We look upon the humble sesame seed as a microscopic garnish to sushi rolls and/or Asian dishes. But when roasted and ground, it’s magical and super versatile. I think tahini is drastically underrated. I’ve been known to eat peanut butter with a spoon, and my new-found love for tahini has me doing the same weird-ass thing. Like really, ground sesame seeds? Over and over? From a spoon into my mouth? Yes.

Many countries use tahini in sweet applications such as halvah (basically sesame fudge), sesame candies, or tahini cookies. It’s what makes hummus taste like hummus. My favorite way to use it, though, is to make a dressing that tastes like fireworks. Which obviously makes everything you put it on taste like fireworks too. Tahini is earthy and a little bitter, but when you add serious flavor enhancing foods such as lemon and garlic, you basically get crack. Drizzly, bright, delicious crack.

I love this on everything. But it’s especially amazing on roasted zucchini, peppers, and eggplant. Thin it out a little more and use it as a salad dressing. Shower it onto grilled chicken, salmon, or shrimp. Any vegetable, protein, or spoon will suffice.

Tahini sauce

Note: not all tahini sauces are created the same. They’re not even in the same solar system. Some are gross, and if you start with grossness you end with grossness. I ONLY use Joyva, which is sold at most supermarkets, specialty or not. Joyva roasts their sesame seeds prior to pureeing them, which boosts the flavor bigtime. Other bland brands I’ve tried don’t roast and don’t taste good. Seek Joyva out.

Ingredients

1/2 cup well-stirred tahini sauce

1/4 cup lemon juice, plus a few scrapes of lemon zest

3 cloves garlic, grated or minced

1/4 cup olive oil

1/4 cup water

Kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

1/2 teaspoon cumin

A few tablespoons of chopped fresh herbs, optional

Directions

In a medium bowl, whisk together the tahini, lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic, olive oil, water, a few pinches of salt and pepper, and cumin. Taste again, and season again as you see fit: add more garlic, more lemon, more water, or more S&P. For some extra zing, add in some chopped fresh herbs such as cilantro or parsley.