Tahini Sauce

By
Saad Fayed
Saad Fayed
A restaurateur and food writer, Saad Fayed has published hundreds of recipes and articles about Middle Eastern cuisine.
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Updated on 12/15/21
Tahini Sauce Recipe
The Spruce
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 10 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
243 Calories
23g Fat
8g Carbs
5g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 243
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 23g 29%
Saturated Fat 3g 16%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 172mg 7%
Total Carbohydrate 8g 3%
Dietary Fiber 2g 6%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 5g
Vitamin C 4mg 21%
Calcium 48mg 4%
Iron 1mg 8%
Potassium 163mg 3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Tahini sauce is made from tahini (a sesame seed paste). It's thinner and used in pita sandwiches, marinades, and dips and is very easy to make. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator, and it will keep for about two weeks.

Tahini Facts

  • Tahini is a Middle Eastern pantry essential. It is the foundation for many Middle Eastern recipes like hummus and baba ghanoush.
  • Tahini can be prepared homemade or purchased at a Middle Eastern grocer in a can. It is called tahini or tahina, depending on the region.
  • There is so much you can do with tahini. It is used in many dishes, especially appetizer dips, and it can be paired with a variety of vegetables, including broccoli and cauliflower.
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Click Play to See This Easy Tahini Sauce Recipe Come Together

Served With

One of the most important ingredients in hummus, other than chickpeas, is tahini. If you frequent Middle Eastern restaurants and eat the hummus, you know that hummus tastes different everywhere. Some types of hummus have a strong lemon flavor, some have an overwhelming garlic flavor, and some hummus has a spicy tone. When making your own hummus, you have to keep your own taste buds in mind. The fun of Middle Eastern cooking is that the ingredient amounts aren't set in stone. Add a little of this and take away that and you still have a culinary masterpiece.

Shawarma is like the ultimate on-the-go meal. Thinly sliced meat, wrapped in pita bread with veggies and sauce is a delicious quick meal. Tahini, along with lemon juice, garlic, and yogurt makes up the sauce that goes with this Middle Eastern classic.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup tahini, sesame seed paste

  • 3 cloves garlic, crushed

  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

  • 1/4 cup lemon juice

  • 1 teaspoon finely chopped parsley, optional

Steps to Make It

  1. In a food processor, or mortar and pestle, combine garlic and tahini. Add kosher salt.

    combine ingredients
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  2. Remove from food processor and add olive oil and lemon juice. If too thick, add a teaspoon of warm water until desired consistency.

    add olive oil and lemon juice
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  3. Mix in parsley.

    add parsley
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  4. Serve immediately or refrigerate.