Low Sugar Classic Tahini Sauce
Creamy, nutty, and bright with fresh lemon, this tahini sauce is the kind of condiment that makes everything it touches taste better. The base is pure sesame paste whisked with garlic, cumin, and a generous squeeze of lemon — nothing more, nothing less. Many store-bought versions sneak in sweeteners to balance the bitterness, but this one relies entirely on technique: ice water added gradually transforms the thick paste into a silky, pourable sauce without a single gram of added sugar. The cumin adds a subtle warmth that rounds out the flavor in a way that feels almost magical for such a short ingredient list. A handful of fresh parsley stirred in at the end gives it a pop of color and a clean, herby finish. Drizzle it over roasted vegetables, use it as a dip, or spoon it generously over a grain bowl — it's endlessly versatile and comes together in just a few minutes of whisking.
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Learn more →Ingredients
6 servings
- ½ cup tahini
- 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice (from about 1 large lemon)
- 1 clove garlic, minced or pressed
- ¼ tsp fine salt
- ¼ tsp ground cumin
- 3–5 tbsp ice water, plus more as needed
- 1 tbsp fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped (optional)
Instructions
- 1
In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the tahini, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and cumin until the mixture seizes into a thick, pale paste.
- 2
Add the ice water 1 tablespoon at a time, whisking vigorously after each addition, until the sauce loosens to a smooth, pourable consistency that falls off the whisk in a slow, steady ribbon. Start with 3 tablespoons and add more for a thinner sauce.
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