Vegan

Tahini Bucatini

by:
February 21, 2019
5
2 Ratings
Tahini Bucatini
Photo by What We Eat Gals
  • Prep time 5 minutes
  • Cook time 10 minutes
  • Serves 4
Author Notes

Pasta is perfect when you need dinner in a pinch - and when pinching pennies might also be a good idea (it’s rent week, you’ve indulged in one too many “treat yourself” purchases… we’ve all been there!) But this couldn’t be an easier dish to whip up any time, really. It’s packed with savory flavors from jars and bottles you already have stacked in your cabinet or stuffed into the side of your refrigerator door. Soy sauce and sesame oil bring an undeniable umami, chili flakes add a zip of heat, and the creamy tahini brings some subtle, yet complimentary, nuttiness to the party. Blend it all together and the result? A sauce with some serious global flavor - simply by reaching into your pantry. Plus, bucatini rhymes with tahini…so they’re basically meant for each other. —What We Eat Gals

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup tahini
  • 1/2 cup soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
  • 3 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 1-inch pieces ginger, pealed and roughly chopped
  • 1/4 cup cilantro stems, roughly chopped
  • 1 tablespoon sriracha, or more to taste
  • 1/4 cup starchy pasta water or more if needed
  • 1 pound dried bucatini
  • Toasted sesame seeds, chili flakes, cilantro, and scallions for garnish
Directions
  1. For pasta: bring a large pot of salted, boiling water to a boil. Cook pasta according to box instructions, until al dente. Reserve 1/4 cup pasta water. Drain pasta and set aside.
  2. For sauce: add the first 9 ingredients to a high-speed blender and blend until smooth. Add more water to sauce for a thinner consistency.
  3. Toss the pasta with sauce and finish with a generous pinch of sesame seeds, chili flakes, scallions and cilantro. Enjoy!
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3 Reviews

Mollie C.
Mollie C. October 17, 2020
Obsessed with these flavors. This is my second "What We Eat Gals" recipe I've tried with tahini; I love using it as a leading role in this sauce and bucatini was the perfect vessel. Well done!
 
Darian
Darian April 13, 2019
This was amazing! It was really easy and simple and came together very quickly, but with big flavor. I used 12 oz of bucatini with the same amount of sauce ingredients to keep it a little extra saucy. I stirred a touch of cornstarch into the pasta water before adding back to the sauce and tossing with the pasta in a hot pot to thicken the sauce a little. It had just the right balance of flavors, and the textural contrast was great with the toothsome noodles and crunchy scallions and sesame seeds. My daughter enjoyed it cold the next day for lunch too. This one is definitely going on repeat. Loved it!
 
What W.
What W. May 8, 2019
We are so happy you loved it! Thank you for the comment :)