This tahini Caesar dressing is an unexpected twist on the classic caesar. It’s gluten-free, can easily be made dairy-free, and packs the same Caesar flavor that we know and love! This recipe is perfect to make ahead of time and store for later, so you never have to buy store-bought dressing again!
I have a confession to make: I am ridiculously obsessed with tahini. If this wasn’t obvious already from my most popular recipes, like my Life Changing Tahini Chocolate Chip Cookies or my Double-Fudge Tahini Chocolate Chip Brookies, then you’re about to see that tahini runs my life. Just kidding… kind of! Creamy, salty tahini is such a versatile ingredient that can really add depth and richness to so many recipes. It’s gluten-free, dairy-free, sugar-free, soy-free, and vegan, and I like to think of it as an homage to my Middle Eastern roots (which you can read more about on my Instagram here).
What is Tahini?
Tahini is a paste made out of ground sesame seeds that originated in Persia in the 13th century, and has become a staple in many Middle Eastern kitchens. It’s used in everything from Turkish desserts to Greek pitas to even fudge! Tahini only became available in America in the 1940’s, and has been slowly growing in popularity thanks to the wellness community. If you’ve never tried tahini, you can think of it as a salty, nut-free nut butter!
Tahini tends to vary in texture. Some are more liquid-y, and others are thicker. For this recipe, and for most of my tahini-based recipes, you’ll want a more liquid-y one. If you’ve followed me for a while, then you’ll know that I love my Soom Foods tahini, but if you can’t get your hands on that one, then I recommend either the Sprouts brand or Whole Foods brand tahinis!
What you need to make this Tahini Caesar Dressing
- Olive Oil: Olive oil is my favorite oil to use in salad dressings because it tastes amazing and it’s such a great heart-healthy oil.
- Tahini: The tahini is the “secret sauce” in this recipe. It makes this dressing magic!
- Plain Yogurt: You can use regular or dairy-free yogurt in this dressing.
- Lemon Juice: The lemon juice gives the dressing a tangy flavor – yee haw!
- Garlic: I recommend using fresh garlic cloves!
- Parmesan Cheese: I love a good parmesan cheese, but you can totally skip it if you’re dairy-free.
- Cayenne Pepper: The cayenne pepper in the dressing gives it a little kick, but won’t make it spicy!
Tips for making this Tahini Caesar Dressing
Making this tahini caesar dressing is as simple as adding your ingredients to a food processor and pulsing until smooth. But depending on the tahini and yogurt you’re using, the dressing may be especially thick! You can add small amounts of water at a time until it thins out into a creamy, but not too runny, dressing. This goes for the seasonings as well; you’ll want to add more salt, pepper, and lemon juice to the dressing as you add in more water, to ensure no flavor is getting lost!
If you make this recipe, please be sure to leave a rating and a comment below – this really helps others decide whether to make this recipe as well. And since I practically live on Instagram, be sure to tag me in your creations so I can see them and repost! Enjoy!
Ingredients
- ¼ cup Olive Oil
- ¼ cup Tahini
- 2 tablespoons Plain Yogurt OR Plain Non-Dairy Yogurt
- ¼ cup Lemon Juice, this is about one whole lemon
- 3 Garlic Cloves
- ½ cup Freshly-Grated Parmesan, + more to garnish
- ¼ cup Water, + more, if needed
- ¼ teaspoon Sea Salt
- ¼ teaspoon Cayenne pepper
- ¼ teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients to a food processor and pulse until smooth. This dressing will be thick; but if you need to add a little more water to thin it out, feel free. Make sure to adjust the seasonings as needed, adding more salt/pepper/lemon juice.
Rate & review
SELECT A RATING and tell me what you think!
What others are saying
This is the best Caesar dressing! I’ve made it countless times now and it never disappoints.
Woohoo! Love hearing that, Andrea! Thanks so much for the review!
Is there something we can use instead of the parmesan?
Hi Nina! You can use a vegan / dairy-free parmesan!
Super delicious !
I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you so much for your review, Jessica!
WOW! This stuff is incredible and so easy to make. I haven’t even finished cooking my meal yet but I had to leave a review ASAP! 🫶🏼
I got ahead of myself and didn’t read the recipe so I did 1/4 cup of plain yogurt- still delicious and extra creamy. Thank you for this recipe!! 10 out of 10! ⭐️
I am so happy to hear that, Ollie! Thank you so much for making it and for leaving such a kind review!