Tahini Pasta

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This creamy vegan tahini pasta is pure comfort food. It’s rich, filling, and so easy to throw together quickly for a satisfying, plant-based dinner or lunch. This pasta with tahini sauce is delicious served either hot, cold, or at room temperature so it’s a good option for school or work lunches.

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Tahini pasta – key ingredients

The tahini sauce calls for just a few simple ingredients – tahini being the star of this recipe. Tahini is a rich, creamy paste made from ground sesame seeds. It has a slightly bitter flavor that pairs well with fresh lemon. It can be found at many grocery stores or can be purchased online.

The zingy freshness of both the lemon juice and zest cuts through the rich, creaminess of the tahini to form a well balanced, oil-free sauce for the pasta. A little fresh garlic, salt, and pepper rounds out the flavors.

You can use whatever variety of pasta you prefer in this recipe. There are so many options that are either gluten free, grain free, or whole grain. Brown rice pasta, corn pasta, chickpea pasta, quinoa pasta, and lentil pasta are all tasty and nutritious options. Any shape will do.

A white bowl filled with pasta in a creamy sauce.

Optional additions

If you want to add some sautéed veggies to this dish to turn it into a more complete meal – go for it. Sautéed spinach, zucchini, or bell peppers would be tasty. These caramelized mushrooms would also make a delicious addition to this pasta.

Or roast some vegetables such as broccoli or cauliflower and toss them in with the pasta before serving. This balsamic roasted asparagus would be a delicious addition too.

How to make this pasta with tahini sauce

This dish couldn’t be simpler to throw together. While the pasta is cooking, simply stir together the ingredients for the tahini sauce.

Once the pasta is almost finished cooking, reserve about 1/2 cup of the cooking water from the pasta before draining. It’s important to wait until just before draining, so the water has a chance to get a bit starchy during the cooking process. The addition of some cooking water, whisked into the sauce, gives it a creamy, velvety consistency.

A bowl of creamy looking sauce with a whisk in it.

If you notice that your tahini is a bit dry (this sometimes happens when you’re nearing the end of the jar if you haven’t stirred it thoroughly before each use) then add a bit more than 1/2 cup of pasta water in order to achieve your desired consistency.

Pasta smothered in a creamy white sauce.

I like to finish this dish off by garnishing with some chopped fresh basil or parsley – whatever I have on hand. The herbs add lightness and freshness to this rich, creamy vegan pasta with tahini sauce. If you don’t have any fresh herbs you can omit the garnish or use some extra lemon zest, black pepper, dried chili flakes, or a sprinkling of sesame seeds.

Pasta with tahini sauce in a white bowl.

Storage

You can store this tahini pasta in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days.

More vegan dinner recipes to try

A white bowl filled with pasta in a creamy sauce.
4.18 from 133 votes
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Tahini Pasta

This vegan tahini pasta is creamy, delicious, and so easy to make for a quick, plant-based dinner or lunch. This simple pasta with tahini sauce is a must try when you're craving nutritious comfort food.
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 17 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 315kcal
Author Jennifer Bell

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup tahini
  • 1/2 cup cooking water from the pasta
  • The juice and zest of 1 lemon
  • 1 garlic clove (chopped)
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 3/4 pounds pasta (approximately 340 grams)
  • Optional garnish: chopped fresh basil or parsley

Instructions

  • Begin cooking the pasta according to the package instructions.
  • While the pasta is cooking, add the tahini, lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic, salt, and pepper to a bowl and mix well.
  • When the pasta is almost done cooking, remove 1/2 cup of the cooking water, add it to the bowl with the tahini mixture, then whisk well.
  • Once the pasta is cooked and drained, pour the tahini sauce over the pasta and mix to coat the pasta evenly with sauce.
  • Garnish with some chopped fresh basil or parsley (optional).
  • Makes 6 servings of tahini pasta.

Notes

  • When the pasta is almost finished cooking, remember to reserve some cooking water before draining the pasta.
  • Store this pasta with tahini sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days.

Nutrition

Calories: 315kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 330mg | Potassium: 92mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 13IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 28mg | Iron: 2mg

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