Creamy Harissa Tahini Sauce
Harissa Tahini is a creamy sauce with a spicy, nutty flavor. Enjoy it on bowls, roasted vegetables, salads, or as a dipping sauce. This easy recipe is inspired by a dish at True Food Kitchen and is dairy free, gluten, free and nut free.
Looking for more homemade sauces? Try my creamy Asian salad dressing, spicy cashew dressing, or lime tahini dressing.
What You’ll Love About This Recipe
Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to make this tahini harissa sauce:
- Creamy tahini – a spread made from ground sesame seeds. It has a nutty flavor and is a great source of healthy fats.
- Fresh lemon juice – helps balance out the heat from the harissa.
- Hot water – to thin the sauce and make it more cohesive.
- Spicy harissa paste – a popular ingredient in African cuisine. It’s made with fresh red peppers or dried red pepper flakes, garlic cloves, olive oil, coriander, and caraway seeds.
- Maple syrup – balances out the flavors.
- Kosher salt – to taste.
How to Make Harissa Tahini: Step By Step
Here are some quick visual instructions. The full instructions and ingredient list will be in the printable recipe card below!
1. Whisk together all the ingredients in a small bowl until well combined.
2. If needed, add more hot water 1 tablespoon at a time if needed to thin the sauce or more harissa paste for a spicier sauce.
Helpful Tips
- To make spicy harissa tahini, increase the amount of harissa paste, to taste.
Quick Tip: Harissa sauce isn’t as concentrated as harissa paste. If using harissa sauce, start with two tablespoons, and add more if needed, to taste.
Storage
Store the sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 10 days.
Make It Your Way: Substitutions & Variations
Please remember that recipes are just a starting point.
How can you make this harissa-tahini sauce using what you already have? Here are some ideas…
- No tahini? – you can also use cashew butter.
- No maple syrup? – use honey.
- Add-ins – lemon zest, freshly ground black pepper, or garlic powder.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, harissa sauce is harissa paste with more olive oil added to thin it out. Harissa paste is more concentrated, so it has a spicier flavor. You can buy mild harissa paste though if you don’t tolerate spice well.
Yes, this harissa sauce has a bit of a kick. For a milder flavor, use a smaller amount of the harissa paste or you can use mild harissa paste.
I got mine at Trader Joe’s, but you can also find it in the international aisle at many grocery stores or online.
How To Serve
This harissa tahini dressing is a new favorite condiment that goes with so many different dishes.
Use it on harissa roasted cauliflower, as a sauce for harissa tahini pasta, drizzled over baked sweet potatoes, rainbow bowls, or as a dip for crispy roasted potatoes or crispy fried chicken without buttermilk.
More Homemade Sauces
I hope you love this Harissa Tahini! If you make this recipe, be sure to leave a comment & a star rating below. Thank you!
Creamy Harissa Tahini Sauce
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup tahini well stirred
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 3 tablespoons hot water
- 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon harissa paste see notes below about harissa sauce
- 2 teaspoons maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon diamond crystal kosher salt start with ¼ teaspoon if using anything else
Instructions
- Whisk together all the ingredients in a small bowl until well combined.
- If needed, add more hot water 1 tablespoon at a time if needed to thin the sauce or more harissa paste for a spicier sauce.