Description
Creamy Tahini Pasta is a luscious and easy-to-make Mediterranean-inspired dish featuring a smooth and savory tahini sauce. Made with simple pantry ingredients like tahini, olive oil, garlic, and lemon juice, this pasta is tossed to perfection and garnished with fresh parsley and optional Parmesan cheese. It’s a versatile, vegetarian-friendly meal that can be quickly prepared as a satisfying weeknight dinner or a flavorful lunch.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 ounces pasta such as spaghetti or fettuccine
Sauce
- 1/3 cup tahini
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 1/4 cup warm water
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce or tamari
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Garnish
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water before draining the pasta in a colander.
- Prepare the Tahini Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together tahini, olive oil, minced garlic, lemon juice, warm water, soy sauce, salt, and black pepper until the mixture is smooth and creamy. If the sauce is too thick, slowly whisk in some reserved pasta water to reach your desired consistency.
- Toss Pasta with Sauce: Return the drained pasta to the pot or place it in a large mixing bowl. Pour the tahini sauce over the pasta and toss thoroughly to ensure every strand is evenly coated. Add extra pasta water as needed to thin the sauce and make it creamy.
- Add Final Touches: Sprinkle red pepper flakes over the pasta if using, then garnish with chopped fresh parsley and sprinkle with optional grated Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately for the best flavor and texture.
Notes
- For a vegan version, omit the Parmesan cheese.
- To add more flavor, consider sprinkling toasted sesame seeds or squeezing extra lemon juice on top.
- The tahini sauce can be prepared in advance and refrigerated; gently warm before tossing with pasta.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
