Easy Homemade Tahini Sauce! 

Tahini sauce has recently become more popular within The United States as it is one of the main ingredients in hummus. Growing up in Jordan, Tahini was a staple ingredient that could always be found in the kitchen pantry. It is used in various dishes, including sweet and savory dishes. The tahini sauce’s smooth and nutty flavor perfectly compliments many Middle Eastern spices and flavors. 

The easiest way to use tahini sauce is to mix it with date molasses and dip a warm piece of pita bread into the mixture. This simple dish is particularly comforting on a cold day. Making this dip was my mom’s trick to get us up early in the morning. I love her simple tahini sauce, and now I am happy to share that recipe with you! So, without further ado, here is my tahini sauce recipe! 

Health Benefits of Tahini Sauce 

Tahini has many health benefits, and it has been associated with improving heart health and reducing inflammation. Eaters of tahini can gain many valuable nutrients such as vitamins B1, B2, and B5. Tahini is also rich in magnesium, zinc, and iron. By adding tahini to your diet, you can create well-balanced meals that are excellent for your health. 

History of Tahini 

Tahini, which is also called tahina, is primarily used in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisines. It is a paste made from ground sesame seeds. The seeds themselves have been cultivated for 5000 BC. 

To make tahini, the best sesame seeds are cultivated from the fertile soil of Humera, Ethiopia, where the climate is ideal for growing sesame seeds. Of course, the best way to make the tahini is the old-fashioned way. This includes using stone to grind the hulled seeds to extract the paste and its oil! Most of the tahini sold in the markets use a more commercial approach with machinery to save on cost and faster production. Many companies have decided to cut costs since the price of tahini rose more than 20 % in the past few years. 

Hulled vs. Unhulled Sesame Seeds 

The two kinds of sesame seeds include hulled and unhulled. The difference is that the unhulled seeds still have the outer shell intact, making it darker in color. Tahini is usually made with hulled sesame seeds. Hulled sesame seeds are used for their lighter color and smooth finish. It can also be made from unhulled black sesame seeds, which produce more of a darker-colored sauce. 

How Is Tahini Used? 

Tahini sauce is super versatile and found in many dishes in different countries around the world. For example, halva in Turkey or Halawa in Middle Eastern countries is a popular sweet snack made of sesame seeds. Each country has its own extra ingredients added to the sesame seeds, and it makes a paste-like loaf. They can be made with chocolate, pistachios, and even almonds, to name a few. 

Another popular dish is kofta with tahini sauce. It’s one of my favorite dishes. Kofta is ground lamb mixed with chopped onion, parsley, and a mix of spices, formed into oval-shaped pieces. These ovals are then baked in the oven until they become half-cooked. When they are half cooked, you pour tahini sauce all over them and finish baking them in the oven. 

The latest use of tahini sauce is to make tahini-flavored ice cream. People who follow a vegan diet love using tahini for its creamy texture. It makes ice cream smooth, buttery and has a slightly nutty flavor. Vegans also love to use tahini for baking brownies or cookies! 

How to Make Tahini Sauce? 

Tahini sauce is super easy to make at home. All you need is a high-power blender or a food processor. Once you make the sauce, you can use it in a large variety of dishes. 

1. Simply toast two cups of hulled sesame seeds over medium heat over the stove until they slightly change color and bring some of its oil to the surface.
2. When the seeds cool down to handle, transfer to a food processor and process for at least five minutes, scrape the side and mix again for another 10 minutes, stop and scrape the side in between.
3. If you feel the tahini is too thick, you could add a few tablespoons of oil, like olive oil or untoasted sesame oil.
4. keep in a glass jar, either in your pantry or in the refrigerator, for a month 

How to Make Tahini Sauce for Cooking Recipes?  

To make a tahini sauce that you can use in a variety of dishes, simply add warm water, lemon juice, cumin, salt, and minced garlic to the tahini. Then whisk until it becomes a smooth sauce. If you want more of your tahini, you can also add yogurt, garlic, olive oil, and spices like coriander or sumac. With tahini sauce, you can adjust the thickness by adding liquid or more tahini. Keep adjusting the amount of liquid with tahini to find the perfect mixture. 

Simple Ideas to Make the Most Out of Your Tahini Sauce 

• Drizzle over falafel – tahini sauce and falafel are a marriage made in heaven either by drizzling the falafel sandwich or dipping the falafel in the tahini sauce. 
• Drizzle over roasted vegetables – tahini tastes amazing with charred vegetables like cauliflower and eggplant 
• Use for making moutabal – tahini is one of the main ingredients in moutabal, which is a roasted eggplant dip. You can find a tasty and easy moutabal recipe on Ranasrecipe! 
• Dress your favorite salad – tahini sauce is so creamy and yet savory. It makes a great dressing on any salad. 
• Spread it on toast – you can spread some tahini on warm toast, drizzle some honey, sprinkle some cinnamon, and enjoy a delicious snack or breakfast! 

The uses of Tahini sauce are endless. Do try it out and let me know how it turns out.

Bio:

Hi, I’m Rana and I blog at ranasrecipe.com. My passion for food began very early in my life. And after managing a cafe, a granola business and helping other food businesses scale up, I found my true calling in creating wonderful recipes so that everyone can enjoy cooking as much as I do! Don’t forget to follow me on my social channels- instagram and pinterest.