Creamy Vegan Tahini Pasta

This creamy vegan tahini pasta is bursting with flavour and only takes 20 minutes to make. It's just the perfect quick lunch or light dinner, and it's so creamy and delicious even non-vegans will ask for seconds.

Tahini in pasta may not be a mainstream combination, but this doesn't mean that the mix isn't delicious.

This creamy vegan tahini pasta blends the earthy, nutty flavour of tahini with a mix of veggies and pine nuts to create an easy but super interesting pasta dish.

The tahini pasta sauce is made super creamy by blending tahini paste with a plant-based milk such as cashew milk.

I love this vegan tahini pasta because it's delicious both hot and cold, so I can make it in all seasons.

It's also a highly customizable recipe because you can add anything from roasted veggies to sauteed mushrooms to it.

Ingredients and substitutions

Cashew milk — I like how the nuttiness of cashew milk pairs with tahini, but you can use any plant-based milk you like here.

Tahini paste — Made from toasted ground sesame seeds, tahini paste is a popular Middle Eastern ingredient typically used in baba ghanoush and hummus. It's an incredibly versatile ingredient and will infuse this pasta sauce with an earthy, slightly nutty flavour.

Olive oil — You only need a bit of olive oil to saute the shallots and garlic in. You can sub it with canola or sunflower oil.

Shallots — The delicate flavour of shallots is just perfect for this vegan tahini pasta. Dice it as finely as you want but preferably the same size, so it cooks evenly.

Garlic — I do love a tahini garlic combo, which is why I add four cloves to this tahini pasta sauce. Feel free to add more or less, depending on how much you like garlic.

Lemon juice — When you add the lemon juice to the sauce, it may look like it separates for a moment. Continue to stir until it incorporates, and the sauce will eventually have a smooth, creamy, texture.

Fresh basil — You can roughly shred the fresh basil leaves or chiffonade them into very thin ribbons.

Sundried tomatoes — I used semi-dried tomatoes in this recipe, but any sundried tomatoes are perfect. Make sure you drain the oil well and pat the tomatoes dry before slicing them.

Pine nuts — Toasted pine nuts add flavour and texture to this pasta sauce with tahini. You can substitute them with toasted walnuts or sunflower seeds.

Rocket salad — Also known as arugula, rocket salad adds a touch of brightness to this tahini pasta recipe.

How do you make tahini pasta?

Bring a large pot of water to a boil, salt it generously, and cook the pasta al dente according to the instructions on the package. Reserve a cup of pasta water before draining.

Meanwhile, add the cashew milk and tahini paste to a blender and process until smooth.

Heat the olive oil in a large, deep pan and saute the shallots for 2-3 minutes over medium heat until softened.

Add the garlic and continue to cook for another minute until fragrant.

Stir in the cashew milk and tahini mixture and bring to a simmer.

Next, stir in the lemon juice and fresh basil. Lower the heat and simmer for 1-2 minutes until the sauce thickens. Turn off the heat.

Transfer the cooked pasta to the pan and toss until well covered in sauce. Add the sundried tomatoes, pine nuts and rocket salad and toss again to combine.

Season to taste and serve with extra toasted pine nuts and rocket salad, if you like.

Is tahini vegan?

Yes, tahini is always vegan because it's made from pure sesame seeds. Some shop-bought versions may have added oil or salt, but they're still vegan.

Recipe notes and tips

• If you find that the sauce is too thick after you toss the pasta, add a dash of pasta water to reach the desired consistency.
• Make sure you don't overcook the pasta — it should still have a bit of a bite when you toss it with the sauce.
• This lemon tahini pasta is great when served immediately, but it's also tasty cold, pasta salad style. It will keep well in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

If you liked this creamy vegan tahini pasta, you might also like some of my other easy vegan pasta recipes:

• Creamy Vegan Peanut Pasta
• Vegan Saffron Pasta with Lemon
• Vegan Instant Pot Creamy Pasta
• Vegan Cashew Pesto Pasta Salad
• Vegan Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese

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