Pasta is one of those foods that you can easily internationalize. Saute pasta with curry powder for an Indian touch. Mix it with coconut milk and green curry paste for a thai pasta. Today I made a middle eastern style pasta. Tahini makes a creamy base for the sauce. I added some sumac for a savory punch of flavor. Sumac, also spelled sumak, sumag or sumach is a dark red middle eastern spice. It tastes tangy and slightly cumin like and goes really well with pasta.
The inspiration for this tahini-sumac sauce comes from Lebanese za’atar. Za’atar is made with sesame seeds, sumac and thyme or oregano. I used tahini instead of sesame seeds to turn this into a creamy, addictively delicious sauce. And its vegan to boot! You can use any vegetable you like in this dish. Green beans or peas will be delicious.
Fettuccine pasta with Asparagus and Tahini-Sumac Sauce
Serves about 3
½ pound fettuccine pasta or any other flat pasta
3 tbsp tahini
1 tsp balsamic vinegar
1 tsp sumac
1-2 cloves garlic minced
½ tsp dried oregano. You could also use dried thyme or Italian seasoning
1/3 cup olives, any kind will do
1 bunch asparagus
Salt and pepper
Bring plenty of water to a boil in a large pot. Salt the water generously. Add pasta to the boiling water.
Trim and discard the tough ends of the asparagus. Cut the rest of the asparagus into thirds and set aside.
While the pasta is cooking, make the tahini-sumac sauce. Combine the tahini, vinegar, sumac, oregano, garlic, salt and pepper in a bowl. Add 6 tbsp of the boiling pasta water. Whisk the sauce with a fork till everything is well combined.
If you prefer not to use raw garlic, saute it for 30 seconds in olive oil and then add the garlic and oil to the sauce.
In the last one minute of cooking, add the chopped asparagus to the pasta pot. Boil for a minute. Drain the pasta and asparagus. The pasta must be al dente and the asparagus crisp and bright green.
Return the pasta and asparagus to the pot; add the sauce and toss the pasta till it is coated evenly is sauce.
Sprinkle chopped olives all over.
Garnish with chopped tomatoes or parsley.
Mmm I just recently discovered Sumac and I loved it but wasn’t really sure what to do with it. I love this!
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Gosh, your blog MUST be nominated for the best photoblog awards !
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pasta with Tahini….sounds different…good one!!
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Gorgeous looking dish. We love Fettucine Alfredo. Sumac is new to me, looks delicious, must try and find some. Good one VB!
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This is the best pasta dressing I have actually ever seen:-) For my love of tahini & sumac & everything else i can imagine how wonderful this is going to be.
I am hosting the Hay Hay Donna Day this time, & I think this would the perfect one except I myself put in guidelines saying it needs to have peppers:-( to conform to the original recipe.Darn:-( I bet this would have been it!
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I’ve never tried sumac… thanks for the lesson and inspiring recipe!
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Sumac is really new to me.
Well i would love to have that pasta any time of the day.
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Sumac in pasta sounds very interesting. Love the asparagus shot!
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Sumac is new to me too..the pics look so inviting ..vivd n yum..:)
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Love the colors and I also LOVE sumac – doesn’t it have the most intoxicating flavor and smell?! Looks delicious.
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i’ve never heard of sumac but it’s such a glorious color!
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What an intriguing sauce! I’ll have to experiment with sumac because it sounds like it would be right up my alley. I’m so glad I bought a tin of tahini – it’s so versatile!
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I once got a pack of sumac with something we ordered for take out but i didn’t even open the pack not knowing what it was / how it would taste – how ignorant of me…
Love the asparagus pic… and the pasta looks gorgeous.
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Fantastic! I finally got hold of some sumac, so this is definitely going on the list to try
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I have all the ingredients at home! should try this.
And your pics. Gosh, tell me how, how?
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tahini has only ever been used for hummus in my kitchen, so i’m excited to find a new use for it! and your photography is outstanding.
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So colorful. I am loving all things asparagus right now.
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sumac is something new to me, i should defenitely try it! and your pictures are just mindblowingly gorgeous!!!
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Wow, this is a great idea! It sounds just delicious.
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Looks delicious:) I am searching for sumac here. I have read so much about it but unfortunately not found in Thane!
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You’ve done a great job plating this, it’s a delicious and healthy meal that looks beautiful and fresh!
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i am so bookmarking this! wow, i can’t believe how awesome this looks! thanks!
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That asparagus picture is incredible! And the recipe sounds delicious. Thanks for sharing!
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Once again, gorgeous photos and another delicious recipe. I love all the flavors here—especially finding a new use for tahini. Well done!
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The asparagus in purple photo is beautiful!
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Tahini and za’atar are my two go-tos with recipes. Maybe b/c I’m lebanese and partial, but this looks FAAAAABULOUS! i MUST ask you, though – where on earth did you get that BEAUTIFUL platter!! I’d love to know if you could shoot me an email. Thanks! Love the blog. In my reader!
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that looks gorgeous .. I love fettucine pasta
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this sounds absolutly amazing!!
the photographs are stunning too!
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Gorgeous photos! Fantastic thank you!
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that photo of asparagus is marvelous!!!!
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ooh, so fresh and lovely!! i haven’t tried sumac yet, but i’m intrigued
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YUM YUM YUM!! I love everything on your site!
Cindydg
I love having you on my blogroll!
http://vegetarianmamma.blogspot.com
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Wow, I’m not a pasta person but some recipes really catch me, like this one! It’s definitely getting bookmarked
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