I know this sounds insane, (take it from the girl whose freshman undergrad diet was made up of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream pints, pizza, and microwave mac and cheese) but I seriously crave greens and veggies – specifically when they’re covered with this super simple tahini lemon dressing.

Actually, I’m not crazy, it’s science. A 2014 brain-scan study published in Nature from Tufts University showed that after obese adults (as measured by BMI) spent six months following a “healthy diet” (novel weight-loss intervention; featured foods high in fiber and low on the glycemic index), their brains responded less strongly to images of high-calorie foods like French fries and fried chicken. Brain scans showed increased activity in the reward center of the brain when viewing lower-calorie foods, and decreased sensitivity to higher-calorie, more “unhealthy” foods. How cool is THAT?

So the next time you’re craving tahini dressing, trust the science. Tahini dressing (particularly one packed with fresh lemon) is my go-to dressing and sauce for all. of. the. things.

I’m quite obsessed with tahini dressing on:
-Roasted veggies (like sweet potatoes and Brussels sprouts – SO good)
-Massaged into chopped kale for a super simple kale salad
-Drizzled on cooked proteins like willd salmon or grilled chicken
-All of the salads – yum!
-All of the other veggies – yum!

Tahini + lemon + garlic = the simplest dressing ever.

Best Ever Lemon Tahini Dressing

Ingredients:

½ cup tahini
1 large lemon, juiced
¼ olive oil
Zest from ½ lemon
1 garlic clove
¼ tsp. sea salt
¼ tsp. black pepper
1-2 Tbsp. honey or maple syrup (optional)
¼ cup water, to thin (plus more, if necessary)

Directions:

Place all ingredients in a high-speed blender or food processor. Blend on high for 20-30 seconds, or until dressing is smooth and creamy. If the mixture is too thick, add in another tablespoon or two of water.

Pour dressing into a jar and store in the refrigerator where it will keep for 2-4 days. You may need to thin the dressing with additional water after refrigerating. Simply whisk in another tablespoon or two of water and enjoy!