Updated on November 11th, 2022
If you’ve never tried tahini before, you’re probably wondering what it tastes like. In general, it has a rich, nutty flavor similar to peanut butter but has a slightly bitter aftertaste. Its earthy flavor is reminiscent of sesame seeds, which gives it a distinct nutty, bitter flavor. Tahini is great in savory and sweet dishes alike, and many people prefer it uncooked or roasted.
Tahini is made from ground sesame seeds and is typically sold in jars in health food stores and online. It can also be found in the international foods section of most grocery stores and some big-box stores. It’s best to buy tahini in its raw form, but you can also buy it in a darker variety that contains black sesame seeds. The darker version is more bitter and should be used only with sweet baked goods.
What Is Tahini?
Tahini is a paste made from toasted sesame seeds. To remove the “coat,” or kernel, the seeds are soaked in water, then crushed and hulled. The kernels float to the surface and are removed. The remainder is toasted and soaked in saltwater once more before being mashed into a paste. It has a thick, greasy, and smooth texture, akin to natural peanut butter.
Tahini is a prominent component in the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine, and it’s used to make hummus and baba ghanoush dips (eggplant and tahini). It’s also great on fish, pork, and veggies. You can also make the salad dressing by adding apple cider vinegar, olive oil, lemon juice, and seasonings.
Tahini is a sesame seed paste formed from pulverized seeds. It can be used to produce savory sauces with other ingredients like garlic and olive oil, or it can be used to bring flavor and nutrition to sweet meals.
Tahini paste is formed from toasted hulled sesame seeds that have been crushed. The paste is combined with a neutral-flavored oil to achieve a creamier texture.
What Does Tahini Taste Like?
Most tahini brands use hulled white sesame seeds. You can also find tahini made with toasted white sesame seeds, and the dark variety contains black sesame seeds with the hull intact. It tends to have a nutty flavor and is best for baking and sprinkling on a savory dessert. You can even make your own tahini by blending sesame seeds and water.
The most common brands of tahini use hulled white sesame seeds, and the darker varieties are made from black or toasted sesame seeds. However, you can find tahini with the oils in many grocery stores. Regardless of the type of tahini, you’re looking for, it has an earthy flavor. It doesn’t have the natural sweetness of nut kinds of butter when it’s raw. It also has a bitter taste, so it is best to avoid using this variety.
The most common brands of tahini use hulled white sesame seeds, and these seeds are roasted or raw. The dark variety is made with roasted white sesame seeds. Although slightly bitter, it is still great in savory and sweet dishes. There are two types of tahini: toasted sesame seeds and black. These varieties are great for tahini, but the latter is better for savory recipes.
In most cases, the best tahini is white, and it is a bit more bitter than raw. However, if you’re not sure what to look for, you can always look for brands with black sesame seeds. The white variety is the best for dipping vegetables but go for the black version if you’re unsure. A little more bitterness is acceptable if you use it as a condiment.
5 Benefits To Eating Tahini
Tahini, one of the primary ingredients in hummus, is rich in vitamins, protein, and healthy fats as if you needed another reason to eat more of it. According to scientists, read on to learn why this superfood ingredient should be drizzled over every meal.
1. Beneficial To Your Cardiovascular System
Tahini’s main ingredient, sesame seeds, are known for their heart-healthy properties, and they can specifically aid in the reduction of cholesterol. High cholesterol levels, particularly LDL cholesterol, are a primary cause of heart disease. Patients with high cholesterol who consumed 40 grams (4.5 tablespoons) of sesame seeds per day for two months saw significant reductions in total and LDL cholesterol levels.
This could be due to sesame seeds’ high antioxidant content, which protects cells from free radical damage and lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease. Sesamin and sesamolin, two powerful antioxidants found only in the sesame plant, have improved heart health. They act by preventing the absorption of dietary cholesterol and inhibiting cholesterol synthesis in the body.
2. Reduction Of Inflammation
Inflammation is rapidly becoming recognized as the core cause of most chronic disorders. However, just as a poor diet can promote inflammation, so can a good diet. Amy Shah, M.D., an integrative doctor, explains, “The best way to improve your inflammatory state is through food. Antioxidant and polyphenol-rich foods can help fight free radicals, which can help reduce inflammation.” This is when tahini enters the picture.
Tahini’s antioxidants, particularly sesamin and sesamolin, can reduce inflammation. According to one study, patients with knee osteoarthritis who took 40 grams of sesame seeds per day improved their knee discomfort and inflammatory biomarkers. Sesame seeds’ antioxidants have been demonstrated in other lab investigations to prevent the generation of inflammatory cytokines.
3. High In Heart-Healthy Fats
Don’t be put off by tahini’s high-fat content; it’s all good fats. While the verdict on saturated fat is still out, the type of fat found in tahini—unsaturated fat—has long been considered “healthy fat.” This is because it promotes cognitive function, heart health, and satiety.
Tahini’s high-fat content may be one of the reasons it’s so excellent for your heart. Tahini is high in polyunsaturated fat, which can help decrease cholesterol.
4. Calcium-Rich Non-Dairy Alternative
Calcium is most likely associated with milk and strong bones. “Calcium is a mineral that’s vital for developing and maintaining healthy bones, as well as carrying out a huge number of physiological activities like cell communication involved in muscle and neuron function and helping blood vessels transfer blood around the body.
Adults should strive for 1,000 milligrams of calcium every day. However, if you don’t eat dairy, you might be concerned that you’re missing out on this important nutrient. Many plant-based calcium sources, like sesame seeds, don’t worry. Tahini provides about 15% of the daily calcium requirement in just 2 tablespoons.
5. Gives Your Skin A Healthy Glow
Are you looking for a way to get your skin to glow? Tahini is a great place to start. Tahini’s nutritional profile makes it particularly well-suited to promoting skin health. All of the beneficial fats in tahini help increase the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, including vitamin A and vitamin E, which are important for avoiding wrinkles. Tahini also includes zinc, which is a component of collagen, which is essential for healthy skin. Collagen is the protein that makes our skin supple and elastic.
Tahini is also a plant-based iron source. Maintaining sufficient iron levels is vital for hair, skin, and nail strength, which is a problem for many vegans and vegetarians.
What Is The Best Way To Use Tahini?
You can eat good tahini straight from the jar, but it’s best served as a key ingredient in hummus or, for something a little more experimental, drizzled over fruit, swirled into cheesecake, or used as a marinade for chicken or lamb.
In Israel, residents and visitors pour herbaceous tahini sauce over falafel-filled pitas; it’s also a popular topping for veggies and occasionally fries. It can be used to thicken a smoothie, provide non-dairy smoothness to soups, or simply spread on toast. Alternatively, prepare a flexible tahini sauce by combining lemon juice, olive oil, and herbs to make a sandwich spread, a meat marinade, or a simple vegetable dip.
How Can You Buy And Store Tahini?
Tahini can be found in Middle Eastern, Greek, and Indian grocery stores in the United States. It’s also widely available online. You can find it at many conventional grocery stores and even big-box supermarkets, either in the exotic foods department or with the oils.
Fans of tahini disagree on the optimal storage place; some say it’s acceptable in the pantry, while others say it needs to be refrigerated. It should be alright kept at room temperature if you use it promptly within a few months, but be aware that the high oil content makes it susceptible to rancid. If this happens, you should notice a strong or metallic fragrance as well as an unpleasant flavor. The oil separates in a jar of tahini, much like it does in natural peanut butter, and it can be difficult to recombine after it stays in the refrigerator, but the cold extends the shelf life to about six months. Before you can stir it, it may need to be warmed in the microwave or in a dish of warm water.
Is Tahini Good For You?
Tahini has a high calcium and protein content and is a good source of copper, zinc, iron, manganese, amino acids, and omega 3 and omega 6 oils. These nutrients aid in reducing inflammation and give excellent cardiovascular support, and they also help maintain the immune system. One tablespoon of tahini contains around 26% of the necessary daily copper consumption, as well as 9–12% zinc, iron, and selenium. Isn’t that good?
Depending on how much olive oil you use, one cup of sesame seeds will yield roughly 3/4 cup tahini paste in this tahini recipe. The amount of olive oil you use will be determined by how thick you want your paste to be, and you’ll need at least 3 tablespoons and up to 1/3 cup of olive oil.
Conclusion
Tahini is a delicious and nutritious condiment. It is made from sesame seeds, rich in antioxidants and nutrients. It’s also a healthy addition to vegan and vegetarian diets. It contains about 17g of vegan protein per 100g serving and is low in saturated fat. It is rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Its consistency is thick and creamy.
The most common varieties of tahini contain hulled sesame seeds. The darker types contain sesame seeds that have not been hulled. This type of tahini is more nutrient-dense and is less bitter than hulled seeds. It is best for baking with sweet and spicy foods, rich in antioxidants. If you’re not sure what you’re looking for, ask your favorite restaurant or bakery.
