Creamy Tahini Pasta with Lemon, Garlic and Tofu

This creamy tahini pasta with lemon, garlic, and kale is topped with optional crispy savory tofu and red pepper flakes for a spicy kick. This vegan-friendly pasta takes less than 30 minutes to make and is incredibly creamy, slurp-able, hearty, and healthy.

Plus….this pasta has a lemony tahini sauce and is great for an easy weeknight dinner but when you dress it up with kale and crispy tofu, it becomes special enough for a date night! If you’re looking for more vegan weeknight dinner ideas, check out this post which has 50+ easy tofu recipes!

What Our Readers are Saying:

“This was fabulous!! Will make again and again for sure!!”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Mia

Tahini Pasta Ingredients

This vegan tahini pasta is full of flavorful ingredients like lemon, nutritional yeast, onions, and lots of garlic (the more the merrier in my opinion!). The tahini pasta sauce is completely dairy-free and healthy, yet it’s still insanely creamy and comforting.

Ingredient Notes & Substitutions

• Fettuccine: It holds onto the sauce and provides a nice, firm texture when cooked al dente. If you’re gluten-free, you can use brown rice, lentil, or chickpea pasta. You could also use spaghetti squash, or spiralized vegetables like zucchini or sweet potato.

• Tahini: Tahini gives the pasta that lusciously creamy and nutty flavor. Always go for a high-quality tahini for the best taste and texture. If you don’t have it on hand or are allergic to sesame seeds, other nut butters like almond butter or cashew butter could work as a creamy and nutty alternative. I don’t recommend using peanut butter as it has a very distinct flavor.

• Extra Virgin Olive Oil:  Olive oil helps sauté the onions and garlic, and it also adds a lovely flavor to the dish. You can use avocado oil or grapeseed oil instead. For an oil-free version, try using vegetable broth or even water to sauté your onions and garlic.

• Lemon: Fresh lemon juice and lemon zest add a delightful tanginess that balances out the richness of the tahini paste.

• Pure Maple Syrup: Just a touch of maple syrup adds the perfect amount of sweetness and depth to the tahini sauce. If you don’t have maple syrup, you could use agave syrup or a bit of brown sugar instead.

• Onions & Garlic: These two aromatic ingredients form the flavor base of the sauce. They’re sautéed until fragrant and then mixed in with the rest of the sauce ingredients.

• Salt & Black Pepper: A must for flavor. 

• Nutritional Yeast: Gives the pasta a cheesy flavor. If you don’t have nutritional yeast, you can use a vegan parmesan substitute or simply omit it. The pasta will still be delicious!

• Tuscan Kale: Adding kale gives the pasta a lovely pop of color. Feel free to use other leafy greens like spinach, Swiss chard, or collard greens instead.

• Crispy Baked Tofu: An optional but highly recommended addition. The tofu adds more flavor, texture and of course, serves as a great protein source. Tempeh, chickpeas, vegan sausages, seitan, or roasted veggies can be used as tofu substitutes.

the pasta

I’m using fettuccine in this recipe, but you could use any pasta that you love. Brown rice pasta, lentil pasta, quinoa pasta or chickpea pasta are all great options to make this recipe gluten-free. The trick is to make sure you prepare it al dente because we’ll be finishing cooking the pasta in the sauce.

⭐️ I personally prefer a longer, thick pasta for this dish because it adds a needed textural component. So you have the creaminess from the tahini sauce, the crispiness from the tofu, and a perfect soft chewiness from the thicker pasta. ⭐️

where to find tahini

The star of our tahini sauce is of course…tahini! Tahini is a paste made from ground sesame seeds. It’s important to use a high-quality tahini. I love the one by the brand Ziyad. I’m able to find this brand at my local grocery store in the international aisle.

If you’re not able to find tahini at your local grocery stores, you can order it online fairly easily! I’ve also used Trader Joe’s in-house tahini before and it is also pretty good.

If you’d like to make it yourself, you can try this recipe!

Step by Step Instructions

Video and Exact Ingredient Quantities are in the Recipe Card Below!

STEP 1: Prepare your pasta according to the box’s instructions in a large pot of water. While straining the pasta, be sure to reserve about 2 cups of the pasta water. 

STEP 2: Wash, de-stem and chop the kale. 

STEP 3: Dice the onion and mince the garlic. Then measure out the other ingredients.

STEP 4: Heat large stockpot or dutch oven over medium heat. Add the olive oil, chopped onions, and garlic. 

Serving

This creamy tahini pasta is so versatile and can be served with side dishes to make a well-rounded meal. I personally love sprinkling mine with some red pepper flakes and fresh basil! But here are a few more ways you can serve it:

• With a fresh green salad: A salad made with mixed greens, arugula, cherry tomatoes, and a simple vinaigrette can provide a refreshing contrast to the creamy pasta.

• Paired with garlic bread: You can make a vegan version using a good quality vegan butter or olive oil. It’s perfect for scooping up any leftover tahini sauce!

• Alongside roasted vegetables: Try roasting your favorite vegetables like Brussels sprouts, bell peppers, asparagus, or cauliflower for a healthy and flavorful side.

• With a bowl of soup: A light vegetable soup or a hearty lentil soup can make this pasta dish into a complete meal.

Storage

To store the tahini pasta, place it in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to five days. The tofu can be stored with the pasta or separately.

To reheat, you can add the pasta to a microwave-safe dish and heat until warm, or reheat leftovers on the stove. If the lemon tahini sauce has thickened too much, add a little bit of water loosen it up.

Helpful Tips for the Best Tahini Pasta

• Al dente pasta: Remember to cook your pasta al dente, which means it’s cooked so it is still firm when bitten. This will help it to hold up when tossed with the sauce and not become too soft.

• Add pasta water gradually: When making the sauce, add the pasta water slowly to achieve your desired consistency. The starchy pasta water helps to create a silky, rich sauce.

• Adjust seasonings: Don’t forget to taste and adjust the seasonings at the end. You might find you want a little more fresh lemon juice, nutritional yeast, or salt.

• Prep your toppings in advance: If you’re using additional protein toppings like tempeh, chickpeas, or vegan sausage, prepare these in advance to make the final assembly quick and easy.