The perfect Tahini Sauce does not exist.
What does exist, is the perfect Tahini Sauce for you.
The base recipe for a tahini sauce is very simple:
- 3 parts tahini
- 2 parts lemon juice
- 2 parts water
- and a pinch of salt.
But why stop at the base recipe? Learn how to elevate your own tahini sauce (which can be applied to any sauce, by the way).
RECIPE
Ingredients
- 3 parts tahini (100% sesame paste)
- 2 parts lemon juice
- 2 parts water
- pinch of salt (to taste)
- garlic (optional)
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients to a bowl and mix for 1-2 minutes. The texture will drastically change, so keep on mixing.
- To customize your sauce, check out the "Recipe Development" section of this page.
Notes
Texture
- Not everybody likes their sauce’s consistency the same way. Some prefer a thick sauce, others a looser one. Adjust to your liking.
- The sauce will thicken as it sits in the fridge, so don’t hesitate adding more water the next day.
- Different tahini brands will result in different textures.
Troubleshooting
- Sauce too thick? Add a mixture of water and lemon juice. Taste as you go.
- Sauce too thin? Add tahini, but you might need to readjust the acidity afterwards.
- Sauce too salty? Make more of the sauce but without adding salt.
Video
RECIPE
DEVELOPMENT
When aiming to elevate and modify a tahini sauce, five key factors can be manipulated:
- Acidity
- Spices
- Liquids
- Herbs
- Sweetness
Acidity
Traditionally, lemon juice is the primary acidic component in tahini sauce. However, this classic ingredient can be substituted with a variety of other acidic elements to create unique flavor profiles: vinegars, hot sauce, mustard, pickling juice…
Spices
While black pepper and cumin are common spice additions to tahini sauce, the potential for flavor exploration extends far beyond these traditional choices. My favorite additions being sumac, dried mint, and coriander.
Liquids
Enhance the sauce by combining various liquids instead of just water. Try incorporating mayonnaise, yogurt, or soy sauce for added depth and complexity of flavor.
Herbs
While parsley is the traditional herb choice, experiment with basil, coriander, mint, or dill.
Sweetness
To sweeten your tahini sauce, consider adding sugar, pomegranate molasses, or even ketchup for a unique twist on the traditional recipe.
Lessons
- Tahini sauce is forgiving, making it ideal for learning to improvise in cooking.
- Begin with small batches to discover your preferences before scaling up.
- Add ingredients gradually and taste frequently, as you can always add more but can’t remove.
- Expand your ingredient variety when shopping to broaden your culinary possibilities and inspire new ideas.
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