Tahini Noodles

By
Anita Schecter
Anita Schecter_BW
Anita Schecter
Professional recipe developer, food photographer, and blogger with more than a decade of experience creating Middle Eastern recipes.
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Updated on 11/2/21
Tahini Noodles in a bowl with a fork

The Spruce / Julia Estrada

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 15 mins
Total: 25 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
273 Calories
16g Fat
26g Carbs
9g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 273
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 16g 21%
Saturated Fat 2g 11%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 312mg 14%
Total Carbohydrate 26g 9%
Dietary Fiber 2g 8%
Total Sugars 2g
Protein 9g
Vitamin C 3mg 15%
Calcium 52mg 4%
Iron 2mg 12%
Potassium 217mg 5%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Tahini, or sesame paste, is a condiment that is made up of toasted and hulled sesame seeds that are then ground to a paste. It's most commonly used in Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, and North African cuisines. Tahini is now fairly common in the U.S. and can be found in most supermarkets —and health-food stores, in the international foods aisle or alongside other nuts and seeds butters. Like other seeds, sesame has a high-fat content, so after opening a tahini jar stir well to get rid of the oil separation and keep refrigerated to extend the shelf life. Along with healthy fats, tahini is a good source of protein, calcium, and manganese

This paste is extremely versatile and can be used in both sweet or savory recipes: as a dressing for roasted vegetables or salads, in falafel and shawarma sandwiches, to flavor fish and chicken, or as the classic ingredient in chickpea hummus.

In this pasta sauce with tahini, the soy sauce adds saltiness and umami flavor, some sweet honey balances out the acid from the lemon, and ginger, garlic, and red pepper add some heat. The result is a creamy and balanced pasta sauce, great cold or hot.

Ingredients

  • Kosher salt

  • 1/2 pound fettuccine, or other wide pasta noodle

  • 1/2 cup sesame paste

  • 1/2 cup water

  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce

  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

  • 1 teaspoon honey

  • 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger

  • 1 clove garlic, grated

  • Pinch crushed red pepper flakes, or to taste

  • Sliced scallions and sesame seeds, for garnish

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Tahini Noodles ingredients in bowls

    The Spruce / Julia Estrada

  2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and add the pasta. Cook according to the package directions.

    Pasta cooking in a pot on the burner

    The Spruce / Julia Estrada

  3. In a bowl, whisk together the sesame paste, water, soy sauce, lemon juice, honey, grated ginger, garlic, and crushed red pepper flakes until smooth.

    sesame paste, water, soy sauce, lemon juice, honey, grated ginger, garlic, and crushed red pepper flakes in a large glass bowl

    The Spruce / Julia Estrada

  4. Drain the cooked noodles and toss with the tahini sauce. Top with the sliced scallions and sesame seeds.

    Tahini Noodles in a bowl, garnished with sliced scallions and sesame seeds

    The Spruce / Julia Estrada

Recipe Variation

  • For a fun variation, try adding in stir-fried shredded carrots and roasted chickpeas for additional flavor and texture.