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Learn how to make homemade tahini! You can whip it up in no time with this easy recipe and a bag of sesame seeds. It’s a must-have staple ingredient for a variety of dishes.

homemade tahini in two glasses

What is Tahini?

Tahini is a paste made from sesame seeds, often referred to as sesame paste or sesame butter. It has a slightly bitter taste, a creamy, thick consistency, and a strong sesame flavor. Tahini is well-known in Arabic cuisine, where it’s used as a base or for flavoring in many recipes. It adds a bitter, slightly nutty note to dishes.

Probably the most known use for tahini is for making homemade hummus. It’s also super delicious as a dip with lemon juice to drizzle over falafel or vegetables. You can even use it to make salad dressings or ramen. The possibilities are endless.

tahini paste in two glasses

You can buy tahini paste in most grocery stores or Asian stores, but it’s relatively expensive. Making it yourself is super easy; you only need a bag of sesame seeds and a good food processor for this homemade tahini recipe.

Your food processor should be quite powerful. If your processor struggles, add more oil. It’s important to mention that you require a certain amount of sesame seeds for your blender to process it well. Use at least 1 cup (150g) of sesame seeds or more, as smaller quantities may not work as well.

Recipes Using Tahini

Tahini can be used in so many recipes. Here are some of our favorite recipes with it:

Hulled vs. Unhulled Sesame Seeds

Typically, hulled sesame seeds are used to make tahini. They contain fewer bitter compounds and result in a lighter tahini, similar to what you find in supermarkets.

However, you can also use unhulled sesame seeds. They are slightly more bitter and robust in flavor, produce a darker brown color, and contain more healthy nutrients found in the seed’s hull.

Decide which you prefer, or try both variations.

Tahini Ingredients

Ingredients

See recipe card for quantities.

  • Sesame – Use either hulled or unhulled sesame seeds.
  • Oil – A neutral oil, like mild sunflower oil, is best.

Visual Step-by-Step Instructions

See how to make tahini from scratch with this visual guide!

  1. Toast the sesame seeds in a pan without oil for 5 minutes over medium heat until golden brown. Let them cool briefly. → Be careful; if the pan is too hot, the sesame seeds can burn quickly.
Tahini Recipe Step 1-2
  1. Blend the sesame seeds with the oil in a food processor until you have a creamy tahini.
Tahini Recipe Step 3-4

Hint: Tahini has quite a few calories, as sesame seeds contain about 50% fat. Therefore, you should use it sparingly and not by the spoonful.

Storage Instructions

Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a month.

If the tahini sits for a while, the oil may separate. Just stir it well before use to regain a consistent texture. This also happens with store-bought sesame paste! 😉

If you make this recipe, I’d love for you to give it a star rating ★ below. 

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📖 Recipe

homemade tahini in two glasses

Homemade Tahini

Learn how to make homemade tahini! You can whip it up in no time with this easy recipe and a bag of sesame seeds. It's a must-have staple ingredient for a variety of dishes.
Author : Aline Cueni
5 from 4 votes

Click on the stars to leave a vote!

Prep Time :5 minutes
Cook Time :5 minutes
Total Time :10 minutes
Servings : 1 Jar
Calories : 73kcal

Ingredients
 

  • 1 cup (150 g) sesame seeds hulled or unhulled
  • 2 tbsp canola oil or a mild olive oil, avocado oil

Instructions
 

  • Toast the sesame seeds in a pan without oil for 5 minutes over medium heat until golden brown. Let them cool briefly. → Be careful: if the pan is too hot, the sesame seeds can burn quickly.
  • Blend the sesame seeds with the oil in a food processor until you have a creamy tahini.

Notes

  • Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a month.
  • If the tahini sits for a while, the oil may separate. Just stir it well before use to regain a consistent texture.
  • Your food processor should be quite powerful. If your processor struggles, add more oil. It’s important to mention that you require a certain amount of sesame seeds for your blender to process it well. Use at least 1 cup (150g) of sesame seeds or more, as smaller quantities may not work as well.

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Nutrition

Serving: 1tbsp | Calories: 73kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.001g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 59mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.04g | Vitamin A: 1IU | Calcium: 122mg | Iron: 2mg

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6 Comments

    1. Hi Pepi,
      you can store it at least for one month. I always leave it in the fridge for months and never had any problems. But make sure to stir it well before using if you store it for a longer period (a layer of oil will build up on top). I don’t have experience with freezing and therefore can’t recommend you to try it.
      All the best,
      Aline

  1. I believe that it must be that the whole batch has 1107 calories. What do you consider to be an “average serving”? If I’m using tahini in hummus, I only use about a tablespoon at a time ….. at most.

    1. You are right Lizzie. One jar (about 1/2 cup) of Tahini has 1107 calories. If I make hummus, I use about 1/4 cup Tahini. If you are worried about the calories, you can use less Tahini if you make hummus. I hope this helps. Otherwise, let me know ?
      All the best,
      Aline