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| Lebanese Tahini sauce |
Tahini Sauce is a versatile Middle Eastern condiment made with tahini paste, lemon juice, and garlic. It’s vegan, very flavorful, and takes only a few minutes to make. If you’ve ever had falafel or beef shawarma restaurants, you may have noticed this tahini sauce is often served with them. The flavor is garlicky, tangy, and nutty and makes the perfect accompaniment to many Mediterranean salads, sandwiches, and finger foods.
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| Lebanese Tahini sauce |
WHAT IS TAHINI SAUCE
Tahini sauce is a Middle Eastern
condiment that is served with many dishes from the region. It’s made
with only 3 ingredients: tahini paste, which is crushed sesame seeds, lemon
juice, and garlic. Tahini is made by grinding toasted, hulled sesame seeds to
create a creamy, smooth spread. It’s similar to the process of making peanut
butter actually. Once it’s in paste form, it has a savory and nutty flavor but is slightly more bitter than nut butter.
INGREDIENTS
- Tahini
Paste: This sesame seed paste is wonderfully earthy and
nutty. You can find it usually in the condiments section of your local
store, or in the ethnic foods aisle.
- Lemon Juice: Lemon juice adds a great fresh and zingy
flavor. Use fresh lemon juice rather than bottled, it makes all the
difference.
- Garlic Cloves: Finely mince the garlic cloves for the
boldest flavor.
- Salt: A little salt helps to bring out the
natural flavors of the tahini. I like to use kosher salt so that it’s not
too harsh of a flavor.
- Water: Add more or less depending on how thick or
thin you want the sauce. Add more for a dressing, or less for a thick dip.
HOW TO MAKE TAHINI SAUCE
This is
how my mom and her mom (and I think her mom’s mom probably) have been making
tahini sauce forever. So I didn’t mess with the recipe at
all, and I’m sharing the classic Lebanese way I grew up eating it.
As with
many Lebanese condiments and recipes though, there is truly an art to this one.
So, I recommend starting with the recipe below and adjusting to your taste by
adding more lemon juice or more salt. That’s because every jar of tahini will
be different and the acidity of lemon juice can also vary.
To start, place the tahini paste
in a large bowl. Add lemon juice, crushed garlic, and salt. Make sure
to crush, not mince, the garlic. It allows the garlic
to mellow out evenly into the lemon juice and eliminates any harsh lingering
taste.
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| Lebanese Tahini sauce |
Using a fork or a whisk, start
whisking vigorously. It will take a few minutes, and the tahini
sauce will evolve as you can see below. After a few minutes, it will become
homogenized, lighter in color, and thicker.
Finally, when it’s well blended, start whisking in some water. I like to add ¼ cup, but you can start with as little as a tablespoon and adjust as necessary. Continue whisking until the mixture is smooth and velvety. Finally, taste and adjust the lemon juice and salt.
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| Lebanese Tahini sauce |
HOW TO USE
This sauce is vegan, gluten-free, and versatile, especially with Mediterranean recipes. You can use it in salads, in sandwiches, or as a dip. You can thin it out with more water when using it as a salad dressing versus a dip or sandwich sauce.
TIPS FOR MAKING THIS RECIPE
1. Adjust
consistency depending on how you’re using the tahini sauce. If you’re using it as a dip with
fries or vegetables, keep it thick and creamy. If you’re using it as a sauce to
add to sandwiches or salads, add more water for a more liquid sauce.
2. Use a food
processor to make it faster. The traditional way of making the tahini sauce is by manually
whisking in a bowl, which takes a few minutes, and some elbow grease. However,
using a food processor eliminates the need to crush the garlic in advance and
creates quicker emulsification.
3. Add seasoning
or herbs to switch it up. I usually just add chopped parsley to keep it traditional. But you can
add cumin, paprika, coriander, or cayenne pepper. You can also switch up the
herbs by using cilantro, mint, or dill.
What is the best tahini brand for tahini sauce?
I recommend the Ziyad brand on Amazon (affiliate link). Not all
tahini is created equal. Look for high-quality brands that only have one
ingredient – mechanically hulled sesame seeds. And make sure the
tahini is not separated. If you notice separation, give it a good
stir before adding it to the food processor. Bad tahini paste will be bitter
and chalky, so you want to avoid that.
Can you freeze tahini sauce?
Yes, you can freeze the tahini sauce. Just place it in a freezer-safe
container, and it’s good for up to 3 months!
What do you do if the sauce comes out bitter?
This could be due to the type of
tahini paste you’re using since there are so many different varieties. I would
recommend trying another brand to see if you have a similar issue. To remedy
the current batch, try adding some olive oil to the mixture.
Tahini sauce is a smooth and creamy condiment that really enhances many Middle Eastern dishes. It’s vegan, gluten-free, and made with only 3 ingredients in a few minutes. I love how versatile it is and how the flavors of the nutty tahini, lemon juice, and garlic all combine so well for a rich taste and texture. Growing up in a Lebanese house, this has always been my go-to sauce!
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