Yotam Ottolenghi’s Tahini Sauce Recipe

Tahini is a Middle Eastern condiment made from toasted hulled sesame seeds, which are grounded to make the tahini paste. The paste is then mixed with a neutral-flavored oil to create a creamier texture.

Tahini can be mixed with other ingredients like garlic and olive oil to make savory sauces, or even added to sweet dishes to balance flavor and add nutrients. Tahini is ubiquitous in Middle Eastern cooking and is a central ingredient to another vegan Middle Eastern delight—hummus. Yotam’s favorite brands come from Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine, and Israel—he likes to turn the plain paste into a versatile and velvety sauce that can be drizzled over fresh meat kebabs, mixed into a salad dressing and drizzled over chopped salads, roasted vegetables, and in falafel sandwiches.