Description
This Roasted Garlic Tahini Sauce for Pasta is a rich, creamy, and vegan take on Mediterranean-inspired comfort food. Roasted garlic blends seamlessly with tahini, lemon juice, and spices to create a luscious pasta sauce that’s nutty, garlicky, and bursting with umami flavor. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or for impressing guests with its unique twist on a classic creamy pasta.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Roasted Garlic Tahini Sauce
- 1 head garlic
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/3 cup tahini
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1/2 cup warm water (more as needed for consistency)
- 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast (optional, for cheesy flavor)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
Pasta
- 12 oz cooked pasta of choice (spaghetti, penne, or linguine)
To Serve
- Chopped parsley or red pepper flakes, for garnish
Instructions
- Roast the Garlic: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Slice the top off the garlic head to expose the cloves, drizzle with olive oil, then wrap in foil. Roast for 30–35 minutes until the garlic is soft, golden, and fragrant. Let cool slightly.
- Prepare the Sauce: Squeeze the roasted garlic cloves out of their skins into a blender or food processor. Add tahini, lemon juice, warm water, nutritional yeast (if using), salt, pepper, and smoked paprika. Blend until smooth and creamy, adding more water if you want a thinner consistency.
- Taste and Adjust: Taste the sauce and adjust seasonings as needed. Add more lemon juice for brightness or more salt for depth, blending again as needed.
- Combine with Pasta: Toss the cooked and drained pasta with the roasted garlic tahini sauce in a large bowl or pot. Mix until all the noodles are evenly coated and creamy.
- Serve: Plate the pasta while warm, topping each serving with chopped parsley or a sprinkle of red pepper flakes for color and heat. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
- You can make the sauce ahead; store refrigerated for up to 4 days. Add a splash of water to loosen when reheating.
- Use gluten-free pasta to keep this recipe gluten free.
- Add steamed broccoli, spinach, or roasted vegetables to make it a one-bowl meal.
- Adjust consistency with more or less water as you blend, depending on your preference.
- For extra protein, toss in chickpeas or grilled tofu.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main-course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe (approx. 6 oz pasta with sauce)
- Calories: 310
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 370mg
- Fat: 13g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 41g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 0mg