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close up on creamy tahini pasta in a large skillet with tomatoes and basil.
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4.42 stars (12 ratings)

15 Minute Tahini Pasta

This simple Tahini Pasta is ready to eat in just 15 minutes! Pasta is tossed in an easy, ultra-creamy, and delightfully nutty tahini sauce, leaving you with the best weekday dinner or lunch.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time15 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian-inspired
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 427kcal
Author: Nora Taylor

Ingredients

  • 12 ounces short pasta noodles penne or fusilli
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 3 large cloves garlic minced
  • 3/4 cup tahini drippy, not super thick
  • 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice about 1 large lemon
  • 1/4 teaspoon red chili flakes
  • 1-2 cups reserved pasta water
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt or more to taste
  • 1/2 cup fresh basil chopped
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes halved, optional
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Boil the pasta according to package instructions. Reserve 2 cups of the pasta cooking water, then drain the cooked pasta and set aside.
  • While the pasta cooks, warm the olive oil over low-medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes, until fragrant, stirring constantly.
  • Pour in the tahini, lemon juice, red chili flakes, reserved pasta water and salt. Stir well.
  • Now add the cooked pasta and mix. Add the fresh basil and halved tomatoes and mix into the creamy pasta.
  • If the pasta gets too dry, add a bit more warm water. Serve immediately.

Notes

  1. If your tahini happens to be thick and not drippy, I recommend adding additional pasta water until it's creamy and smooth.
  2. For gluten free, substitute a gluten free pasta of choice.

Nutrition

Serving: 1of 6 servings | Calories: 427kcal | Carbohydrates: 53g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Sodium: 218mg | Potassium: 457mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 537IU | Vitamin C: 23mg | Calcium: 70mg | Iron: 3mg