minced
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ⅓ cup water
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt, to taste - increase if your za'atar blend doesn't contain salt
Instructions
- In a bowl, whisk together the tahini, 3 teaspoons za'atar, and garlic.
- Add the lemon, water, and salt, and whisk again until smooth. Taste and add more za'atar, salt, or lemon as desired. The dressing will thicken as it sits, especially after refrigeration.
- Serve now as a dressing, sauce, or dip, or transfer to a lidded jar or container and refrigerate until ready to use. Whisk in a splash of water or lemon juice if the consistency is too thick.
Notes
Estimated Nutrition (per serving)
Nutrition information is an estimate and will vary depending on the exact amounts and specific products and ingredients used.
Melinda says
Delicious!! I added some flax oil just because I needed to use it up, other than that the recipe as written worked perfect.
Laur says
So good! A little less salt for me.
Excellent with just romaine lettuce.
My new favorite salad dressing/dip.
Chris says
Gigi says
Excellent sauce! I added a lot more lemon juice and za’atar. Letting it sit for about 15 minutes or more melded all the flavors well. A keeper of a recipe!
Jen says
I just made this to have with a dinner salad and we loved it!
LuLu says
excellent dressing.... tks!!!! nice to get away from cashews for a change...