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How to make tahini(homemade)

A Tahini recipe to help you make your own sesame(tahini)paste.

The sesame paste is quick and easy to make, you won’t be using store-bought tahini to make your favorite middle eastern dip anymore.

You will need just 3 ingredients to make tahini, they are,

  • Sesame seeds
  • salt,
  • A light oil.
  • And a little water if you need to turn the tahini to a pourable consistency if it is too thick.

That’s it.

What is tahini?

Tahini is also called Tahina in some countries and is a semi-liquid paste made with sesame seeds.

The sesame sauce(tahini)is used to make Middle eastern and Mediteranean dishes.

You can use tahini as a dressing, dip or make hummus.

What does tahini tastes like.

Tahini paste when consumed on its own has a nutty flavor, you can also taste the slight bitterness at the end.

It’s a good kind of bitterness that doesn’t overpower but adds its own unique flavor to the dish you add tahini to.

Like the Bitter gourd fry(Sri Lankan karawila sambol).

Ways to use tahini in your meals.

Obviously the best and popular way of using tahini is to use it with Hummus and Babaganoush.

Drizzled over roasted or grilled vegetables.

Tahini is also used in desserts and to make your own marinades etc.

If you are looking for inspirations on how to use Tahini, this BBC collection of Tahini recipes should help you.

Save the recipe to your favorite Pinterest board!

Tips to make Tahini.
  • While dry roasting the sesame seeds, makes sure to maintain a low temperature.
  • Constantly stir the sesame seeds to dry roast them evenly.
  • The sesame seeds should be cooked only till they reach the beginnig of a pale yellow color.
  • Let the sesame seeds completely cool before blending it to a paste.
  • If you are making tahini for the first time, do not rush the process of blending sesame seeds to a paste.
  • To reach the correct consistency, the right amount of oil should be added so make sure to pay attention to the quantity of oil you add.

How long can I keep the tahini paste.

I would advise only making tahini to last a week or two.

  • As tahini is easy to make, it would be practical to make a small batch of tahini from using 1 cup of sesame seeds.
  • always stir before using it.

To avoid tahini spoiling.

Make sure to store it in a dry, air-tight glass container.

Always use a dry spoon.

Utensils and appliances needed.

Medium-sized frying pan

Food processor to blend the sesame seeds

RECIPE DIFFICULTY-EASY

How to make tahini paste

Please make sure to read the recipe instructions at least once to avoid mistakes.

Ingredients mentioned below use standard measuring cups and spoons.

1 cup of sesame seeds

4 tablespoons of oil to be used as needed to reach the correct consistency.(light olive oil, avocado oil etc. any type oil that is light and doesn’t have a strong fragrance to it)

A pinch(1/8 tsp)salt

Method

How to blend the sesame seeds to make tahini.

Add the sesame seeds(1 cup)to a medium-sized frying pan.

Maintain heat at low-medium and lightly toast the sesame seeds. use a wooden spoon to move the seeds around.

Gently toast them until they turn a light pale yellow color. 3-5 minutes.

Once you’ve toasted the sesame seeds, transfer them to a bowl to cool down.

Once the sesame seed is cool, transfer them into a food processor.

Add a pinch of salt.

And use the pulse setting to grind.

First, grind until they turn crumbly.

Continue to pulse, you will notice the sesame powder turn to a wet crumble.

Add 2 tablespoons of oil and pulse.

Continue to grind for 1 minute until you notice almost all the paste is attached to the sides. scrape it with a knife.

To ease the process of grinding add the rest of the oil and continue to blend the sesame seeds.

Check the consistency of the tahini.

To reach a thinner consistency on the tahini paste, you can add water(just 2-3 tbsp)not more.

Once you make the tahini, transfer to a dry, air-tight container and refrigerate until used.

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a spoon of tahini paste in a spoon.

How to make tahini(homemade)

Yield: 4
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Additional Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes

A Tahini recipe to help you make your own sesame(tahini)paste.

The sesame paste is quick and easy to make, you won’t be using store-bought tahini to make your favorite middle eastern dip anymore.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup of sesame seeds
  • 4 tablespoons of oil to be used as needed to reach the correct consistency.(light olive oil, avocado oil etc. any type oil that is light and doesn’t have a strong fragrance to it)
  • A pinch(1/8 tsp)salt

Instructions

How to blend the sesame seeds to make tahini.

Add the sesame seeds(1 cup)to a medium-sized frying pan.

Maintain heat at low-medium and lightly toast the sesame seeds. use a wooden spoon to move the seeds around.

Gently toast them until they turn a light pale yellow color. 3-5 minutes.

Once you’ve toasted the sesame seeds, transfer them to a bowl to cool down.

Once the sesame seed is cool, transfer them into a food processor.

Add a pinch of salt.

Use the pulse setting to grind.

First, grind until they turn crumbly.

Continue to pulse, you will notice the sesame powder turn to a wet crumble.

Add 2 tablespoons of oil and pulse.

Continue to grind for 1 minute until you notice almost all the paste is attached to the sides.

scrape with a knife and continue to pulse.

To ease the process of grinding add the rest of the oil and continue to blend the sesame seeds.

Check the consistency of the tahini.

To reach a thinner consistency on the tahini paste, you can add water(just 2-3 tbsp)not more.

Once you make the tahini, transfer to a dry, air-tight container and refrigerate until used.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 305Total Fat: 29gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 25gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 4mgCarbohydrates: 8gFiber: 4gSugar: 0gProtein: 5g

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