Description
Creamy Tahini Pasta is a flavorful and easy-to-make Mediterranean-inspired dish featuring a smooth tahini sauce blended with garlic, lemon, and olive oil, tossed through perfectly cooked pasta. This vegetarian recipe is perfect for a quick weeknight dinner and can be easily customized with vegetables or made vegan by omitting the Parmesan cheese.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Pasta and Sauce
- 12 ounces pasta such as spaghetti or fettuccine
- 1/2 cup tahini
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/2 cup reserved pasta water
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Optional Toppings
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water, then drain the pasta.
- Prepare the Tahini Sauce: In a large bowl or skillet, whisk together the tahini, minced garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes until smooth and well combined.
- Adjust Sauce Consistency: Slowly add the reserved pasta water a little at a time while whisking continuously until the sauce reaches a creamy and pourable consistency that will coat the pasta evenly.
- Toss Pasta with Sauce: Add the cooked pasta to the tahini sauce and toss thoroughly until every strand is evenly coated with the creamy sauce.
- Add Cheese: If using Parmesan cheese, stir it into the pasta and sauce mixture until melted and fully incorporated.
- Season to Taste: Taste the pasta and adjust seasoning with additional salt, pepper, or lemon juice if desired.
- Serve: Plate the pasta immediately and garnish with chopped fresh parsley and toasted sesame seeds if desired.
Notes
- Add more reserved pasta water if the sauce becomes too thick to help loosen and thin it out.
- For extra flavor and nutrition, include sautéed vegetables such as spinach, mushrooms, or broccoli when tossing the pasta with the sauce.
- To make this recipe vegan, omit the Parmesan cheese or substitute with a plant-based cheese alternative.
