There are so many ways to make salad dressing and to me some basic ingredients for a great result are a good oil and some fresh garlic. But, instead of using buttermilk or simply oil and vinegar as the base we’re using some olive oil, lemon juice, and tahini. The flavor is fresh and light, while still being creamy and silky.

Tahini is used in many dishes around the world to add a creamy or rich flavor. The nice thing here is that if you crave a creamy dressing, but can’t have dairy (or don’t want it) then a recipe that uses tahini is a great option.

The sesame seeds are finely ground until a thick paste is formed. It’s sometimes sold in jars that look like peanut butter, but the flavor isn’t peanut-y at all. It’s more savory than peanut butter and a bit earthy. And, it makes a great base for a fresh salad dressing.

I used roasted tahini this time, which has a deeper flavor. If you want a lighter flavor you can use regular tahini instead.

The ingredients that make this such a zingy dressing are fresh lemon juice and fresh garlic. I would not advise to use the bottled or jarred versions of these ingredients since they have less flavor than their fresh counterparts.

To make this smooth and creamy dressing simply throw all the ingredients together in the food processor and mix until it’s got a nice, pourable consistency.

To make this dressing your own add more of whatever you love. Want more lemon zing? Add some lemon zest. Want a bit of spice? Throw in a pinch of red pepper flakes. And as always garlic is measured by “however much you want”.

It’s easy to get just the flavor you like when you make this easy and tasty dressing at home.