Talk Tahini to Me

Tahini is considered somewhat of a “specialty ingredient,” in these parts, as it isn’t commonly found in supermarkets or local grocery stores. However, in Mediterranean cuisine and often too in Asian, African, and Middle Eastern dishes, tahini is a staple ingredient.

It is sometimes referred to as “tahini paste,” though this is technically a redundant term as tahini is the paste itself, which is made of ground sesame seeds. The texture is lovely and smooth, not too far off from a slightly liquidy but butter. You may be surprised how useful it can be in the kitchen, especially to add a smooth, creaminess to a number of dishes.

Tahini is great for the immune system. It’s full of healthy fats and omega-3’s that lower cholesterol and help combat inflammation. The paste is also a great source of B and E vitamins and has copper, zinc, selenium, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium… the list goes on. One thing to keep in mind is its high calorie count, as to be expected from nutritious nut and seed butters.

If you have a jar of tahini lying around (that you bought to make homemade hummus perhaps) and have been unsure how it can be incorporated into your everyday diet, we’ve linked some great recipes below to try. We’ve included both desserts and savoury recipes — case in point, this ingredient really is versatile! And if you are wondering where to purchase this lovely item, we get ours from Fig Mediterranean Deli on Cedar Hill Cross Road in Victoria!