Tahini

Tahini (also known as tahinia or tahina) is a smooth, creamy, beige paste made from ground sesame seeds and sesame oil, and sometimes flavoured with cumin seeds. The sesame seeds may be raw or toasted, unsalted or salted and hulled or unhulled. Unhulled tahini tends to be more bitter than varieties made using hulled seeds.

The paste is used as a Middle Eastern, Turkish and Greek staple to enrich the flavour and texture of sweet and savoury dishes. It may be used on its own or combined with other ingredients to create tasty dips (such as hummus or baba ghanouj), sandwich spreads, salad dressings or as a topping for pasta or falafel. It is also used as a condiment for meat and vegetables, and is a major ingredient in soups such the Greek tahinosoupa. It can also be used to make desserts that require a nut paste.

Tahini's rich, dense texture somewhat resembles medium-fine peanut butter, and like peanut butter, will separate into two layers if left for any period of time. This is completely natural, and may be easily reconstituted by either stirring the sesame oil and sesame pulp together or by turning the can or jar upside down for 30 minutes or so before using. It is best served at room temperature.