Brazil Nut Free Classic Tahini Sauce

Total time10 min

Prep time10 min

Cook time0 min

4.5

(29)

Creamy, garlicky, and bright with fresh lemon, this tahini sauce is the kind of condiment that makes everything it touches taste better. The ingredient list is short and straightforward — sesame paste, citrus, garlic, cumin, and a splash of ice water — so there's no guesswork about what's actually in the bowl. That matters when you're navigating tree nut concerns, because store-bought sauces and dressings can be processed on shared lines with a whole range of nuts you'd rather avoid. Making it from scratch takes only minutes and puts you fully in control. The trick of adding ice water one tablespoon at a time is what transforms the thick, seized paste into a silky, pourable sauce with that signature ribbon-like consistency. A pinch of cumin adds subtle warmth, and the optional fresh parsley lifts the whole thing with a pop of color and herby freshness. 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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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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