Easy to make with just 6 ingredients, this Garlic Herb Tahini recipe is a homemade dressing and dip all in one! (2024)

FAQs

What's the main ingredient in tahini? ›

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.

Tahini sauce is a Middle Eastern condiment that is served with many dishes from the region. It's made with only 3 main ingredients: tahini paste, which is crushed sesame seeds, lemon juice, and garlic. Tahini is made by grinding toasted, hulled sesame seeds to create a creamy, smooth spread.

Tahini is a staple in North African, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean (Greek, Turkish, Israeli) cuisines, and it pairs well with eggplant, cilantro and yogurt (all popular in those cuisines, as well).

Bitterness is generally part and parcel of tahini - it's how ground sesame seeds taste. What you will find, however, is that some tahini can taste more bitter than others. This is down to a few things; like how that particular tahini is processed, or the levels of something called oxalic acid in the hulls of the seeds.

As the dressing starts to come together, the tahini will seize up, and the sauce will thicken. Don't worry about it! It's totally normal. Keep whisking, and you'll have a smooth, creamy tahini salad dressing in no time.

Tahini with unhulled sesame seed contains more phytonutrients than peanut butter, and, for many people, is easier to digest than almond butter. Tahini is also a versatile ingredient because it's flavor is more neutral than most nut butters.

Tahini can go bad, especially if it's exposed to moisture or direct heat. It will have a noticeable, sharp rancid smell.

Because tahini is the butter of sesame seeds, you might want to consider a nut or seed butter as a go-to substitute. Other options include greek yogurt and sesame oil. These tahini substitutes will complement your dish since they are all sources of healthy fats and contribute to a creamy consistency.

Tahini is the pureed raw sesame seeds (also referred to as sesame butter or paste). Tahina is the prepared sauce. Tahina is a product of toasted ground sesame seeds. It was introduced to Israel via ancient Persia - where it bore the title of “ardeh,” or “holy food.”

According to America's Test Kitchen's The Feed (americastestkitchenfeed.com), the process was simple. To mellow the bite of raw garlic, soak it in an acid, such as lemon juice, for 10 minutes, then drain and proceed withthe recipe.

What's the difference between tahini and tahini sauce? ›

Tahini paste is just ground sesame seeds. Period. In comparison, tahini sauce is made by thinning the paste to a consistency similar to a thick cream, typically by adding other ingredients. My family's recipe adds lemon juice, garlic, and olive oil to our tahini sauce.

How to Store Tahini. Since it's very high in oil, keep tahini refrigerated once you've opened it to prevent it from going rancid too quickly. It gets difficult to stir once it's chilled, so be sure to thoroughly mix it before putting it in the refrigerator.

What to Eat with Tahini Sauce: In short, pretty much anything you can think of will be elevated with this sauce. For example, grilled chicken or shrimp skewers, burgers, grain bowls, roasted vegetables, and even flatbread pizzas.

“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 is an excellent source of minerals and heart-healthy fats and additionally, a versatile food that can be featured in every meal of the day, for five very good reasons. Sesame seeds contain sesamin and sesamolin, two powerful antioxidants that protect cells from free-radical damage and may prevent heart disease.

Tahini has a very earthy flavor and is slightly bitter, but not overpowering. Although the spread resembles peanut butter and other nut butters, it does not have a similarly sweet flavor profile. The toasted sesame seed flavor shines through in this creamy, rich ingredient.

It is a much richer and denser alternative to mayonnaise, with a concentrated savory nuttiness that stands out no matter what you pair it with. You've undoubtedly eaten it in hummus, but tahini is also a creamy ingredient in countless salad dressings, sauces, and even avant-garde cookie recipes.

Although both are creamy and commonly used as condiments, the two have very different flavors and textures. Tahini is rich, nutty, and can be slightly bitter tasting. Mayonnaise is very smooth, light, and creamy. If you're interested in a mayonnaise recipe, try my healthy mayo recipe.