Tahini sauce (taratur)
Vegetarian
طرطور · taratur
Sesame paste whisked with lemon, garlic and cold water until it turns pale, smooth and pourable — the Levantine sauce for falafel, shawarma, grilled fish and roast vegetables.
Tahini sauce (taratur) is a Levantine sauce, ready in about 5 minutes and made with tahini and lemon juice. It serves 9 and is rated beginner to cook.
No licensed photograph of this dish yet.
- Prep
- 5 min
- Cook
- 0 min
- Total
- 5 min
- Serves
- 9
- Level
- Beginner
- Calories
- 82
Method
Step 1
Whisk (opens in a new tab) the tahini (opens in a new tab) with the garlic (opens in a new tab), lemon juice (opens in a new tab) and salt. It will seize and turn thick and grainy — that is normal.
How it looks · Photo: Kampus Production on Pexels Step 2
Whisk (opens in a new tab) in the cold water a spoonful at a time until the sauce loosens into a smooth, pale cream that falls from the whisk in ribbons.
- 3 min
Step 3
Season with cumin and fold in the parsley (opens in a new tab), if using. Taste for lemon and salt.
- 1 min
About this dish
- Origin
- Levant · Commonly attributedPan-Levantine; made across Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, Israel and Jordan.Also popular in Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, Israel, Jordan
- Dish
- Lunch · Dinner · Sauces · Dips & spreads
- Cooking method
- No-cook, Whipped
- Taste
- nutty, creamy, tangy, garlicky
- Diet
- Vegan · No gluten ingredients · Dairy-free · No nut ingredients · Keto-style · Low-carbWorked out from the ingredients. How labels work
All labels
Vegan · Plant-based · Vegetarian (lacto-ovo) · Eggetarian · Lacto-vegetarian · Ovo-vegetarian · Pescatarian · Flexitarian-friendly · Whole-food focused · Paleo-style · No gluten ingredients · Dairy-free · Egg-free · No nut ingredients · No added sugar · Alcohol-free · Pork-free · Beef-free · Keto-style · Low-carb - Good for
- Everyday · Make-ahead
- Cook more with
- Tahini · Lemon juice · Garlic
- Techniques
- Emulsification
Allergens
- Contains: Sesamefrom tahini
Based on typical versions of these ingredients and not verified allergen-free. Brands differ and cross-contact happens, so always check labels. For severe allergies, follow your clinician’s advice.
Nutrition
82 kcal per serving
Calculated1 serving ≈ 31 g · recipe makes 9
Where the energy comes from
- Protein 11%
- Carbohydrate 16%
- Fat 74%
| Nutrient | Per serving | Per 100 g |
|---|---|---|
| Energy | 82 kcal | 262 kcal |
| Protein | 2.3 g | 7.5 g |
| Carbohydrate | 3.4 g | 11.1 g |
| Net carbohydrate | 2.2 g | 7 g |
| Sugars | 0.2 g | 0.8 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g | 0 g |
| Fibre | 1.3 g | 4.1 g |
| Fat | 7.2 g | 23.1 g |
| Saturated fat | 1 g | 3.2 g |
| Trans fat | — | — |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0 mg |
| Sodium | 145 mg | 467 mg |
| Salt equivalent | 0.4 g | 1.2 g |
Vitamins & minerals per serving
- Potassium
- 64 mg
- Calcium
- 59 mg
- Iron
- 1.2 mg
- Magnesium
- 13 mg
- Vitamin A (RAE)
- 0 µg
- Vitamin C
- 3 mg
- Vitamin D
- 0 µg
- Vitamin B12
- 0 µg
- Folate (DFE)
- 14 µg
How these numbers were made
- Calculated from USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy) per-100 g values and the listed quantities.
- Optional ingredients are not included: ground cumin, parsley.
- “—” means the value isn’t known for enough of the ingredients; it is never zero by default.
- Values are estimates for guidance, not for medical dosing. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. fdc.nal.usda.gov.
Good to know
Tips
- Stir the tahini jar well first — the oil separates and the paste at the bottom is stiff.
Common mistakes
- Adding all the water at once; whisking it in gradually is what makes it creamy.
Serve with
- In falafel or shawarma wraps, over grilled fish (samkeh harra) or roasted cauliflower.
Storage
- Refrigerate for up to 5 days; it thickens — loosen with a little water.
Variations
- Tahini with parsley (bakdounsieh) (Lebanon): Stir in a big handful of chopped parsley for the green Lebanese version served with fish.
Original editorial recipe · FriendsPantry editorial · Not yet independently reviewed · Added · Updated
Goes with
Recipe DNA
How this dish is built
Grouped by each ingredient’s role in the dish. Each band’s width is its share of the dish by weight. Choose a component to see what it does.
Make it milder, swap ingredients for your diet, change the batch size or thickness — the original stays as it is.
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