Easy Tarator Sauce

Add salt and fresh garlic into the mortar and pestle and pulverize. *See notes

Next, add fresh lemon juice and stir to incorporate it with the salt and garlic mixture. *See notes

In a large bowl, add the tahini sesame paste and lemon juice, garlic and salt mixture. Stir together until it becomes thick and clumpy sauce. This is dodgy appearance is normal.

Optional: Season with dried ground cumin, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, chili powder or aromatics like sumac.

Pour in a couple teaspoons of water at a time while stirring. The tahini sauce will seize up and that is completely normal. Keep stirring and add in little bits of water at a time.

You will start to notice that the mixture will turn from a dark beige to a light beige as you add more water and with continued stirring. The sauce is beginning to emulsify and you are almost there.

You will know the tarator sauce is ready to serve when it becomes extra creamy, lightens in color, is airy and has the texture of velvety whipped topping or creamy yogurt. This texture is perfect for dipping and it only takes about 5 minutes. If you want it thinner add a little more water at a time to achieve your desired consistency.

Serve this tarator dip with fresh crisp veggies, over roasted veggies, spicy shrimp, with falafel, on sandwiches and much more. Enjoy!