Creamy Lime Tahini Dressing (Low Carb, Keto)

Lime tahini dressing is creamy and tangy, with a subtle nuttiness from the flavor of sesame seeds. It's balanced and versatile, an easy way to add flavor to a fresh summer salad, pasta salad, cold edamame noodles, or grilled veggies. This simple dressing requires just a few ingredients and is ready in practically no time!

If you're not familiar with tahini, it's a sesame seed paste made of ground sesame seeds and a staple in Mediterranean and Middle East cuisine.

It's thick, nutty, and can be transformed with just a few simple ingredients into a luscious tahini sauce, salad dressing, dip for fresh veggies, and can even add a boost of nutty flavor to baked goods and other recipes.

It's naturally low in carbs and packed with healthy fats which makes it keto-friendly. You can learn more about this magic ingredient in this post, Is Tahini Keto-Friendly?.

It's creamy texture can be thinned down easily, which makes it ideal for sauces like this light salad dressing. A little fresh lime juice, low-carb sweetener, and some flavor add-ins (white miso paste! a splash of coconut aminos!) and this easy dressing is ready for drizzling. 

easy tahini lime dressing

There are so many great ways to use this. Zhuzh up your favorite salads, enjoy it as a dipping sauce for fresh crudités or pour it over a plate of grilled vegetables like zucchini or roasted sweet potatoes.

This creamy dressing is as versatile as it is simple to make.  

The combination of coconut aminos, rice vinegar, and lime gives it a very subtle Asian-inspired flavor profile. You could boost it even more by mixing in 1 teaspoon of toasted sesame oil.

But I love that it's fairly neutral in flavor, and I have made several variations of this dressing with other flavor add-ins that I'll share in the recipe notes. 

Here's why this dressing works:

• It's a healthy dressing that's free of added sugar and made with real-food ingredients (as opposed to a long list of artificial ingredients like most store-bought salad dressings!).
• Sweetened with liquid allulose, this dressing is low carb, keto-friendly, and low glycemic.
• It's so simple and quick to make! Five minutes is all you need.

the ingredients

Here's a look at the main ingredients you'll need for this creamy tahini lime dressing:

• Tahini. Make sure it's room temperature and well-stirred, as tahini paste can separate from oil just like natural peanut butter. Room temperature tahini is easier to stir. Choose a good tahini (like Soom tahini!) as that will give you the best results. 
• Vinegar.  Use rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar. You'll just need a splash to give the dressing a little extra tanginess.
• White miso paste. This ingredient is optional, but it adds a little extra savoriness to the dressing and brings out the nutty tahini flavor. This one on Amazon is good but  Trader Joe's also sells a nice white miso paste that is equally good and much more affordable.
• Liquid allulose.  A simple ingredient that adds a touch of sweetness! Liquid allulose is a low-carb, keto-friendly sweetener which means this dressing is free of added grams of sugar.
• Coconut aminos.  For a deeper umami flavor, similar to soy sauce. 
• Limes and lime zest. You'll need three large limes. The acid gives the dressing a tart and zesty flavor and the fresh lime juice also provides a thinner consistency. 

how to make creamy lime tahini dressing

The process couldn't be any easier! You can blitz this up in a small food processor or bullet blender, or use a small bowl and whisk.

Tahini is sort of like a magic ingredient - it'll thin down quickly with just a splash of added water. In this case, our lime juice, coconut aminos and vinegar stand in for water. If you feel that the dressing is too thin, simply stir in a little bit more tahini and whisk well (or blend) until it reaches a thicker consistency. 

Here's a look at the process but be sure to view the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page for all of the details:

In a small bowl or in a food processor, combine the tahini, rice vinegar, miso paste, coconut aminos, lime juice, lime zest and garlic powder. Whisk well until the dressing is smooth (or blend/process to combine).

Add the liquid allulose, starting with 1-½ tablespoons. Mix well, taste, then add more if needed. Your dressing is ready to enjoy!

tips for the best results

• A good-quality tahini will make the tastiest dressing. I like Soom tahini since it's made with only ground sesame seeds and doesn't contain anything else! If you're new to tahini, you'll usually find it at most grocery stores near the nut butters. I recommend trying out a couple of brands to see which one you like. They will all require stirring to combine the separated oil and tahini paste. Since the thick paste can stick to the bottom of the tahini jar (like almond butter or peanut butter), I like to store it upside-down. 
• Add an extra 1-2 teaspoons of tahini if you would like the dressing to be thicker. To thin it, you can add more lime juice or even a splash of water or a drizzle of olive oil. 
• Store in an airtight container like a mason jar. Keep in the refrigerator for up to 10 days. The dressing will need a good shake to mix before using. 

substitutions

• Coconut aminos:  You can substitute this for a splash of tamari, gluten-free soy sauce. Or, use regular soy sauce or liquid aminos. 
• Lime juice:  You can substitute lemon juice if that's what you have. The flavor will be slightly different but still tasty!
• Liquid allulose: Feel free to substitute with any liquid sweetener you prefer! Keto-friendly or sugar-free options include stevia, monk fruit drops, or a powdered monk fruit sweetener blend (not granulated). A granulated sweetener will leave you with a gritty consistency which is why I don't recommend it. If you don't need this dressing to be low in sugar, you can substitute the liquid allulose for pure maple syrup or honey. 

variations

There are so many ways to modify this recipe! Here are just a few ideas:

• Bold sesame flavor: Add in 1-2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil for a bolder sesame flavor.
• Fresh herbs:  Blitz the dressing in a bullet blender with a handful of fresh cilantro, fresh basil, or fresh chives. 
• Spicy tahini lime dressing: Add in a dash of hot sauce or ground chili, ground chipotle, or ground cayenne for a touch of heat. You can also blend it with a little bit of jalapeño!
• Extra bite :  A fresh clove of garlic or a nub of fresh ginger will each add their own flavor profile, and each one is delicious. 

more homemade dressings you'll love

• Keto ranch dressing, a five-minute, creamy dressing that tastes better than anything store-bought. Make this one with or without dairy!
• Creamy balsamic basil vinaigrette! Fresh basil leaves and tangy balsamic make a zingy, creamy vinaigrette that's perfect for summer. 
• Sun-dried tomato vinaigrette is savory and bright, bursting with deep tomato flavor.