This rich and creamy tahini pasta sauce may be the easiest and most delicious vegan sauce that you can make! Just toss some tahini in a blender with some garlic, spices, and some pasta water and blend into a delicious, healthy, oil-free pasta sauce.

A top view of a plate full of pasta with tahini sauce on it being twirled with a fork.

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This creamy Mediterranean-flavored pasta sauce is made from tahini blended with lemon and rich umami flavors like Liquid Aminos and nutritional yeast. It will turn plain pasta into a delicious meal in no time.

❤️ Why make tahini pasta

If you are looking for a creamy, dairy-free, and oil-free pasta sauce that can be made in just minutes, this tahini pasta sauce is the recipe that you have been looking for.

I love to use tahini to make spicy tahini sauce to drizzle over tofu wraps or roasted cauliflower and spread on sandwiches. I also use tahini to make a delicious oil-free tahini Caesar dressing, but one of my favorite ways to use it is to make this creamy tahini pasta sauce.

🧾 Ingredients and substitutions

  • Pasta – Any size or shape of pasta that you like will work for this dish. You can check my vegan pasta brands post if you need help finding vegan pasta.
  • Tahini – This is the base of the pasta sauce. Tahini is made from sesame seeds ground into a paste with a peanut butter-like consistency. You can use any other nut butter that you wish instead of the tahini, but it will change the flavor.
  • Garlic – Fresh minced garlic is the most flavorful, but you can use 1 teaspoon of garlic powder instead if needed.
  • Nutritional Yeast – This gives the sauce even more of an umami flavor. (Nutritional yeast is optional, so feel free to omit it if you would like to.)
  • Bragg’s Liquid Aminos – For flavor. This is similar to soy sauce and you can use soy sauce or Tamari instead if you choose.
  • Lemon Juice – For a delicious lemony flavor to brighten up the sauce. You can use either freshly squeezed lemon or bottled.
  • Red Pepper Flakes – For a little bit of heat.
  • Pasta Water – This is the hot starchy water that the pasta cooks in. Use it to thin out the sauce. You can also use vegetable broth instead if you wish.
  • Parsley – fresh parsley pairs perfectly with this pasta sauce and lightens it up. (Fresh Parsley is optional but highly recommended.)

🔪 Helpful tools

  • Blender – for mixing up the sauce. If you don’t have one, simply mix the ingredients with a fork or a whisk and mince the garlic separately.
A green plate with vegan tahini pasta sauce with parsley on top.

🥄 How to make tahini pasta

Step 1 – Boil pasta in a large pot of water according to package instructions. Be sure to salt your water.

Step 2 – While your pasta is cooking, to a blender add 1/4 cup of tahini, 4 cloves of garlic, 3 tbsp nutritional yeast, 2 tbsp Bragg’s Liquid Aminos, 2 tbsp lemon juice, 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes, and 2/3 cup of the pasta’s cooking water. Blend until creamy.

Tahini sauce blended in a glass blender.
Blend the tahini sauce ingredients.
Blended tahini sauce being poured over cooked pasta.
Immediately pour over hot pasta.

Step 3 – Drain your pasta and toss it with the tahini sauce.

Step 4 – Garnish with fresh chopped parsley, sesame seeds, and red pepper flakes, and serve hot.

➕ Add in options

This creamy tahini pasta sauce is a great simple sauce for a quick and easy meal, but you can also add various vegetables to it as well. These are some of my favorite add-ins.

A top view of creamy tahini pasta with parsley on top.

👩🏻‍🍳 Pro Tips

  • Serve the pasta hot. The sauce will thicken as it cools.
  • This tahini sauce makes a great salad dressing and sandwich spread too!

❓ Frequently asked questions?

What is tahini?

Tahini is a paste made from ground sesame seeds. It has a texture similar to nut butter and a slightly nutty umami taste.

How can I use this tahini sauce?

This tahini sauce is not only delicious on pasta, but it makes a great salad dressing too. I also love it drizzled over tofu, couscous, or rice, and it makes a yummy sandwich spread.

How do I make creamy tahini pasta gluten-free?

This pasta sauce is naturally gluten-free as long as you use Bragg’s Liquid Aminos or Tamari. Traditional soy sauce contains wheat. Simply pour the sauce over your favorite gluten-free pasta for a gluten-free meal.

🥡 How to store and reheat tahini pasta

Refrigerate: This tahini pasta will keep well in the fridge for 3 – 5 days in an airtight container.

Freeze: The tahini sauce freezes well and can be stored in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

Reheating: Reheat the tahini pasta in the microwave for about 3 minutes per serving or add a tablespoon of water and reheat it in a saucepan on the stovetop.

Creamy vegan tahini pasta on a green plate.

🌟 More vegan pasta recipes

We love quick and easy vegan pasta recipes in my house! Here are a few of our favorites.

📌 Be sure to follow me on Pinterest for new vegan recipes!

📋 Tahini pasta recipe

Tahini pasta with parsley on to being twirled up in a fork.
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5 from 8 rating

Tahini Pasta

Yield: 8
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 15 minutes
Author: Monica Davis
A rich and creamy pasta sauce made with tahini and spices.
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Ingredients

Pasta

  • 1 (16 oz) package pasta, (any shape that you choose) GF if needed
  • 1/3 cup tahini
  • 4 cloves garlic
  • 3 tablespoons nutritional yeast
  • 2 tablespoons Bragg's Liquid Aminos
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 2/3 cup pasta water, (or broth)
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1/2 cup parsley, (fresh chopped for garnish)

Equipment

Instructions
 

  • Cook pasta in salted water according to package instructions.
  • While your pasta is cooking, to a blender add 1/3 cup of tahini, 4 cloves of garlic, 3 tbsp nutritional yeast, 2 tbsp Bragg's Liquid Aminos, 2 tbsp lemon juice, 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes, and 2/3 cup of the pasta's cooking water. Blend until creamy.
  • Drain your pasta and toss with the tahini sauce.
  • Garnish with fresh chopped parsley, sesame seeds, and red pepper flakes, and serve hot.

Notes

  • Serve the pasta hot. The sauce will thicken as it cools.
  • This tahini sauce makes a great salad dressing and sandwich spread too!
Optional add-ins
Serving: 1cup, Calories: 308kcal, Carbohydrates: 51g, Protein: 12g, Fat: 6g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Sodium: 156mg, Potassium: 287mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 341IU, Vitamin C: 7mg, Calcium: 37mg, Iron: 2mg
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