Best 20 Tahini Recipes

TAHINI DRESSING

Steps:

• Place all ingredients in a blender; cover and process until blended.

TAHINI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Spread sesame seeds onto a baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until seeds are fragrant, stirring every few minutes, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Transfer toasted seeds to a blender and add olive oil. Blend until completely smooth, adding additional oil if needed. Refrigerate in a sealed container.

FALAFEL WITH TAHINI SAUCE

Steps:

• Make the spice mix: In a skillet over low heat, toast the coriander and cumin seeds until fragrant, 1-2 minutes. Grind the toasted seeds in a spice grinder. Add the dried parsley, granulated garlic, chili powder, granulated onion, za'atar, sumac, allspice, chili flakes, a few turns of black pepper and continue grinding to combine. Set aside. Spice mix will keep for several weeks in an airtight jar.
• For the falafel: In a food processor, add the chickpeas, chopped onion and garlic, parsley, cilantro, baking soda, spice mix and salt. Pulse until the mixture's combined and the chickpeas are pea-size, stopping and stirring halfway through. Tightly pack the falafel mixture into balls the size of an extra large marble and set aside.
• Fry the falafel: Pour oil half full into a deep pan and set over medium heat. Secure a deep-fry thermometer to the pan's side and heat oil to 375 degrees F. Using a spider strainer, gently drop the falafel balls, one at a time, into the hot oil making sure the pot isn't overcrowded with falafel. Cook until most of the bubbles have disappeared and the falafel is golden brown, 1-2 minutes. Remove to a wire rack fitted over a baking sheet to cool and repeat the process until all of the falafel balls are cooked.
• Make the tahini dressing and assemble the dish: In a blender add the garlic, water, tahini, lemon juice, olive oil, and salt. Blend until combined. Taste for seasoning, adding more salt and lemon juice if necessary and blend again. Set aside. Tahini sauce can be made several days ahead and stored in the refrigerator. To serve, place falafel balls on a platter, drizzle with tahini sauce and garnish with parsley and a lemon wedge.

TAHINI CHICKEN

Steps:

• Bring water and bouillon cube to a boil in a pot until bouillon is dissolved; decrease heat to low. Whisk tahini, soy sauce, honey, garlic, and ginger into bouillon mixture until smooth. Keep sauce warm over low heat.
• Heat butter in a skillet over medium heat; cook and stir chicken until no longer pink in the center, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Whisk flour into tahini sauce until thickened, 2 to 3 minutes. Add cooked chicken to tahini sauce and toss to coat.

TASTEFUL TAHINI SALAD DRESSING

Steps:

• Blend the tahini, olive oil, water, tamari, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, ginger, garlic, and black pepper together in a blender until smooth.

CHICKEN SHAWARMA WITH TOMATO CUCUMBER RELISH AND TAHINI SAUCE

Steps:

• For the shawarma: Mix the cumin, paprika, allspice, chili powder and garlic together. Place the chicken inside a resealable plastic bag with the olive oil. Add the spice mixture and rub in until fully incorporated. Seal that bag and place it into the refrigerator to marinate for at least 30 minutes.
• Preheat the grill to medium-high heat.
• After marinating, use the skewers to pierce the pieces of chicken through the center. Slide the pieces down leaving enough room for you to hold the skewer, about 3 pieces of chicken per skewer. Continue this process until chicken is all skewered. Sprinkle with salt and place on a hot oiled grill top for 4 minutes per side, or 8 minutes total.
• For the relish: Mix the oil, vinegar, oregano, tomatoes, cucumbers, garlic, lemon juice, onion, parsley and some salt and pepper.
• For the tahini sauce: In a medium bowl, combine the tahini paste, olive oil, lemon juice and 1/4 cup water. Season with salt.
• To serve, fill the pitas with the grilled chicken and serve with the cucumber relish and tahini sauce.

HUMMUS WITHOUT TAHINI

Steps:

• Sprinkle garlic clove with 1/4 teaspoon salt and mash with the back of a knife to form a paste. Add to food processor along with chickpeas and their reserved liquid, lemon juice, cumin, nutmeg and yogurt. Stream in olive oil, adding enough to reach a smooth consistency. Season with salt and pepper.
• Transfer to a bowl and serve with crudites, such as carrots, radish, and endive, and pita chips. Hummus will keep in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

BROCCOLI SALAD WITH PEANUTS AND TAHINI-LIME DRESSING

Steps:

• Trim the broccoli stalks and peel them to remove the tough outer layer. Cut off the florets, leaving as much of the stalk as possible intact, and set the florets aside. Using the shredding or julienne blade of a food processor, a mandoline or a sharp knife, julienne the stems and place them in a large bowl.
• Finely chop or julienne the florets and add them to the bowl, along with the scallions and peanuts.
• In a small bowl or glass measuring cup, combine the tahini, lime juice, sesame oil, soy sauce, honey, garlic and hot sauce and whisk until smooth. Pour the dressing over the vegetables and toss thoroughly to coat. Set aside at room temperature for at least 15 minutes, tossing occasionally, to allow the broccoli to soften slightly.
• Just before serving, add the fresh herbs and toss well. (You can refrigerate for up to 8 hours before serving.)

ROASTED CAULIFLOWER WITH TAHINI-PARSLEY SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil, and fill a bowl with ice water. When the water comes to a boil, salt generously and add the cauliflower. Blanch for two minutes, and transfer to the ice water. Drain and blot dry. Transfer to a baking dish.
• Season the cauliflower with salt and pepper, and toss with the olive oil. Place in the oven, and roast for 30 to 40 minutes, stirring from time to time, until tender and lightly browned.
• Puree the garlic cloves with 1/4 teaspoon salt in a mortar and pestle. Transfer to a bowl, and whisk in the sesame tahini. Whisk in the lemon juice, beginning with the smaller amount. The mixture will stiffen up. Gradually whisk in up to 1/2 cup water, until the sauce has the consistency of thick cream (or runny yogurt). Stir in the parsley. Taste, and adjust salt and lemon juice. Serve with the cauliflower. You will have some sauce left over.

TAHINI-GLAZED CARROTS

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 425 degrees. Place carrots on a large rimmed baking sheet and toss with the oil, salt and cumin. Roast carrots for 15 minutes, then turn them and continue roasting until they are golden at the edges and tender, 12 to 15 minutes longer.
• While the carrots are roasting, make the tahini glaze: In a medium bowl, whisk together the oil, tahini, 3 tablespoons lemon juice, silan, cayenne, salt and 1 tablespoon water until smooth. Whisk in 1 to 2 more tablespoons water until you have a thick but pourable sauce. Taste and add more salt or lemon juice, or both, if you like.
• Transfer the carrots to a platter and drizzle with the tahini glaze, tossing the carrots to coat.

LEBANESE-STYLE TUNA SALAD WITH TAHINI DRESSING

Steps:

• Make the dressing:
• In a blender blend together the tahini, the lemon juice, the garlic paste, and the cayenne, with the motor running add the oil in a stream, blending until the dressing is emulsified, and season the dressing with salt.
• Make the tuna salad:
• In a bowl toss the tuna lightly with half the dressing and mound the mixture on a large platter. In a large heavy skillet cook the onions in the oil over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, for 50 minutes, or until they are golden brown, and season them with salt and pepper. With a fork scatter the onions over the tuna. In the skillet cook the pine nuts over moderately low heat, stirring, until they are golden and scatter them over the onions. Drizzle the salad with the remaining dressing and sprinkle it with the chopped parsley. Garnish the salad with the parsley sprigs and serve it with the pita pockets.

HOMEMADE TAHINI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spread sesame seeds on a rimmed baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven, shaking the baking sheet frequently, until seeds are lightly toasted, 5 to 10 minutes. Let cool, about 10 minutes.
• Pour cooled seeds and 1 1/2 cups olive oil into a food processor. Blend until smooth, 1 to 2 minutes. Add more oil and blend until a thick yet pourable consistency is reached.

TURKEY PITAS WITH CUCUMBERS, CHICKPEAS AND TAHINI

Steps:

• In a large bowl, stir together onion, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, salt, cumin and sugar. Let sit for at least 10 minutes while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.
• Meanwhile, in a small bowl, stir together tahini, remaining 1 tablespoon lemon juice, garlic, pinch of salt and 2 to 3 tablespoons warm water to thin the sauce. It should be thick but pourable. Taste, and add more salt and lemon juice, if needed.
• Into the bowl with onions, stir in chickpeas, cucumbers, tomatoes and oil. Taste, and add more salt and lemon juice if needed.
• In each pita half, layer turkey, then drizzle with tahini-lemon mixture. Add spoonfuls of chickpea salad, cilantro and mint. Drizzle liberally with more tahini sauce and zhug, if you like.

SWEET POTATOES WITH TAHINI BUTTER

Steps:

• Bring a few inches of water to a boil in a medium pot fitted with a steamer basket or footed colander. Place sweet potatoes in the steamer. Cover, reduce heat to medium and steam until potatoes are completely tender, 35 to 40 minutes. (Use a skewer or paring knife to check for doneness; the potatoes should be soft all the way through.)
• Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk butter, tahini, lime juice, soy sauce, sesame oil and garlic until smooth. It might seem as if the butter and liquids will never fully combine, but they will - just keep stirring! Taste, and adjust seasoning with salt, pepper and more lime juice as needed.
• Set a small pan over medium heat. Toast the sesame seeds, swirling the pan continuously, until seeds are golden. They'll give off some oil and start to clump together, so if needed, stir with a wooden spoon to keep them moving so that they toast evenly. They'll turn a nice deep-golden shade just as they dry off a bit, about 4 minutes. Transfer seeds to a small bowl to prevent them from overcooking.
• When the sweet potatoes are tender, use tongs to transfer them to a large plate or platter. When they are just cool enough to handle, split potatoes in half lengthwise, and season with flaky salt. Spread tahini butter generously onto the flesh, and top with sesame seeds. Serve immediately with lime wedges.

HUMMUS WITHOUT TAHINI

Steps:

• Put all ingredients into a food processor and blend until smooth.
• Chill in a covered container.
• Garnish with parsley.
• Optional ingredient: add a small clove of garlic when you process this in the food processor.

LEMON TAHINI YOGURT SAUCE

Steps:

• Place garlic cloves in a blender or food processor and process to mince. Add tahini, and process for a further few seconds. Add yogurt, lemon juice, lemon zest, and cumin; process until smooth. Season to taste with salt. Transfer to a serving dish.

BAKED FALAFEL WITH CUCUMBERS AND TAHINI

Steps:

• Put a baking sheet on the middle oven rack and preheat to 450 degrees F. Pulse 2 cups cilantro, 1 cup onion, the garlic, cumin, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper in a food processor until finely chopped. Add the chickpeas and 2 tablespoons tahini; pulse to make a chunky paste. Scrape the mixture into a bowl and stir in the panko.
• Form the chickpea mixture into twelve 2-inch patties (about 2 tablespoons each). Remove the baking sheet from the oven, brush with 1 tablespoon olive oil and add the chickpea patties. Bake, flipping the patties and rotating the pan halfway through, until golden and crisp, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Meanwhile, mix the remaining 1/3 cup tahini with 6 tablespoons warm water and the juice of 1 lemon in a small bowl until creamy (it may look separated at first but it will come together). Season with salt and pepper; set aside. Toss the cucumbers with the juice of the remaining lemon, 1 cup cilantro, 1/2 cup sliced onion and 1 tablespoon olive oil in a medium bowl; season with salt and pepper.
• Warm the pita in the oven. Serve the falafel with the cucumber salad, pita and tahini sauce.

FALAFEL PITA SANDWICH WITH TAHINI SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Place falafel on a baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until heated through, 8 to 10 minutes.
• While falafel bake, whisk tahini, water, lemon juice, garlic, and paprika together in a bowl.
• Cut about 1 inch from the top of each pita to form a pocket. Add 2 falafel to each pita with equal amounts lettuce, tomato, cucumber, pickle, and red onion. Drizzle each with about 1 tablespoon tahini sauce and some harissa.

TAHINI SAUCE

Steps:

• Whisk yogurt and tahini together in a bowl until well blended. Add garlic, parsley, lemon juice, and salt; mix well. If not using immediately, place in a sealed container and refrigerate until use.

RED CABBAGE-ASPARAGUS SALAD WITH TAHINI DRESSING

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Blanch asparagus until just tender, drain, and immediately plunge into ice water to stop the cooking process. When the asparagus is cold, drain and slice on the diagonal into 1-inch pieces.
• In a small bowl, stir together tahini, water, lemon juice, and garlic. Stir in sugar to taste.
• Toss together asparagus, red cabbage, radishes, green onions, feta, pine nuts, and dill in a large bowl. Pour in tahini dressing and mix to combine.