Tahini Recipe

The BEST authentic tahini sauce recipe with garlic, lime juice and fresh parsley! Be sure to watch my video and grab my tips below. This rich, flavor-packed vegan sauce is popular throughout the Mediterranean and the Middle East, and it can elevate any meal from kabobs to falafel sandwiches and everything in between. Perfect served as part of mezze with some warm pita and fresh veggies too!

It used to be such an obscure and exotic ingredient to most North American Cooks, but it seems tahini is everywhere now. This humble Middle Eastern staple has made a splash in the health-food market, trendy restaurants, and in home kitchens–adding nutrition, irresistible creaminess and depth to many dishes. And this tahini fanatic does not mind one little bit!

tahini recipe

Easy Tahini Recipe – Better Than Store-bought

tahini recipe

Making tahini at home is easy and much less expensive than buying from the store. We recommend looking for sesame seeds in bulk bins or at International, Asian, and Middle Eastern markets for the best deals. While tahini can be made from unhulled, sprouted and hulled sesame seeds, we prefer to use hulled sesame seeds for tahini. Tahini can be kept in the refrigerator for a month.

Prep: 10min

Total: 15min

Yield: Makes approximately 1/2 Cup

Serving Size: 1 tablespoon

Nutrition Facts: servingSize 1 tablespoon, calories 136, Protein 3 g, Carbohydrate 5 g, Fiber 3 g, Sugar 0 g, Fat 12 g, Saturated Fat 2 g, Cholesterol 0 mg

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup (5 ounces or 140 grams) sesame seeds, we prefer hulled
  • 2 to 4 tablespoons neutral flavored oil such as grape seed, vegetable or a light olive oil
  • Pinch of salt, optional

Instruction:

  1. Add sesame seeds to a wide, dry saucepan over medium-low heat and toast, stirring constantly until the seeds become fragrant and very lightly colored (not brown), 3 to 5 minutes. Careful here, sesame seeds can burn quickly.
  2. Transfer toasted seeds to a baking sheet or large plate and cool completely.
  3. Add sesame seeds to the bowl of a food processor then process until a crumbly paste, about 1 minute.
  4. Add 3 tablespoons of the oil then process for 2 to 3 minutes more, stopping to scrape the bottom and sides of the food processor a couple of times. Check the tahini’s consistency. It should be smooth, not gritty, and should be pourable. You may need to process for another minute or add the additional tablespoon of oil.
  5. Taste the tahini for seasoning then add salt to taste. Process 5 to 10 seconds to mix it in.
  6. Store tahini covered in the refrigerator for one month. You may notice it separates over time, like a natural peanut butter would. If this happens, give the tahini a good stir before using.

Tahini Recipe (Super Easy & Creamy!)

tahini recipe

Tahini is super easy to make at home. Gently toast the sesame seeds, add them to a high-powered blender with a little olive oil and you’re done. Watch the video above to see how easy it is to make!

Prep: 2min

Total: 8min

Yield: 16

Serving Size: 2 tbsp

Nutrition Facts: servingSize 2 tbsp, calories 251 kcal, Carbohydrate 4.4 g, Protein 7.7 g, Fat 24.6 g, Saturated Fat 3.6 g, Sodium 17.7 mg, Fiber 4.4 g, Sugar 0.2 g

Ingredients:

  • 4 cups hulled sesame seeds
  • 3 tbsp olive oil

Instruction:

  1. Gently toast the sesame seeds (stirring constantly) on medium low for 5 minutes, or until slightly golden. Then, let them cool to room temperature.
  2. Once the sesame seeds have cooled, add them to your Vitamix. Blend on high for one minute, using the tamper to push the seeds into the blades, creating a tahini paste.
  3. Add the olive oil and blend for another minute to create a creamy consistency.

Tahini Sauce Recipe (How to Make Tahini)

tahini recipe

BEST tahini sauce recipe with lime juice, fresh garlic and parsley! Serve it as part of your mezze table, or use it to jazz up sandwiches like falafel pitas or chicken shawarma; or to drizzle on things like roasted cauliflower. The possibilities are endless!

Prep: 10min

Total: 10min

Yield: 12

Serving Size: 1 tbsp

Nutrition Facts: servingSize 1 tbsp , calories 57 calories, Sugar 0.3 g, Sodium 99 mg, Fat 4.3 g, Saturated Fat 0.6 g, Trans Fat 0 g, Carbohydrate 4.6 g, Fiber 0.3 g, Protein 0.8 g, Cholesterol 0 mg

Ingredients:

  • 1-2 garlic cloves
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 3/4 cup tahini paste
  • 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lime juice (or lemon juice, if you prefer)
  • 1/4 cup cold water, more if needed
  • 1 cup fresh chopped parsley leaves, stems removed first (optional)

Instruction:

  1. Using a mortar and pestle, crush the garlic cloves with the salt into a paste (or mince the garlic and season with salt.)
  2. Add the crushed garlic, tahini paste and lime juice to the bowl of a food processor and blend (it will be thick as it emulsifies.) Add a little bit of water and blend again until you reach the desired consistency.
  3. Transfer the tahini to a serving bowl, and if you like stir in fresh chopped parsley. Enjoy!

Easy Homemade Tahini Recipe – How to Make Tahini

FAQ

What is tahini made from?

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.

What can I do with tahini?

8 Ways to Use Tahini
  1. Dip raw veggies in it. …
  2. Spread it on toast. …
  3. Drizzle it on falafel. …
  4. Use it to make Tarator sauce. …
  5. Dress your salad with it. …
  6. Make a double sesame burger. …
  7. Stir it into soup. …
  8. Have Main Course Baba Ghanoush.

Why is tahini not vegan?

Because it’s made with sesame seeds, which, of course, come from a plant and not an animal, tahini is vegan. It’s as simple as that. That said, there are sometimes other ingredients, like oil and salt, added to the store-bought versions.

How to make real tahini?

Directions
  1. Toast the sesame seeds in a large pan on medium heat until lightly golden*. Stir constantly. …
  2. Transfer the cooled toasted seeds to a food processor (ideally 600W or more) and blend for 5 – 7 minutes**.
  3. The key to smooth and runny tahini is to give it time, so keep blending. Transfer to a container and enjoy!
About the author

Helen is an author and editor at helenbackcafe.com, who has a passion for writing about recipes. She loves to experiment with different ingredients and cooking techniques to create delicious and unique dishes.

Among all the foods, pizza holds a special place in her heart, and she loves exploring different variations and toppings to create the perfect slice. Through her writing, Helen hopes to inspire others to get creative in the kitchen and share their love for food with the world.

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