what is tahini

Tahini is a paste made from ground sesame seeds and is a staple in many cuisines, especially in the Mediterranean and the Middle East. It is vegan, gluten-free, and has a rich, nutty flavor. Tahini is a key ingredient in dips such as hummus and baba ghanoush, gets drizzled on falafel sandwiches, or is made into tarator, a tahini-lemon-garlic sauce to accompany fish, vegetables or shawarma. Tahini is also found in the culinary traditions of North African, Levant and the East Mediterranean, and South Caucus countries. Homemade tahini is easy to make and tastes much better than store-bought. Tahini is made of three ingredients: sesame seeds, oil, and salt. When tahini is good, it should be homogeneous, creamy, thick but pourable, with a rich, nutty flavor.