Hummus is a staple that I always keep in the house, and last week, for the first time, I tried my best to make it from scratch. As I was looking online for the simplest recipe, each option had one ingredient that I did not have in my pantry: Tahini. Tahini is a Middle Eastern and Mediterranean sauce/paste that is made from ground sesame seeds. It gives hummus, dressings and more the creamy rich flavor that makes it hard to stop eating!
- Sesame seeds contain up to 55% oil and 20% protein which makes tahini rich and smooth. It also helps it provide both healthy fats and essential amino acids
- Even just a small amount of tahini can benefit your heart, hormonal and skin health
- Tahini helps appetite control because it makes you feel fuller between meals
- Tahini is filled with vitamin B as well as minerals like magnesium, copper, phosphorus, and iron
- Tahini is heart healthy, regulates blood pressure and cholesterol
Recipes:
Best Hummus (loveandlemons.com)
- 1 1/2 cups Cooked Chickpeas
- 1/3 cup Smooth Tahini
- 2 tablespoons Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
- 2 tablespoons Fresh Lemon Juice
- 1 Garlic Clove
- 1/2 teaspoon Sea Salt
- 5 tablespoons Water
- Paprika, Red Pepper Flakes to garnish
- Warm Pita Bread
In a high-speed blender, place the chickpeas, tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and salt. Use the blender baton to blend until very smooth, adding water as needed to blend, and/or to reach your desired consistency.
Transfer to a serving plate, top with desired garnishes and serve with warm pita and veggies, as desired.
Tahini Dressing (minimalistbaker.com)
- 1/3 cup Tahini
- 1 medium Lemon, juiced
- 1-2 tablespoons Maple Syrup
- 1 pinch Sea Salt
- 1 clove Garlic
- Water, to thin
To a medium mixing bowl, add tahini, lemon juice, and maple syrup. If adding salt and garlic, add now (optional).
Whisk to combine. Then slowly add water until creamy and pourable. The mixture may seize up and thicken at first, but continue adding water a little at a time and whisking until creamy and smooth.
Taste and adjust flavor as needed, adding more lemon juice for acidity, salt for saltiness, or maple syrup for sweetness.
Enjoy fresh, or store leftovers in the refrigerator up to 5 days (sometimes longer). This is delicious on things like Salads, Falafel, Fritters, Buddha Bowls, and more!
Tahini Chicken (allrecipes.com)
- 3/4 cup Water
- 1 cube Chicken Bouillon
- 1/4 cup Tahini
- 2 tablespoons Soy Sauce
- 1 tablespoon Honey
- 1 clove Garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons minced fresh Ginger
- 2 teaspoons Butter
- 2 skinless, boneless Chicken Breast halves
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose Flour
- 2 teaspoon Sesame Seeds
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 separate skillet over medium heat; cook and stir chicken until no longer pink in the center, 5 to 10 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the centers should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).
Whisk flour into tahini sauce until thickened, 2 to 3 minutes. Add cooked chicken to tahini sauce and toss to coat.
Creamy Tahini Noodles (bakerita.com)
- 4 ounces Rice Noodles
- 1/3 cup Tahini
- 1 clove Garlic, grated or minced
- 2 tablespoons Tamari or Soy Sauce
- 2 teaspoons Toasted Sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon Honey or Maple Syrup
- 1 teaspoon Chili Crisp
- 2 Tablespoons Rice Vinegar
- Hot Water
- Cook the noodles according to package instructions – this is definitely quickest to make if you can find soakable rice noodles (like these rice noodles that I used or these maifun noodles that cook even more quickly) and cover them with hot water while you make the sauce.
- In a bowl, whisk together the tahini, garlic, Tamari, sesame oil, honey, chili crisp, and rice vinegar. If it seems too thick, add a little bit of hot water, about a tablespoon at a time, and whisk again, adding more water until your desired consistency is reached. It should be pretty thick but drizzly and pourable.
- Toss in the drained noodles and mix to combine. Garnish with chili crisp, sesame seeds, green onions, and/or lime juice. Enjoy!!
