Love the creamy, rich flavor of sesame tahini paste, but wonder what to do with it besides making hummus?

Tahini is a tasty paste is, of course, essential to hummus. Made with the hulls removed, tahini is creamier and less bitter, but unhulled tahini, which is more bitter tasting, is considered to be more nutritionally dense than hulled tahini. It’s also more likely to be referred to as a “sesame butter.”

Roasted & Raw Tahini Paste

Most likely the tahini paste you find in stores will be hulled raw tahini (also called unroasted). But, it is also possible to find roasted tahini, which is nothing more than tahini made from hulled sesame seeds that have been roasted before grinding. Much like with other nuts and seeds, roasting imparts another level of flavor that works well with some dishes.

There is no right or wrong decision when choosing which tahini paste to use. It really is just a matter of preference and availability.

Other Uses for Tahini Paste Besides Hummus

1.  Salad Dressing – Combine equal parts of raw tahini and water to make a simple dressing for topping salads of all kinds. Add lemon juice, crushed garlic, salt and pepper to taste. Whisk well until well combined. Boost the flavor with fresh herbs like dill, parsley, or cilantro.
2. Marinade – Tahini also makes a great marinade for meat, fish, and even tofu. Combine roasted tahini, soy sauce, and olive oil. Add honey, crushed garlic, grated ginger, and salt. Marinate at least several hours or overnight.
3. Ice Cream Topping – Enjoy peanut butter sauce over ice cream? Consider trying roasted tahini as a tasty alternative. Simply melt the tahini in a saucepan–do not allow to boil–and pour over vanilla ice cream.
4. Stir Fry/Grain Bowl Sauce – Add raw or roasted tahini to any stir fry dish or grain bowl for some added creaminess and nuttiness. Whether a simple stir fry of snow peas, tofu, and rice or a grain bowl of quinoa, black beans, and pickled onions, tahini makes for a great sauce.
5. Add it to Soup – Turn a creamy soup into a healthier version by adding tahini in place of dairy. From asparagus to parsnip soup, add tablespoons of tahini to get the desired creaminess.
6. Dip – Techina is a simple tahini dip made with lemon juice, garlic and salt and pepper. It’s an alternative to hummus for dipping vegetables, pita, or tortilla chips.

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Image: Bowl of Tahini via Shutterstock

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