This 15-minute Tahini Pasta recipe is super quick and easy to make and can be served warm or cold. Feel free to add in extra veggies to make it a complete meal.
Got 15 minutes?
Then you've got time to make this delicious and creamy tahini pasta!
This vegan tahini pasta is super quick and easy to make; basically just the time it takes to cook the pasta.
It features a creamy, bright, and silky-smooth sauce made from tahini, lemon juice, olive oil, and garlic.
You can enjoy it as a side dish or add extra veggies like broccoli, peas, or cherry tomatoes to make it a main course.
๐ง Ingredients
- Pasta: You can use any type of pasta; rotini is my favorite for its ridges that scoop up the delicious sauce.
- Tahini: Buy the highest-quality tahini you can afford. Chinese sesame paste makes for an excellent substitute in a pinch.
- Lemon Juice: Aside from tahini, this is the most important ingredient. It provides the vibrance and brightness to balance the creamy and bitter flavors. Freshly squeezed is a must here!
- Garlic: Freshly minced for the best flavor. Feel free to add more if you like a stronger taste.
- Fresh Herbs: Cilantro, parsley, basil, or a combination of all three. They add a wonderful freshness that elevates this pasta.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Just a little bit to give it a silky smooth texture.
- Black Pepper: Freshly cracked is the best, and I like adding extra to the noodles just before serving.
- Red Pepper Flakes: Add more or less depending on how spicy you like it.
๐ช Instructions
STEP 1: Cook pasta al dente in a large pot of salted water according to package instructions.
STEP 2: While the pasta cooks, whisk together 7 tablespoons of water, tahini sauce, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, salt, black pepper, and chili flakes in a bowl.
STEP 3: Drain the cooked pasta and immediately toss it with the sauce and chopped herbs. If the pasta feels too sticky or thick, add one tablespoon of water at a time to make it loose and creamy.
STEP 4: Serve warm or cold, topped with your preferred toppings, or refrigerate in a sealed container for up to 4 days.
๐งโ๐ณ Variations
You can do a lot with these tahini noodles! Here are some ideas:
- Add in veggies: Almost any veggies go great with these noodles, especially green ones like broccoli, green beans, peas, and zucchini.
- Make it peanut-like: Add 2-3 tablespoons of natural peanut butter to the sauce for a more peanut-like flavor.
- Make it spicy: If you like it spicy, double or triple the chili flakes, garlic, and black pepper for an extra kick.
๐ Recipe
Easy 15-Minute Tahini Pasta
Ingredients
- 10 ounces dried pasta (about 280 grams)
- ยฝ cup tahini (see notes for substitution)
- ยผ cup lemon juice (from 1 large lemon)
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 garlic (minced)
- 1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
- ยฝ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ยผ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 3 tablespoons fresh chopped herbs (like cilantro, parsley, basil, etc.)
Instructions
- Cook pasta al dente in a large pot of salted water (one tablespoon of salt per gallon of water) following package instructions.
- While the pasta cooks, whisk together 7 tablespoons of water, tahini sauce, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, salt, black pepper, and chili flakes in a bowl.
- Drain the cooked pasta and immediately toss it with the sauce and chopped herbs. If the pasta feels too sticky or thick, add one tablespoon of water at a time to make it loose and creamy.
- Serve warm or cold, topped with your preferred toppings, or refrigerate in a sealed container for up to 4 days.
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