You know how sometimes you find a food that just speaks to you? You can’t get enough of it and find an excuse to add it to every meal? Well, that’s how I feel about this Garlic Lemon Tahini Sauce. No kidding, the bright vibrant taste combined with the smooth and creamy texture is hard to compete with. This sauce is fast and easy to make with minimal ingredients and it’s completely plant-based.
What is Tahini?
Tahini is simply ground sesame seeds. The natural oil and fat content from the seeds make a thick paste that can be easily diluted to make delicious dressings and sauces. Tahini originated in the Middle East and Mediterranean and dates back to around 3500 BC! Unlike other nut and seed butters, tahini is not sweet or salty, but smooth and a little bitter. Because of the different flavor profile, it works well in sweet and savory dishes. Tahini can go in almost anything, from salad dressings and marinades to desserts and main courses. Tahini is much adored in the vegan community, but it’s also something used to flavor red meat. Tahini’s fatty, creamy texture and versatility has made it a fan favorite by basically anyone who’s tried it.
Ingredients
- Tahini
- Garlic
- Lemon
- Salt
- Water
. Tahini products do vary in quality, so it could take some research to find a good one. If you’ve got access to multiple products at one store, look for one that has a lighter color and minimal oil separation, as the separation could indicate that the product is older and more bitter.
. You can make garlic paste at home for cheap. Simply peel the clove and grate it into a grater with smaller holes. If you don’t want to do this, you can sometimes find garlic paste in the produce section of your local grocery store, but it’s decidedly more expensive.
How to Make This Sauce
This sauce is very quick to make and only really requires a bowl and a fork. How much easier can it get? All you have to do it mix the garlic paste and salt into the tahini. As you stir, initially the tahini will feel very thick. Then pour the liquid into the mix and stir very gently for a minute or so until it’s a uniform texture.
If, when it’s mixed well, the texture it too thick for you, add a tbsp at a time of water until you have what you want, but make sure to taste as you go since you’ll be diluting the flavor. Let the sauce sit and rest for 5-10 minutes so the flavors can really come together.
What to Pair this With
This sauce can go with so much. My personal recommendation for the warm season is to drizzle it over my Chickpea Tahini Salad, but this also is a great sauce to put on plant-based or regular chicken nuggets. Add this sauce to a mediterranean wrap of any kind or onto a turkey sandwich with extra pickles (I know it sounds weird but trust me, it’s darn good).
Garlic Lemon Tahini Sauce
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup tahini
- 1 1/2 tsp garlic paste, either store bought or shredded from home using a fine grater
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/3 cup tepid water
Optional:
- Zest of 1 lemon
Instructions
- In a medium tupperware or bowl, mix garlic and salt into tahini. The texture will get very thick.
- Now gently and slowly stir in water and lemon juice until you have a homogeneously thin sauce.
- Let sit and amalgamate 5-10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Pair with falafel, salad, pita, or veggies! This sauce adds a fatty brightness to any dish. My personal recommendation is to pair with my Chickpea Tahini Salad.