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.

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.

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.
My Pick
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.
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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.

Ingredients
See recipe card for quantities.
Visual Step-by-Step Instructions
See how to make tahini from scratch with this visual guide!
- Toast the sesame seeds in a pan without oil for 5 minutes over medium heat until golden brown. Let them cool briefly. โ 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.


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! ๐

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๐ Recipe
Homemade Tahini
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Ingredients
- 1 cup 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. โ 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.
Thank you!
You are welcome, Tammy!
Hi,
How long will it last if leave inside the fridge? Is it freeze friendly?
Thank you
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
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.
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