This homemade Sesame Steak Sauce is a creamy, savory dipping sauce for steak, and it is just as good with chicken, other grilled meats, fish, vegetables, potatoes, fries, or even as a bold salad dressing.
Sesame Steak Sauce is the kind of condiment that can turn a simple steak dinner into something memorable. It is rich, smooth, nutty, salty, and garlicky, with the deep sesame flavor of tahini balanced by mayonnaise, soy sauce, onion powder, paprika, and just enough water to create a pourable sauce. If you enjoy creamy steak sauces that are full of flavor without being complicated, this easy recipe is a great one to keep in your refrigerator.
There is a popular steak restaurant in Edmonton called The Sawmill, and one of the things many people remember about it is the Sesame Steak Sauce served with steak. The sauce became so well loved that it was even bottled and sold in local grocery stores. After tasting the bottled version years later, it did not quite match the rich, flavorful sesame sauce I remembered from the restaurant. It tasted more like lightly sesame-flavored mayonnaise than the sauce I had been hoping for, and it was not something we wanted to keep using.
Since we usually make steak at home, I wanted a version of that creamy sesame sauce that could be made quickly with simple ingredients. After a little experimenting, the homemade version came together easily. My first attempt used too much garlic, which made it more of a garlic sauce than a sesame steak sauce, but that was easy to fix by increasing the remaining ingredients. The final sauce had the balanced flavor I was looking for: nutty tahini, creamy mayonnaise, savory soy sauce, and a gentle background of garlic and spices.
This recipe is especially useful because it is not limited to steak. While it is delicious as a dipping sauce for sliced grilled steak, it also works beautifully with grilled chicken, roasted vegetables, potatoes, and fries. Because it has a smooth, creamy texture and a savory sesame flavor, it can even be thinned slightly and used as a salad dressing. It is a versatile homemade condiment that takes only minutes to prepare and can be stored in the fridge for easy meals throughout the week.
How to make Sesame Steak Sauce:
Making this creamy Sesame Steak Sauce is very simple. Add the tahini, mayonnaise, reduced sodium soy sauce, minced garlic, onion powder, and paprika to a jar, measuring cup, or blender. Blend the mixture until it becomes smooth, then add water a tablespoon at a time until the sauce reaches the thickness you like. An immersion blender is especially convenient because you can blend the sauce directly in the container you plan to store it in, which also makes clean-up easier.
For the best flavor, refrigerate the sauce for at least one hour before serving. This resting time allows the garlic, sesame, soy sauce, and spices to blend together and mellow slightly. If you are short on time, you can serve it right away, but the flavor will be better after chilling.
Store the finished steak sauce in a clean jar, bottle, or airtight container in the refrigerator. It will keep for a couple of weeks when properly refrigerated. Stir or shake before serving if it thickens or separates slightly while chilled.
What else can I put my Sesame Steak Sauce on?
This flavorful Sesame Steak Sauce is excellent with steak, but it is also a great sauce for grilled chicken, roasted chicken, other meats, and fish. Its creamy texture and savory sesame flavor make it a good match for foods that benefit from a rich dipping sauce.
You can also spoon it over roasted or grilled vegetables, serve it with potatoes or fries, or use it as a creamy salad dressing. If you want a thinner dressing-style sauce, blend in a little extra water until it reaches your preferred consistency.
Sesame Steak Sauce Ingredients:
- Tahini – Tahini is a smooth sesame seed paste. It gives this sauce its signature nutty sesame flavor and creamy body. It is usually found in well-stocked grocery stores, often in the international foods aisle or near nut and seed butters. You can also make tahini at home with sesame seeds and a food processor.
- Mayonnaise – Mayonnaise adds creaminess and helps create the classic dipping sauce texture. To make this recipe vegan and egg-free, use your favorite vegan mayonnaise alternative.
- Reduced sodium soy sauce – Soy sauce adds savory depth and saltiness. To make this Sesame Steak Sauce gluten-free, use gluten-free soy sauce or tamari.
- Garlic – Fresh minced garlic gives the sauce a bold, savory flavor. Use one clove so the garlic supports the sesame flavor without overpowering it.
- Onion powder – Onion powder adds a mild, rounded savory note that blends smoothly into the sauce.
- Paprika – Paprika adds a gentle warmth and a little color without making the sauce spicy.
- Water – Water thins the sauce to the right consistency. Add it gradually so the sauce stays creamy and does not become too thin.
Want more tahini recipes?
Sesame Steak Sauce Nutrition Notes:
The nutrition information in the recipe below is calculated for 1 tablespoon of sauce. The full recipe makes approximately 12 tablespoons.
To make this recipe gluten-free, be sure to use gluten-free soy sauce or tamari instead of regular soy sauce.
To make this recipe vegan and egg-free, replace the mayonnaise with a vegan mayonnaise alternative.
Sesame Steak Sauce
Equipment
- Immersion blender or blender
Ingredients
- ¼ cup tahini
- 2 Tablespoons mayonnaise use a vegan mayonnaise alternative to make this recipe vegan and egg-free
- 2 Tablespoons reduced sodium soy sauce use gluten-free soy sauce or tamari to make this recipe gluten-free
- 1 clove garlic minced
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ⅛ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ cup water
Instructions
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Add the tahini, mayonnaise, reduced sodium soy sauce, minced garlic, onion powder, and paprika to a measuring cup, jar, or blender.
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Blend until smooth, adding the water 1 tablespoon at a time until the sauce becomes thick, creamy, and pourable.
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Refrigerate the sauce for at least 1 hour before serving so the flavors can blend.
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Store leftovers in an airtight jar or container in the refrigerator.
Nutrition
Carbohydrates: 1g
Protein: 1g
Fat: 4g
Sodium: 113mg
