Lemony Tahini Sauce

Yields about 6 Tbs., enough for 1 to 1-1/4 lb. steamed vegetables.

To learn more, read:
Vegetables, Perfectly Steamed & Deliciously Sauced
by Jennifer Armentrout
from Fine Cooking
Issue 78
Last Edit Date: 3/6/2013 4:28:27 PM

Try this sauce on steamed green beans, potatoes, carrots, broccoli or cauliflower. For steaming times and vegetable prep tips, see Vegetables, Perfectly Steamed & Delciously Sauced. Look for tahini in cans or jars on supermarket shelves near the peanut butter or in the ethnic or natural foods section.

more about:

1 medium clove garlic
Kosher salt
3 Tbs. tahini (ground sesame seed paste)
3 Tbs. fresh lemon juice
Pinch ground cumin
2 tsp. toasted sesame seeds for garnish (optional)

Peel the garlic clove and chop it finely. Sprinkle the chopped garlic with a pinch of salt and then use the flat side of your knife to repeatedly scrape the garlic against the cutting board, mashing it into a paste. Transfer the garlic paste to a small bowl and add the tahini. Whisk to blend. Gradually whisk in the lemon juice; at first the tahini will thicken, but as you add more and more lemon juice it will begin to loosen. Once all of the lemon juice is added, whisk in water 1/2 Tbs. at a time until you reach the consistency of a creamy sauce. Stir in the cumin and more salt to taste.

Drizzle the sauce over steamed vegetables and sprinkle with the sesame seeds, if using.

nutrition information (per serving):
Size : per six servings without vegetables; Calories (kcal): 45; Fat (g): 4; Fat Calories (kcal): 35; Saturated Fat (g): 0.5; Protein (g): 1; Monounsaturated Fat (g): 1.5; Carbohydrates (g): 2; Polyunsaturated Fat (g): 1.5; Sodium (mg): 25; Cholesterol (mg): 0; Fiber (g): 0;

Photo: Scott Phillips

Rate this Recipe and View Reviews

user reviews
made it?
RATE IT!

by ellen3409, 5/13/2012All in all we found the sauce to be unbalanced. The tahini had a bitterness to it that we just couldn't get past and the lemon was very strong.

by jspeer, 3/16/2008Very very good, we added a pinch of cayenne, and now it's perfect!