Tahini Sauce Pasta

Several months ago I fell deeply in love with this tahini sauce. I used it for everything, from salads, to marinades.

I love it not only because it tastes good, but also because it is made with just three ingredients. It is very creamy, without any oil in it, and very versatile.

I used it today with fusilli pasta, but you can add it to your grilled chicken or coleslaw, and they will taste 10 times better. 

What Is Tahini?

Tahini is made by grinding sesame seeds into a smooth paste. Sometimes the sesame seeds are shelled, and sometimes they are left unshelled. The seeds can also be roasted or unroasted.

Tahini is well known not by itself, but as a part of something bigger, or should we say a part of a different dish, the hummus. 

Tahini is basically made with just one ingredient – sesame seeds. Although it is a one-ingredient paste, not all tahini is equally delicious.

When buying tahini, always opt for organic tahini, without any additions, in terms of flavoring. Also, always choose a smooth tahini with a silky texture.

Is Tahini The Same As Sesame Paste?

If you are wondering what the difference is between tahini vs. sesame paste, then you are in the right place. I also thought they are the same, but they are not. 

They are both made from sesame seeds but processed differently. 

Tahini is usually made with unroasted or slightly roasted sesame seeds, while sesame paste is made from deep roasted sesame seeds. So, they are not equal in terms of taste nor appearance.

Sesame paste is made from deep-roasted sesame seeds, and therefore it is stronger and more prominent in flavor.

Also, sesame paste can be made from the black sesame seeds. This paste is very dark in color and has an earthy and nutty flavor, with some hints of bitterness.

As for tahini, the taste is more mild and close to the taste of a nutty sunflower butter.

The color of sesame paste and tahini are also very different. Sesame paste is usually darker in color, while tahini is usually lighter.

Can I Make My Own Tahini?

Homemade tahini is so easy to make. I have had this recipe for some time, and whenever I end up with more than one bag of sesame seeds, I tend to make it. 

I make my tahini with hulled sesame seeds. Hulled sesame seeds are what you see most often in stores. The hulled sesame seeds are lighter in color.

The unshelled seeds are much darker and still have their shell intact. In my experience, tahini made from unshelled seeds is a bit on the bitter side.

Now back to the recipe…tahini is, as mentioned, very easy to make. If you have ever made a nut butter, you will notice it is the same process. Grind the sesame seeds in a food processor with a little oil until smooth.

Before you start, you will toast the sesame seeds. This will give a bit of extra flavor. Toast these over the stovetop or in the oven.

You will add your toasted sesame seeds to the food processor. Make sure they are absolutely cold after toasting.

Process the sesame seeds in a food processor with some oil and salt until you get a crumbly texture. Stop to scrape down the sides and continue processing until you have a smooth paste. 

To make the tahini, you will need:

• 1 cup hulled and toasted sesame seeds
• 2-4 tbsp of neutral oil, like vegetable or grape seed
• Pinch of salt

Process the sesame seeds until smooth completely. 

Making The Tahini Sauce

To make this you will just have to whisk up some tahini, lemon juice, and a bit of minced garlic or garlic paste. 

You will just whisk the ingredients in bowl until smooth. I personally like to make my sauce fresh with pasta water. Every time I plan to make this pasta, I add ¼ cup of the pasta water into the sauce to thin it down.

You can also make this sauce by combining tahini, lemon juice, and some maple syrup. I love this combo over my coleslaw salad and as a salad dressing in general.

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