Quick Creamy Tahini Sesame Sauce

This sesame sauce is ready in three minutes and requires only four ingredients you probably already have at home. It’s so versatile because it’s so simple that is goes with anything, we even added it to our Italian gnocchi pan last night. It’s perfect for roasted vegetables, bowls, spring rolls, falafel, sandwiches, as a raw veggie dip and especially for your vegan buffet!

What is tahini sauce?

Sesame sauce is an aromatic, creamy condiment that exists in many variations and is a staple of both East Asian and Arabic cuisine, used as a dip, dressing or marinade.

The Japanese version Goma Dare is creamier and slightly sweet, often refined with mirin and sake. It’s ideal as a dipping sauce for gyoza. The Chinese version is bolder and spicier, frequently made with chili oil and black vinegar.

Arabic sesame sauce, most commonly known as tahini sauce, is made with just tahini, lemon juice, garlic and a little water, no soy sauce or ginger, giving it a nuttier, fresher and less savory flavor. It’s classically served with falafel, shawarma or simply as a dip with flatbread.

My sauce is a fusion creation: creamy with soy sauce and a touch of sweetness inspired by Japanese cuisine, and as puristic as Arabic tahini sauce with lemon juice.

What do you need for the sesame sauce?

• Tahini

Tahini is pure sesame paste and the key ingredient in most sesame sauce recipes. It’s rich in unsaturated fatty acids, calcium, magnesium and iron, and also contains vitamin E and B vitamins that support the immune system and contribute to cell health. You can also make sesame sauce without tahini by grinding sesame seeds in a mortar. It won’t be quite as creamy, but it works. Some even add a little peanut butter. Also nice.

• Soy sauce

Soy sauce provides the salty, umami flavor. It contains amino acids the body needs for protein synthesis and is also a source of antioxidants. Note that it contains wheat: if you want a gluten-free sesame sauce, simply substitute with gluten-free soy sauce, tamari or coconut aminos.

• Maple syrup

Maple syrup balances the sauce with a subtle sweetness. Compared to regular sugar, it contains more minerals like manganese, zinc and calcium, as well as antioxidants. You can also use agave syrup or vegan honey as alternatives.

• Lemon juice

Lemon juice adds a light, fresh acidity to the sauce. Lemons are an excellent source of vitamin C, which strengthens the immune system and improves iron absorption. Their antioxidants also have anti-inflammatory properties and support digestion. You can substitute with lime juice or 1 tsp of rice vinegar.

What goes well with sesame sauce? The best combinations

Sesame sauce is a true all-rounder in the kitchen. Here are the most popular ways to use it:

• As a dressing over quinoa bowls or Buddhha bowls, sesame sauce adds that special something to any dish.
• With tofu and roasted vegetables, especially delicious with potatoes, sweet potatoes, beets, carrots, aubergine, green beans, broccoli, bok choy and zucchini.
• Sesame sauce makes a great alternative to chili sauce or soy sauce as a dipping sauce for spring rolls or sushi.
• As a marinade for grilling: Marinate meat substitutes, tofu or vegetables in sesame sauce for about an hour before grilling. The high tahini content creates a light crust on the grill that’s incredibly flavorful.

The best way of eating this sauce with noodles or rice

Do you want to use sesame sauce for large amounts of noodles or rice? Then check out my sesame noodle salad or my sesame vegetables with rice, for those recipes I adjusted the sauce slightly to get the best flavor match:

If you need a salad dressing this sauce will work, but I recommend checking out my Japanese inspired roasted sesame miso dressing which is a bit more punchy!