Cinnamon Free 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 comes together in minutes with just a whisk and a bowl — no cooking required — and the technique of adding ice water gradually is what transforms the thick paste into a silky, pourable sauce with real depth. Garlic and a touch of cumin do the heavy lifting on flavor, giving it that savory, slightly earthy backbone you'd expect from a great Middle Eastern-style drizzle. For anyone navigating a sensitivity to warming spices, this recipe is naturally free of the usual suspects — no blends, no shortcuts, just clean, straightforward ingredients you can verify yourself. A handful of fresh parsley stirred in at the end adds a pop of color and a mild herbal note without complicating the flavor. Use it as a dip for vegetables and pita, drizzle it over roasted cauliflower or falafel, or thin it out a little more and use it as a salad dressing — it's endlessly versatile and genuinely hard to stop eating.
About FigFig is a food discovery app that helps you find foods and recipes that fit your dietary needs. Whether you have food allergies, intolerances, or follow a specific diet, Fig makes it easy to eat with confidence.
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.
Want the full recipe?
Create a Fig account for step-by-step instructions, access to our full recipe library, and more!