Our Tahini Sauce turns this ubiquitous Middle-Eastern topping into something special with the addition of roasted garlic. Amplifying the creamy, sesame flavor with the mellow savory depth of the garlic. A silky sauce that works beautifully with grilled meats, roasted vegetables, and definitely a must for falafel. A fantastic vegan option to replace tzatziki as they work interchangeably for many dishes. So simple and without a doubt easy to make.
What is Tahini Paste
In short, tahini is a nut butter made from the sesame seed. Forms of sesame paste go back thousands of years. Primarily found as a staple ingredient in the Eastern Mediterranean, North African, and Levant regions. Also used as an ingredient in many Asian cuisines. Especially an important component in Hummus and Baba Ganoush. Tahini is available in either raw or toasted. This paste is also a great source of calcium and protein. Consequently making appealing in vegan and vegetarian diets.
Roasted Garlic, A Perfect Addition.
Roasting garlic completely changes the flavor of garlic to a caramelized jammy sweetness. The mellow savory garlic definitely uplifts this tahini sauce to another level—all the flavor you want from garlic’s addition without the bite. Taking the additional step and time is absolutely worth it. All you need is a whole head of garlic, good quality olive oil, a little salt, aluminum foil, and time. 45 minutes seems to be the magic number for the perfect roasting. Of course, other factors in play, such as the garlic bulb’s size and how old (dry) it is but 45 minutes at 400 degrees F is a good rule of thumb.
Another Addition for Tahini Sauce
Another great addition is a small amount of Greek yogurt (2 tablespoons). It adds a creamy fermented tang that is different than the lemon juice. It compliments all the ingredients perfectly. This is completely an optional ingredient, you won’t miss it if you don’t use it, but it does add another layer. Just remember if you do use yogurt, the tahini sauce will no longer be vegan if that is important to you.
Roasted Garlic Tahini Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 cup tahini paste roasted
- ½ cup lemon juice fresh squeezed
- 1 clove garlic
- 8 cloves roasted garlic approximately ½ head
- 2 tbsp greek yogurt optional
- 1 tsp sea salt
- ⅓ cup water cold
- 1 tbsp flat-leaf parsley chopped for garnish
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients into a food processor. With the food processor on slowly stream in the water a little at a time until consistency is achieved. The consistency should be thin and creamy, not runny. The sauce should be thin enough to drizzle on food but not watery Refrigerate until ready to use will keep for 2 weeks refrigerated.
