Garlic Tahina Falafel Sauce

If you've ever had falafel, you have probably had this garlic tahini yogurt sauce known as tahina. This is the nutty creamy sauce that's got a little bit of a garlicky lime kick. Serve this sauce with falafel sandwiches or mix it into ful medames.

What's The Difference Between Tahini and Tahina?

Tahini is just plain ground sesame paste. Whereas tahina is a sauce made from tahini, plain yogurt, lime juice, and crushed fresh garlic. Tahina sauce is the tahini yogurt sauce that is added to falafel or ful medames. Tarator is similar to tahina, but it doesn't have yogurt.

How To Make Tahina

In a bowl, combine garlic paste, lime juice, tahini, and yogurt. Mix well (should be a peanut butter consistency). Add water to thin it out.

Tips and Tricks

• Add the right amount of water. I start by adding equal parts of water and tahini paste. For thinner tahina sauce, double the water. For a thicker tahina sauce, keep the ratio equal parts water and equal parts tahini paste.
• Mash the garlic. Garlic takes on an entirely different flavor when chopped or mashed. I recommend either mashing the garlic with a mortar and pestle or using a garlic press.
• Make ahead. Store the tahina sauce in the fridge for up to 5 days.

What Do You Eat Tahina Sauce With?

I lather this sauce on Lebanese falafel, Egyptian Ta'amiya (baked and fried), and in every falafel sandwich that I can get my hands on. This nutty garlic sauce is also great with ful medames.

📋 Recipe

Garlic Tahina Falafel Sauce

Author: Lily Guidry

Course: Dips and Sauces

Cuisine: Middle Eastern

Prep: 5 minutes mins

Total: 5 minutes mins

4.34 from 6 votes

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Servings 6

This garlic tahina falafel sauce is made from tahini, yogurt, garlic, lime, and cumin. 

Ingredients

 

US Customary - Metric

• 4 tablespoon tahini
• 2 tablespoon yogurt
• 1 large garlic clove
• 1 tablespoon lime juice about half a lime
• 4 tablespoon water to start with
• pinch salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

• Using a garlic press or mortar and pestle, mash the garlic.
• Squeeze the lime over the garlic.
• Add the tahini sesame paste and yogurt to the same bowl. Mix well until a peanut butter consistency has formed.
• Add equal parts water (4 tbsp) for a thick falafel sauce. Double the water (total 8 tbsp) if you want a thin falafel sauce.

Notes

1. Store the garlic tahini yogurt sauce in the fridge for up to 5 days.
2. The nutrition facts are for a thick falafel sauce.

Nutrition

Serving: 2 tablespoon | Calories: 70 kcal | Carbohydrates: 1 g | Protein: 3 g | Fat: 6 g | Saturated Fat: 0 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6 g | Trans Fat: 0 g | Cholesterol: 0 mg | Sodium: 13 mg | Fiber: 0 g | Sugar: 0 g