Tahini Chili Sauce

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Learn how to make a quick Tahini Chili Sauce for salads, grain bowls, and veggies. You’ll just need some lemons, tahini, and chili paste to make this delicious and flavorful recipe!

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I love making tahini sauces and tahini dressings. It’s a simple and nutrient-dense way to dress up my favorite meals from Quinoa Protein Bowls to Cauliflower Shawarma Salad. One of my go-to recipes is this Two Minute Lemon Tahini Dressing, but today I’m making a spicy, garlicky version that I’ve been making on repeat because it’s so good!

How to Make Spicy Chili Sauce

The full recipe in on the recipe card below, but here’s a quick overview to show you how it works:

STEP 1

Start by adding the tahini to a mixing bowl. Then add lemon juice and just 1 tbsp of water. Mix until the liquid is absorbed and then add another tbsp of water.

The key to making the best tahini sauce is to gradually add the water. If you add it all at once, the liquid will overwhelm the sesame paste (tahini) and it won’t combine properly. The trick is to add a spoonful, mix, and repeat. It takes a few seconds longer, but it’s 100% worth it!

STEP 2

Now that you have the basic tahini sauce complete, add some flavor with 3-4 tbsp of chili paste (Sambal Oelek) and stir to combine. Samabl Oelek is made up of tasty ingredients like garlic, shallots, and ginger, so this is a quick way to add lots of flavor to the sauce.

STEP 3

Finally, taste the sauce add more lemon juice or some salt and pepper to taste. Add more chili paste for a spicer sauce and once it’s perfect, serve immediately or store in the fridge until ready to use. Note, this chili sauce will thicken as it chills in fridge, so thin it out as needed with a small splash of water or lemon juice before serving.

Where to Buy Sambal Oelek

This chili paste can be found in most grocery stores and online here. Just make sure to check the ingredients, as some brands use shrimp of fish. My favorites are this one and this one, as both are vegan-friendly.

Which Tahini is Best for Tahini Sauce

My all time favorite tahini is Soom. Other favorites include Kroger’s Simply Organic Tahini Sauce and the one shown below from 365. All three are accessible and reliably delicious. What is most important is that the tahini is light in color, that it’s salted, and that it’s runny. You want a thin, pourable consistency, not a thick, peanut butter-like paste.

How to Use Spicy Chili Sauce

• Quinoa Protein Bowls with Roasted Chickpeas and Spicy Greens
• On Falafels or in falafel wraps
• On Roasted Vegetables
• With Fresh Veggies and and pita bread for dipping
• As a salad dressing for kale salads. Simply thin it out with a little more lemon juice or water and drizzle it over the greens