This vegan creamy tahini pasta sauce is a tasty comfort food and full of flavour from the herbs. It comes together in around 30 minutes and so is perfect for an easy weeknight dinner!
Pasta is always one of the most popular weeknight meals in my home, and I know lots of you love it too as they are such favourites here on the site! For some more vegan pasta recipes you may like to see my broccoli asparagus pasta and creamy kale pasta which are lovely for the spring months, and my vegan cauliflower alfredo, which has all the comfort food vibes. Both so tasty!
This vegan tahini pasta sauce is a super easy recipe, and full of flavour. Simple to make, meaning you can spend more time relaxing than cooking of an evening!
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⭐ Why this pasta recipe is so good
We all have those days when dinner feels like an effort. Yes, even me who loves to cook! When you're tired, stressed and that pile of ironing is still sat there days later and there are other chores to do, cooking can feel like a chore too. I think you will love this recipe because:
- Flavourful: the combination of herbs with creamy tahini is so good and has all the comfort food vibes.
- Tomato-free sauce: for those of us who aren't able to tolerate tomatoes, tahini is such a good swap. If you are vegetarian rather than vegan, you may like to see my roasted red pepper ricotta pasta for another pasta with no tomatoes option!
- Easy to make: super simple recipe and quick too!
🌿 Ingredients
The fresh herbs really make this recipe, and give the sauce that beautiful colour. You will need:
- Pasta: use the type of your preference, whether regular pasta or a gluten-free alternative.
- Tahini: the basis of the sauce. It is creamy and delicious! Note that is is a potential allergen, so only use if you know you tolerate sesame.
- Parsley, basil and (optional) mint: the herbs are the main flavour of this pasta sauce, and feel fresh and bright. The mint is optional, but I think it gives a taste of summer.
- Garlic: for that hit of flavour. You can add a little garlic powder if you don't have fresh garlic cloves.
- Olive oil: goes perfectly with the basil for a bit of Italian flavour.
- Apple cider vinegar (optional): for a little tang of acidity. Optional for my low histamine friends, only use if tolerated.
- Maple syrup: adds just a touch of sweetness.
📖 Variations on the recipe
You can easily vary the herbs that you use to make the sauce. Coriander / cilantro is a favourite of mine, but I know it isn't to everyone's taste!
If you can't tolerate apple cider vinegar but are good with white distilled vinegar (scores 0 on the SIGHI list) then use that instead. Vinegar is optional, as not everyone can tolerate it.
🔪 Step by step instructions
This creamy tahini pasta sauce is a very easy recipe, and so perfect for a quick weeknight dinner. The dressing comes together in no time at all, and then all you need to do is make your pasta.
Step 1
Add all the ingredients for the herbed tahini sauce into your Nutri-Bullet (what I use) or other blender.
Step 2
Blend! You will likely need to scrape the sides of your blender down a few times. Add more water for a thinner consistency, and have a taste to see if you would like to add more herbs or garlic.
Step 3
Cook your pasta according to packet instructions in salted water.
Step 4
Drain the pasta and return to the pot. Pour in your herb tahini pasta sauce, and stir through so that the pasta is fully coated. You may wish to keep over the heat for a few minutes to warm it through. Plate up, and scatter on some more fresh herbs as a garnish. Season with salt and pepper (if using). Then enjoy!
💭 Recipe tips and notes
- Adjust the consistency of the sauce to preference by adding more tahini (to thicken) or water (to thin).
- For a thicker sauce, reserve a little of the pasta water and add spoonfuls to the consistency you like.
- Change up the herbs if you prefer!
- Use gluten-free pasta if required.
📋 Frequently asked questions
I suggest using light tahini using hulled sesame seeds as it has a lighter creamier taste than tahini using unhulled seeds.
This tahini sauce works well with most types of pasta, including fusilli and penne.
If lemon works for you, then add a squeeze of juice!
🍽 Other uses for this tahini sauce
This tahini pasta sauce can also be used for lots of dishes, and not just for pasta! Why not try:
- on a baked potato with some roasted vegetables.
- as a creamy sauce for cold pasta salad, just like I use in my roasted vegetable pasta salad!
- as a salad dressing (perhaps thin it out a little with some water).
🍝 More tasty pasta dishes
Find cosy pasta dinner ideas as well as pasta salads perfect for summer picnics on my pasta recipes page, including my coriander herb pesto pasta and turkey vegetable pasta salad. Some recent ideas to enjoy:
I’m always in the kitchen, so come join me on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest to be the first to hear of new recipes. And please do leave a star rating ⭐ if you tried the recipe!
📖 Recipe
Tahini Pasta Sauce
Equipment
- Pot
Ingredients
- 8 oz pasta (or more to preference)
For the herb tahini sauce
- ½ cup tahini
- ¼ cup parsley
- ¼ cup basil
- ⅛ cup mint optional
- 1 garlic clove optional
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar optional
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup
- 4 tablespoon water more to sauce consistency preference
- pinch salt
- pinch black pepper optional
Instructions
- Cook your pasta in salted water according to packet instructions. Drain and add back into your pot. Reserve a cup of the pasta water.
- Make the dressing by combining all the ingredients in a blender, and blending to a thick sauce. Adjust the consistency by adding spoonfuls of the pasta water as needed.
- Stir the tahini herb sauce through the pasta, and allow to warm through for a few minutes (stir to prevent sticking to the pot).
- Plate up your pasta, sprinkle with more herbs for garnish, and season with more salt and pepper if required. Enjoy!
Notes
- Adjust the consistency of the sauce to preference by adding more tahini (to thicken) or water (to thin).
- Reserve a cup of the pasta water and add spoonfuls to the sauce as needed.
- Change up the herbs if you prefer!
- Use gluten-free pasta if required.
- If lemon juice works for you, then you can use this instead of the apple cider vinegar.
- Please note that nutritional information is offered as a courtesy. It is auto-generated and should be understood to be an estimate.
- tahini (sesame) scores 1. It is a known potential allergen, so only make this recipe if you know you can tolerate sesame.
- apple cider vinegar and garlic, which score 1.
- black pepper, which scores 2.
Hilary says
Are the four tablespoons of water listed in the ingredients in addition to the reserved pasta water? I made this assuming the four tablespoons of water was the reserved pasta water, and it came out very thick and gloopy.
I also left out the apple cider vinegar at first, and I don't suggest it, if you can help it! The tahini was very overpowering.
Claire says
Hi Hilary, the suggested amount is four tablespoons of pasta water, but as it says in the instructions, you would want to add more and adjust to preference. Some people love a thick sauce, others a thinner sauce. And I agree, the herbs and apple cider vinegar are needed to balance the tahini.
Aleasha says
Excellent recipe and pretty simple to whip up! Thanks
Claire says
So glad you like it Aleasha!