Woman shares recipe for homemade tahini and all the ways it can be used that aren't hummus (2024)

FAQs

What can you use tahini for? ›

Tahini can be used as a marinade or sauce for grilled meats and vegetables, adding depth of flavor to the dish. Baked goods. Tahini can be used in baked goods like cookies, cakes, and bread, adding a rich and nutty flavor to the recipe.

If you feel adventurous, try replacing the tahini with an equal amount of peanut butter, sunflower seed butter, Greek yogurt, chopped roasted peppers, pitted olives, roasted beets, steamed sweet potato, avocado, or thawed frozen peas, to name just a few possibilities.

Yes, the tahini that you make at home is better than the tahini you buy in the store. And yes, it is great to understand exactly what is going into your food. And we tend to assume that making food at home will be cheaper than buying it at the store.

Tahini is made of three ingredients: hulled sesame seeds, oil and sometimes salt. Hulled sesame seeds are typically toasted then ground and emulsified with oil to create a smooth, creamy seed butter with a pourable consistency.

Do you need to refrigerate tahini? We recommend storing your tahini in a cool and dry area, away from heat and moisture. Ideally, a pantry a cabinet would be ideal. Like peanut butter, you can also store tahini in the refrigerator if you like it thicker.

Tahini is made from ground sesame seeds. It's rich in important nutrients like fiber, protein, copper, phosphorus, and selenium and may reduce heart disease risk and inflammation.

As I said earlier, tahini has a mildly bitter flavour, so if your hummus is bitter, you've most likely added too much tahini. Also make sure that the tahini you do have is hulled, as opposed to unhulled. Hulled tahini just means that the bitter husks on the outside of the sesame seed have been removed before blending.

Tahini is basically sesame butter. Most high-quality brands contain just one ingredient: roasted sesame seeds. It's not as sweet as most nut butters and can be used like peanut butter (or eaten straight off a spoon).

Sesame oil is mostly unsaturated fat, which oxidizes fairly easily. It's possible that tahini, because it's made of whole hulled seeds, contains more antioxidant compounds—such as sesamin and sesamolin—than sesame oil. Antioxidants slow the process of oxidation, preventing your tahini from going rancid too quickly.

Tahini is like the cool older cousin of your favorite nut butters. With a more subtle nutty flavor, it can be eaten straight from the jar, mixed with chickpeas for a classic homemade hummus, or poured into batter for a sweet treat.

How often should I eat tahini? ›

According to the scientific journal Nutrition Research, consuming 40 grams of tahini a day helps to reduce the average total and LDL (“bad cholesterol”) by 6.4% and 9.5% after 4 weeks, respectively. The good fats in tahini limit the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke.

How long does homemade tahini last? Homemade tahini can last up to 6 months when you store it in an airtight container in the fridge. It must be refrigerated and be sure to always use clean, dry utensils every time you open the jar.

Is Tahini healthier than peanut butter? They're about the same. Tahini is a little less calorie-dense than peanut butter. But that doesn't mean it's healthier, just that you can eat a little more of it.

Tahini is a common ingredient in Middle Eastern dishes like hummus and baba ghanoush, but is also used in Chinese, Vietnamese, and Indian cuisines.

Nutrition: Tahini vs peanut butter

Tahini and peanut butter are good sources of healthy fats – with around 16 grams per serving each, but peanut butter tends to have more calories and protein compared to tahini.

Tahini is basically sesame butter. Most high-quality brands contain just one ingredient: roasted sesame seeds. It's not as sweet as most nut butters and can be used like peanut butter (or eaten straight off a spoon).

“Once the tahini is mixed with water, you're supposed to refrigerate it,” Zitelman says, “but it doesn't last for more than five to seven days in the fridge.”

Tahini may also have a cleansing effect on your body, which is good for all kinds of stomach issues (colitis, gastritis, gastric ulcer, etc.) In case this sounds familiar to you, we suggest you consume plain tahini.