Walnut Free Classic Tahini Sauce
Creamy, bright, and endlessly versatile, this tahini sauce comes together in a single bowl with nothing more than a whisk and a few pantry staples. The magic happens when ice water is worked in gradually, transforming a thick, seized paste into a silky, pourable sauce with a texture that's genuinely hard to believe you made at home. Fresh lemon juice and a touch of cumin give it that tangy, slightly earthy depth you'd expect from a really good restaurant drizzle. Because it's built entirely on sesame paste, citrus, garlic, and spice, there's no need to scan labels or worry about cross-contact from tree nuts — every ingredient here is straightforward and clean. A finishing handful of flat-leaf parsley adds a pop of color and freshness if you want to dress it up a little. Spoon it over roasted vegetables, use it as a dipping sauce, or thin it out even further and toss it through a grain bowl — it does it all beautifully.
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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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