TARATOOR (SESAME SAUCE)

3 medium-sized cloves garlic, minced

1 cup tahina or tahini (ground hulled sesame seeds)

3/4 - 1 cup cold water

½ cup fresh lemon juice

1 tsp. salt

In a deep bowl, mash the garlic to a paste with a pestle or the back of a large spoon. Stir in the tahina. Then, with a whisk or spoon, beat in 1/3 cup of the cold water, the lemon juice, and salt. Still beating, add up to ½ cup more of the water, one tablespoon at time, until the sauce has the consistency of thick mayonnaise and holds its shape almost solidly in a spoon. Taste for seasoning.

Makes about 1 ½ cup. Use as a sauce for fish, fried veggies, or as an ingredient in hummus and baba ghannooj.