Artificial Food Coloring Free Classic Tahini Sauce
Creamy, nutty, and brightened with fresh lemon, this tahini sauce is the kind of condiment that makes everything it touches taste better. Every ingredient here is exactly what it sounds like — ground sesame, real citrus juice, a clove of garlic, and a pinch of cumin — so there's no guesswork about what's actually going into the bowl. Store-bought versions can be surprisingly sneaky, sometimes relying on additives or flavor enhancers that bring unwanted synthetic dyes along for the ride, especially in pre-seasoned or flavored varieties. Making it from scratch takes only a few minutes and a whisk, and the result is a silky, pale sauce that's completely clean from start to finish. The technique of adding ice water gradually is the secret to getting that smooth, ribbon-like pour rather than a clumpy paste. A little fresh parsley stirred in at the end adds a pop of color the natural way. Drizzle it over roasted vegetables, use it as a dip, or spoon it onto grain bowls — it's endlessly versatile and genuinely hard to stop eating.
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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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