Tahini – A famous Middle Eastern dip or condiment recipe made from roasted white sesame seeds. This tahini paste is a very basic recipe and can be used to prepare many dips and spread like hummus.
Facts about Tahini
Tahini paste is a Middle Eastern recipe. Tahini paste is one of the main ingredients of the “hummus” recipe. It is said that the recipe of tahini paste was found in the 13th century. Tahini paste is a recipe you will usually get in Arabic homes. Apart from the Middle East area, Tahini paste OR white sesame paste is used in Japanese, Chinese and Korean cuisine as well. This sesame paste is used sometimes as a spread OR along with butter in American cuisine.
Soaking sesame seeds vs not soaking
This recipe is VERY EASY to prepare. Originally, the recipe is prepared by soaking sesame seeds in water for 20 minutes to 1 hour. I am not soaking my seeds here. The main difference I have noticed is that when you soak your sesame seeds, you will get a creamier paste, while on the other hand, if you don’t soak your seeds, then the nuttiness of sesame seeds remains in the paste and the paste might not be as creamy as one with soaked sesame.
What is Tahini sauce? How to turn tahini into sauce?
Tahini sauce is a rich, creamy, and flavorful sauce that is made from tahini paste. If you like Tahini paste plain, it is a good thing but most of the time, Tahini paste is converted into tahini sauce by adding garlic, salt, cumin, parsley or cilantro into it. After that, a smoother mixture is prepared and served as a topping or diiping sauce along with falafel and wraps.
Why add oil to tahini?
Adding oil to tahini can help mellow the bitterness of the sesame seeds, creating a smoother and more balanced flavor. Alternatively, you can add honey or maple syrup to adjust the bitterness, but I have not tried that.
Ingredients
Below are the ingredients required to make the tahini sauce.
White sesame seeds: Tahini is made of hulled sesame seeds. If you get hulled sesame in stores, it is best. Otherwise, we have to roast raw sesame seeds before making tahini.
Nutral cooking oil : While any nutral cooking oil will work fine for this recipe. Extra virgin olive oil is THE BEST for tahini. Adding oil while making tahini paste makes the paste smoother and takes tahini to next level.
Salt : to taste.
How to (with photos)
Preparing sesame seeds,
If you get hulled sesame seeds from stores, you can use that. Otherwise, we have to roast sesame seeds first because we are not soaking the seeds here.
Take a pan and on medium flame roast sesame seeds to a golden brown.
Preparing tahini
Take a food processor, transfer roasted sesame seeds, and churn.
After the first churn, you will get crushed powder like sesame seeds. Add oil and churn again.
after churning for 3 minutes, you will notice that everything is blended together and the sesame has started releasing oil.
Add salt and your tahini is ready. Store it and use it as required.
Watch video
Storage
This tahini sauce remains fresh for up to 6 days in the refrigerator; however, try to use it within 3 to 4 days. I have not tried freezing tahini, so I can not comment on that However, I will update this section if I try.
Always store tahini in a sterilized jar as it is recommended.
Homemade tahini sauce recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup white sesame seeds
- ½ tablespoon Any nutral cooking oil, using extra virgin olive oil here
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Heat pan first.
- Add sesame seeds.1 cup white sesame seeds
- Roast the sesame until golden brown.
- Transfer the roasted sesame to a mixer jar.
- Crush it.
- After the first churn, you will get a nice powder.
- Now, add cooking oil /olive oil.½ tablespoon Any nutral cooking oil
- Churn altogether.
- Crush them to a smooth paste. Add salt to your taste.salt to taste
- Your paste is ready.
Notes
- you can add a pinch of salt at the end.
- you can store this recipe for 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
