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Learn how to make tahini at home! This tahini recipe requires only 2 ingredients and can be prepared in less than 30 minutes. Creamy with rich nutty flavor, you can use homemade tahini to make many savory and sweet recipes.
You won’t believe how easy it is to make tahini at home! Use it to make all your favorite dishes including roasted garlic hummus or tahini sauce and pair with freshly made falafel. Simple and easy, this recipe calls for just 2 ingredients and a few minutes of your time.
Table of Contents
What Is Tahini?
Tahini is a sesame paste that’s a staple in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cooking. It’s smoother and runnier than nut butters and the color is light cream. You can find it used in different sweet and savory recipes including hummus and baba ganoush.
While tahini is widely available in stores now, it’s easy to make it at home for a fraction of the price. Freshly made tahini has a nice flavor and texture that’s better than store-bought. You only need two ingredient to make tahini at home: sesame seeds and oil.
What does tahini taste like? Tahini has a distinct rich nutty flavor. Depending on the sesame seeds, tahini can have a subtle hint of bitterness. Overall, this classic sesame paste has a pleasant earthy flavor that goes well with many ingredient.
All About The Sesame Seeds
When it comes to making tahini at home, you can use hulled or unhulled sesame seeds. The tahini paste you find at stores are usually made with hulled sesame seeds, which results in lighter and smoother tahini. I usually opt for toasting hulled sesame seeds for reduced bitterness and enhance flavor.
If using unhulled sesame seeds, the tahini will be less smooth and maybe a bit darker with more distinct flavor.
How To Make Tahini
- Toast the sesame seeds: Put the sesame seeds in a pan over medium heat. Stir frequently and toast until they are fragrant and smell nutty. This would take about 5 to 8 minutes. Keep a close eye, sesame seeds burn quickly.
- Process the sesame seeds: Place the toasted sesame seeds in the bowl of a food processor. Blend until they are crumbly, about 1 minute.
- Add the oil: Add the neutral flavor oil and process again, pausing every now and then to scrape the sides and the bottom of the food processor bowl.
- Process more:After 3 minutes, the tahini should be smooth and pourable. If not, add one more tablespoon of oil and blend again.
What To Do With Tahini?
Tahini is used in both sweet and savory recipes all around the Middle East and parts of the Mediterranean. One of the most popular ways to use this staple is to make dips such as hummus and mutabal that can be served with pita bread or pita chips as part of a mezze platter.
You can also make my classic Middle Eastern tahini sauce and use it with chicken shawarma, beef shawarma, kofta kebab and even whole roasted cauliflower.
If you’re looking for sweet recipes using sesame paste, try my tahini cookies, tahini date cake , oatmeal date cookies or tahini cake with chocolate tahini glaze.
Storage
It’s best to store tahini in a cool and dry place such as pantry for up to 2 months. Make sure that the jar in completely sealed. If the oil separates, simply stir it with a butter knife or spoon before using.
Can I store tahini in the fridge? Storing the tahini in the fridge would make it a lot thicker.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it’s possible to leave out the oil. However, keep in mind that it might take longer to make the sesame paste and the final product might not be as smooth.
You can use neutral flavor oils including grapeseed oil or avocado oil.
Yes, made with only sesame seeds and oil, tahini is vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free.
You can use a blender to make homemade tahini if it’s high powered, otherwise a food processor would work best.
More Basic Recipes
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Tahini Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups sesame seeds, hulled
- 4 tbsp neutral flavor oil , such as grapeseed or avocado oil
Instructions
- Place a pan over medium heat and add the sesame seeds. Stir frequently and toast them for 5 to 8 minutes, until they are fragrant and smell nutty. Keep a close eye because sesame seeds burn quickly.
- Put the toasted sesame seeds into the bowl of a food processor. Blend on high for 2-3 minutes until they are crumbly. Scrape the sides and the bottom of the food processor.
- Add the oil and blend again for 2-3 minutes until the tahini is smooth and pourable. Pause every 30 seconds to scrape the sides and the bottom using a spatula.
- If the tahini is still thick and not pourable, add one more tablespoon of oil and blend again.
- Pour into a jar and seal. Store in a cool, dark and dry place for up to 3 months.
Notes
- Use tahini to make recipes such as hummus and baba ganoush. You can also make tahini sauce which you can serve with chicken shawarma, falafel, beef shawarma or kofta kebab.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
So much better than the stuff I’ve been buying from the store. And the toasting step makes it extra yummy!
I am shocked at how easy it is to make tahini!!! So glad I found this post. Can’t wait to save so much money by making my own instead. Thank you!
I didn’t realize you could make your own! This is so helpful, as the base for my hummus.
This homemade tahini looks so delicious and perfect. Thanks for sharing.
This tahini recipe was so easy! Perfect when I was in a pinch and needed some for a dressing. Yum!