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Dairy-Free White Sauce with Tahini

by Tansy Boggon

A simple and creamy dairy-free white sauce made with tahini and coconut milk. It is a rich and versatile vegan alternative to traditional cheese or white sauces—perfect for pasta, casseroles or as a base for other dishes.

What is dairy-free white sauce?

Dairy-free white sauce can be made in the same way as traditional bechamel with vegan butter, flour and dairy-free milk. However, this recipe is creamier and gluten-free, using no flour and tahini and coconut milk in place of butter and milk.

Somehow the coconut milk mellows the strong tahini flavour, and the tahini means that this sauce doesn’t taste too strongly of coconut. Then, the addition of stock and nutritional yeast gives a savoury, cheesy flavour that is perfect to use how you would traditional white sauce.

It is perfect for those who are lactose intolerant or choose to eat vegan.

Close up of cheese sauce with a drizzle of sauce dripping from a spatula into a saucepan full of sauce on a wooden board, beside a small beige bowl with nutritional yeast.

How to use this vegan white sauce

This versatile and creamy vegan sauce can replace traditional white or cheese sauces in various dishes. Here are some ideas for how you can use it:

  • Pasta dishes: Pour it over pasta or spaghetti squash as is, or add garlic and herbs to create an Alfredo-style sauce. For a creamy mushroom sauce, sauté onion, garlic and mushrooms before combining with this sauce.
  • Mac and cheese: Stir in a pinch of nutmeg, toss with cooked pasta, and top with vegan Brazil nut Parmesan. Consider thinning the sauce slightly with water to balance its rich texture.
  • Bakes and gratins: Combine with thinly sliced potatoes for a potato bake or au gratin, or mix it with cauliflower for a creamy cauliflower gratin.
  • Layered dishes: Use it instead of traditional white sauce as a layer in vegan lasagna, moussaka or shepherd’s pie.
  • Toppings: Drizzle it over pizza or nachos as a melted cheese alternative, or enjoy it on baked or steamed vegetables.
  • Vegan mashed potatoes: Replace the butter, milk, and cheese in mashed potatoes with this sauce for a rich, dairy-free twist.

Over to you to get creative and make this sauce your own.

Ingredients for this non-dairy white sauce recipe

Ingredients for vegan sauce: tahini, nutritional yeast, lite coconut milk, stock powder, salt.

This vegan sauce contains only five ingredients and no flour.

Normally, flour is used to thicken white or cheese sauce. However, in this sauce, the creaminess of the tahini and coconut milk is sufficient to create a thick, creamy sauce. If anything, it may require watering down for various uses or when reheating.

To prepare this recipe, you will require:

  • Hulled tahini
  • Coconut milk
  • Nutritional yeast
  • Stock powder
  • Salt

That’s it!

How to make this nut-free vegan sauce

Simply combine the tahini, coconut milk, stock and salt in a small saucepan over medium heat, mixing through the tahini with a spoon or whisk until smooth. [It means much easier white sauce without lumps, as the tahini will become runnier as it warms up.]

Continue stirring until it begins to bubble. Cook for 1-2 minutes, then combine the nutritional yeast. Stir it in until it fully dissolves into the mixture.

Enjoy it warm, how you would normally have a cheese or white sauce.

Like traditional white sauce, it will develop a ‘skin’ as it cooks. Simply stir through before serving.

Saucepan with dairy-free white sauce and wooden spatula on a wooden board with two small bowls beside it, one with sauce and a dessert spoon and the other with nutritional yeast.

Storing and reheating this sauce

You can store this sauce in the fridge for up to a week. However, it will thicken upon refrigeration, so you will need to reheat it and add a little water to get the consistency right for how you want to use it.

Gluten-free white sauce

This recipe is flour-free. Combining tahini and coconut milk creates a creamy consistency while being gluten-free.

Did you try this recipe?

I’d love to hear how it turned out for you.

Share your experience in the comments below—did you tweak or use this sauce in a favourite dish?

Whether you tried it in pasta, lasagna or something completely creative, your feedback helps others and enables me to refine the recipe further. So don’t hesitate to share your thoughts!

Want more vegan recipes?

I have other vegan recipes on this website. You may like to try:

Saucepan with dairy-free white sauce and wooden spatula on a wooden board with two small bowls beside it, one with sauce and a dessert spoon and the other with nutritional yeast.
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5 from 1 vote

Dairy-Free ‘White Sauce’ with Tahini

This simple and creamy dairy-free 'white sauce' is made with tahini and coconut milk. It is a rich and versatile alternative to traditional cheese or white sauces—perfect for pasta, casseroles or as a base for other dishes.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time5 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Keyword: vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, nut-free
Servings: 4
Author: Tansy Boggon

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons hulled tahini
  • 400 g (1 can) coconut milk
  • 4 tablespoons nutritional yeast
  • 1 teaspoon vegetable stock powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Instructions

  • In a small saucepan, add tahini, coconut milk, vegetable stock and salt. Stir over medium heat until the mixture is smooth.
  • Continue stirring the mixture as it begins to bubble. Let bubble on low heat for 1–2 minutes, ensuring it doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan.
  • Stir in the nutritional yeast and mix until fully dissolved and the sauce thickens slightly.
  • Use immediately while warm, just as you would a traditional cheese or white sauce. Pour it over pasta, layer it in lasagna or drizzle it over vegetables.

Notes

Storage & Sauce Thickness
The sauce can be used immediately or stored in the fridge in an airtight container for up to one week. It will thicken on refrigeration, so on reheating you may need to add a tablespoon of water at a time to achieve desired consistency.
 

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1 comment

Tansy Boggon February 6, 2025 - 7:54 am

5 stars
This is a regular on our menu.

Often, we saute onion and garlic, add mushrooms and this sauce, and then combine with pasta. Yum!

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