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Nuts & seeds · Nut butters

Tahini

Smooth paste of ground sesame seeds; nutty and slightly bitter, key to hummus, sauces, dressings and halva.

Also called: tahina, tahin, sesame paste

A kind of sesame seeds

17 recipes with it

What it is

Tahini is hulled sesame seeds, lightly roasted and ground into a pourable paste. Middle Eastern tahini is pale and runny; Chinese sesame paste is made from deeply toasted, often unhulled seeds and is darker and stronger. The oil separates on standing, so stir before use.

How it’s used

  • Blended into hummus and baba ghanoush
  • Whisked with lemon, garlic and water into tahini sauce
  • Drizzled over falafel, shawarma and roasted vegetables
  • Used in halva, cookies and sweet spreads with date syrup

Characteristics

Taste
Nutty, rich and slightly bitter.
Texture
Smooth and pourable to thick.
When cooked
Seizes and thickens when lemon juice is first added, then loosens to a creamy sauce as water is whisked in.
Sold as
paste
Cooking uses
Usually eaten raw, Mainly a seasoning

Kinds in our pantry

Storage

Pantry-stable. Keep in a cool cupboard; refrigerate after opening in warm climates (it thickens when cold). Stir in separated oil.

Diet, allergens and safety

Contains Sesame.

  • Vegetarian
  • Vegan
  • Dairy-free
  • Egg-free
  • Gluten-free
  • Nut-free
  • Soy-free
  • Caffeine-free
  • Sesame is a major allergen (labelled in the EU, UK, US and elsewhere); it hides in breads, dressings, spice blends and tahini-based sauces.

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy
595 kcal
Protein
17 g
Carbohydrate
21.19 g
Fat
53.76 g
Fibre
9.3 g
Sugars
0.49 g

USDA FoodData Central: Seeds, sesame butter, tahini, from roasted and toasted kernels (most common type).

Substitutes

Optional — what works if you don’t have it, and how it changes the dish.

  • Almond butter — In sauces and dressings; sweeter, a tree nut.
  • Sunflower seeds — Blend into sunflower seed butter for a sesame-free version.

Related ingredients

Recipes with tahini

See all 17

5 more

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