Avocado tahini sauce is a great topping for veggie burgers or use it as a dip with fresh vegetables. It's gluten free and vegan and has a secret ingredient of algae oil, a fab new staple you need in your pantry.

Whenever I hear about a new ingredient or superfood, I'm a little suspect, as I think most people should be. You have to do your research and see if it's really as super as it sounds. That's how I felt when I was invited to a dinner that featured a meal prepared with algae oil. Yes, algae oil. In the name of research I went to learn about algae oil, taste it, test it and then turn it into a recipe for avocado tahini sauce. 

Algae is one of the world's most sustainable food sources so it definitely has that going for it, but what about the health benefits. Thrive, who is producing the algae oil, says that one tablespoon of their oil equals one avocado, and you know how great avocados are for you (a few recipes to remind you). The oil has the highest level of monounsaturated fat, ie., the fat you want, and has 75% less saturated fat than olive oil so it's good for your ticker.  

Next question: does it taste like the ocean floor? In fact, it does not. It tastes like well, nothing. There's very little taste. This is good news for all of you who tell me that you don't like cooking with coconut oil due to the flavor it adds to food.

But wait there's more. It has a super high smoke point of 485 degrees Fahrenheit - that's above olive, canola and peanut oil. So here you have an uber good-for-you oil that is easy to cook with, has a high smoke point, a lot of good fat and is super sustainable, so people, get yourself some algae oil! Then you can make my avocado tahini sauce. It already has good flavor, so the oil just adds some nice richness without hogging the show in the taste department.

If you're in Los Angeles, you can find Thrive algae oil at select Gelson's or you can buy it on their website here.

Avocado Tahini Sauce

Makes about 3/4 cup

Ingredients

• 1/2 of a large avocado, seeded and peeled
• 1/4 cup tahini
• 2 cloves raw garlic, peeled
• 3/4 teaspoons cumin
• 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1 tablespoon algae oil (or other oil of your choosing)
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Place the avocado, tahini, garlic, cumin, lime and water in a food processor and blend until smooth. And the oil and adjust the water if you'd like a thinner consistency. Season with salt and pepper.

Need more avocado recipes? Check them out.

I was an invited guest for the dinner and received a bottle of Algae oil for testing, but all opinions are always my own.