What Is Tahini (sesame paste) and How Can I Use It?

Tahini (sesame paste) is easier to cook with than it looks. Here's how to choose, use, and store it, what to substitute, and 170 recipes to get you started.

What is tahini (sesame paste)?

Tahini is a paste made from seasame seeds.

A thick beige colored oily paste of seasame seeds that is used in Middle-Eastern cooking, both for savory and sweet dishes. It is a very popular ingredient in vegetarian recipes as it adds rich flavor when used.

Sesame seed paste, a darker roasted variety, is used extensively in China as a dip for the very popular Chinese hot pot.

The sesame oil in the paste separates and floats to the top when stored and needs to be stirred thoroughly before use.

It is becoming quite easy to locate in North American supermarkets normally found in the Ethnic foods section. You can also find dark roasted sesame paste in smaller jars in the Asian section of supermarkets.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 tbsp (15g)

Amount per Serving

Calories 89Calories from Fat 72

% Daily Value *

Total Fat 8.1g 12%

Saturated Fat 1.1g 6%

Trans Fat ~

Cholesterol 0mg 0%

Sodium 17mg 1%

Total Carbohydrate 3.2g 1%

Dietary Fiber 1g 6%

Sugars 0.1

Protein 2.6g

Vitamin A 0% Vitamin C 0%

Calcium 6% • Iron 7%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your caloric needs.

recipeland.com/nutrition

Quick facts

Where to find tahini (sesame paste): Tahini (sesame paste) is usually found in the condiments section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group: Tahini (sesame paste) is a member of the Nut and Seed Products US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

In Chinese: 芝麻酱
British (UK) term: Tahini (sesame paste)
en français: pâte de sésame
en español: pasta de sésamo

How much does tahini (sesame paste) weigh?

Amount	Weight
1 tbsp	15 grams
1 ounce	28 grams

Nut and Seed Products

Sesame seeds 663 Sunflower seeds 181 Almonds 1782 Almond paste 61 Cashew nuts 213 Water chestnuts 309 Coconut 947 Coconut, shredded, unsweetened (desiccated) 58 Coconut, shredded (desiccated) 158 Coconut cream 46

Recipes using tahini (sesame paste)

There are 170 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Hummus Bi Tahini

Hummus bi tahini blends chickpeas with tahini, garlic, and lemon for the silkiest Lebanese-style dip. A baking soda boil softens the chickpeas, and toasted pine nuts crown the bowl.

Delicious Baba Ghannouj

Quick baba ghanoush with steamed eggplant, tahini, lemon, garlic, and a hint of cumin. The 13-minute version that skips the smoky char in favor of pure, clean eggplant flavor.

Hummus Me Tahini

Authentic hummus me tahini: chickpeas pushed through a sieve and whipped with tahini, lemon, olive oil, and garlic. Traditional Greek-Mediterranean method.

Jane Gol's Hummus

Classic Middle Eastern hummus blended from chickpeas, tahini, garlic, and fresh lemon juice. Smooth, creamy, and ready in 10 minutes for pita, vegetables, or anything that needs a smear.

Hummus #1

Classic Middle Eastern hummus blended from chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, and garlic. Topped with paprika-tinted olive oil and parsley for a smooth, creamy dip ready in 30 minutes.

Red Pepper Hummus with Toasted Pita

Red pepper hummus blends chickpeas with sweet sauteed red peppers, tahini, lemon, and cumin into a smooth, smoky dip, served with crisp homemade garlic-salt pita chips. A fast, vegan appetizer.

Smoky Baba Ghanoush

Smoky baba ghanoush gets its deep, fire-kissed flavor from whole eggplants charred over medium-hot coals. Blended with tahini, garlic, lemon, and a touch of sugar for balance. A creamy Middle Eastern dip that puts hummus on notice.

Spiced Hummus

Spiced chickpea hummus blended with cumin, coriander, ginger, turmeric, and tahini. Food processor makes it silky smooth. Chill before serving with pita or vegetables.

Quick Hummus

This tasty spread is easy to make and tastes amazing when used in sandwiches.

Hummus Iii

Classic Middle Eastern hummus blended from cooked chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, four cloves of garlic, and a generous drizzle of olive oil. The pita-and-falafel sidekick that holds its own as a meal.

Simple Hummus

Your basic hummus. Try adding a handful of black beans, spinach, or other "flavors" and spice to create your own unique taste!

Baba Gannouj (Joel Rapp)

Classic baba ghanoush with fire-charred eggplant, tahini, lemon juice, and garlic, topped with parsley and olive oil. The traditional Middle Eastern smoky eggplant dip done right.

MarNai's Hummus

Creamy homemade hummus blended from chickpeas, tahini, lemon, garlic, and a touch of cumin. A quick, healthy, high-fiber dip ready in minutes, finished with fresh parsley and a drizzle of olive oil.

Hummus Bi Tahini (Chick Pea & Sesame Puree)

Hummus Bi Tahini (Chick Pea and Sesame Puree) recipe

Gluten-Free Granola (Breakfast)

A healthy version of a common breakfast staple, it provides steady-release energy through the day and delivers important nutrients such as iron, selenium and calcium, among others. Easy to make ahead and pack for a day at the office.

Hummus (Chick Pea Dip)

Creamy homemade hummus with tahini, fresh lemon juice, garlic, and cumin. No-cook, five-minute food processor recipe that beats anything store-bought.

Baba Ghanoush No.2

Smoky baba ghanoush of broiler-charred eggplant pureed with tahini, sauteed garlic and onion, and a touch of liquid smoke for that fire-roasted flavor. Served at room temperature with pita.

Falafel

Baked falafel patties with chickpeas, tahini, and warm spices. Healthier Middle Eastern vegetarian patties that are crispy outside, tender inside, without deep frying.

Chilled Couscous Salad with Mango

Absolutely loved it! The other salad I made yesterday, instead of couscous I used quinoa that is much healthier; didn't have cooked chickpea on hand, so I boiled some frozen soy beans instead, and it actually tasted amazing.

Mâche & Chicken Salad with Honey Tahini Dressing

Quite tasty. The tahini dressing made the whole dish sing. We used arugula instead of spinach. Delicious!

Healthy Caesar Salad

This healthy version of Caesar salad has great flavor. For a complete dinner you can add cooked chicken breasts and toss in salad.

Cold & Spicy Udon Noodles

Thick udon noodles with a spicy Asian dressing that's easy to make and ready when you are.

Super Easy Hummus

Hummus is packed with goodness, tastes delicious, and it's so easy to make. Forget about the store-bought ones that usually contain more than just a few ingredients, make it yourself, and you will be amazed by the result.

Cold & Spicy Noodles

This is my kind of food, packed with Asian flavor. Lots of miso, tahini, sesame oil...YUM! Loved orange juice in the sauce, a bit sweet, sour and orange-y taste, which I really enjoyed!

Quick Chinese Chicken Salad

If you just need a quick dinner, this scrumptious salad is the perfect dish for you!

Huminta (Bolivian Style Souffle)

Vegan Bolivian-style huminta with quinoa, tofu, and winter squash blended into a savory baked casserole. Tahini and anise give the dish nutty depth and a faintly licorice finish.

Baba Ghannuj (Eggplant Appetizer)

Baba ghannuj eggplant appetizer baked whole and mashed with tahini, garlic, lemon juice, and a drizzle of olive oil. The vegan Middle Eastern dip that turns one eggplant into a dinner-table star.

Best Veggie Burger

Best veggie burger with bulgur, chickpeas, tahini, and grated zucchini, carrot, and apple. A vegan burger with real texture and Middle Eastern flavor that holds together on the grill.

Chickpea Burgers & Tahini Sauce

Crispy pan-fried chickpea burgers with oregano and cumin, tucked into warm pita with a creamy lemon-tahini yogurt sauce. Vegetarian, healthy, and done in 25 minutes.

Black Bean Tahini Hummus

Black bean hummus with tahini, lime, garlic, and cumin. A southwestern twist on the classic chickpea spread, vegan and ready in 5 minutes in the food processor. Smooth, smoky, and dippable.

Classic Hummus

Classic hummus blended creamy from chickpeas, tahini, lemon, and garlic, finished with a paprika-spiced olive oil drizzle. A quick, no-cook vegan dip for pita and crisp raw vegetables.

Spicy Sichuan Noodles (Dan Dan Mian)

A classic Chinese noodle dish, it's served in almost every Chinese restaurant in China, and every family knows how to make this easy yet delicious dish.

Roasted Red Pepper Hummus

Quick, easy to make, and it's also very tasty. Serve this freshly homemade hummus with store-bought or homemade pita bread.

Broccoli Pasta with Sesame Sauce

A delicious way to prepare pasta. Broccoli, carrots and cilantro brighten up the whole dish, and sesame sauce adds the delicious ceaminess and nuttiness, and all the yummy Asian flavor. It's an easy dish that's packed with flavors. Serve it as a side dish or a simply tasty main dish.

Baba Ganouj (Tangy Eggplant Dip)

This scrumptious dip is made with eggplants, garlic and tahini. Can be used as a sandwich spread or eaten with crackers and tortilla chips.

Almond-Peach Crumble

A scrumptious and decadent dessert that will have your family asking you to make it everyday!

Bok Choy, Carrot & Mushroom Stir-Fry with Sesame Orange Sauce

A quick, easy and tasty Asian stir-fry! The tahini-orange sauce adds the rich, nutty and slightly sweet flavors, which makes the dish taste absolutely delicious!

Sesame Maple Roasted Tofu

So far, all my familiy love this recipe, I gave all my good friends this recipe to share, they all love it too.

Sesame Tahini Oat Cookies

These Asian inspired cookies are so good, tahini and sesame give the cookies tangy and nutty flavor.

Creamy Vegetable Tahini Soup

A creamy and hearty vegetable soup of leeks, carrots, broccoli and tomatoes that's thickened and seasoned with sesame paste (tahini).

Asian Miso-Sesame Soba Stew with Tatsoi

Miso and sesame paste made a delicious base for the stew. Soba noodles and tofu absorbed all the yumminess. Carrots, corn and peas added beautiful color to the stew. Tatsoi could be easily replaced by spinach, kale or Swiss chard. A wholesome and filling Asian style stew.

Easy Hummus

A tasty hummus recipe made with a bit of lemon juice and curry powder. Perfect for dips or as a sandwich spread.

Low Fat & Low Calorie Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Yesterday I brought these cookies to my husband's friend's bonfire, they disappeared quickly. Everyone loved them. Tahini actually tasted delicious in these cookies! Will be making these sweets again.

Asian Style Leftover Turkey Salad

Slightly sweet and sour. Ginger and garlic Asian dressing was super flavourful. The napa cabbage, carrots, and radishes gave the salad a nice crunch. Definitely will be making it again with my leftover turkey. I'm sure that it works great with chicken as well.