How to use sesame paste
Sesame paste, or tahini, is a versatile condiment. You can spread it on toast, dip raw vegetables in it, use it to dress salads or falafel or use it as a base for various sauces. It can also be added to desserts.
Sesame paste , otherwise known as tahini or tahini sauce , is a typical ingredient in Middle Eastern cuisine. If you have never heard of it, you will know hummus, of which this product is an essential part.
Versatile and with an unmistakable flavour, sesame paste is a food with a thousand resources. So, if you bought it to make hummus and you have a whole jar left to dispose of, don’t worry, it won’t end up expiring in the fridge.
Below you will find some tips for using it in the kitchen and appreciating it to the fullest by incorporating it into numerous recipes that you can bring to the table every day. So let’s delve deeper into what tahini is , where it can be bought and its many uses.
What is sesame paste
Sesame paste is nothing more than a condiment, as well as an ingredient, widely used in various cuisines around the world, particularly those of the Middle East and the Mediterranean. It is obtained by grinding sesame seeds (often toasted) which give life to a dense and velvety cream with a color that can vary from beige to brown, depending on the degree of toasting of the seeds.
Tahini is known for its rich flavor ready to add depth to a variety of sweet and savory dishes. It’s an essential component in recipes like hummus and baba ganoush, but its cooking uses don’t just include traditional dishes.
How to use sesame paste
How to use tahini is easy to say. This versatile seasoning is often used as a base for sauces, marinades and salad dressings. You can offer it as a dip sauce, or as a dip in which to dip fresh, raw vegetables cut into strips for a healthy snack.
Or, you can spread it on toast . On which you can then add condiments such as grilled or sautéed vegetables, eggs or avocado slices as desired. Furthermore, sesame paste is excellent for seasoning falafel , to give them a pleasant creaminess, or even to give life to Tarator sauce , typical of Lebanese cuisine and used to accompany fish. Nothing stops you from incorporating it into salads, using it as a sauce in burgers or even adding it to soups or veloutés.
But that’s not all: it can be added to noodles, to give them a welcome nutty flavour. It can be mixed with sauces to accompany both meat and vegetables. It also finds space in desserts , in which it can be replaced with a part of fat (such as oil or butter).
Since it is a sort of local version of peanut butter, in the Middle East it is also used for breakfast, simply mixed with honey to make it sweeter. Or as a sauce in which to dip the dates, as a dessert at the end of a meal. You could also use it to top the porridge by simply dropping it on top of the topping. Well, having established what tahini is used for , we give you some recipes that you could try.
Recipes with sesame paste
If you want to follow specific recipes with sesame paste , below we recommend some not to be missed.
Babaganoush
We mentioned it at the beginning: aubergine cream , also known as bababganoush , is a traditional Middle Eastern dish based on these vegetables, tahini and lemon juice. To be served as an appetizer or as an accompaniment for pita bread, as a filling for crostini or as a condiment for rice, it is a gem you can’t help but try at least once.
Broad bean hummus
If you are tired of chickpea hummus, broad bean hummus is the fresh and light alternative with which to “replace” it. With fresh broad beans, tahini, lemon, garlic and mint. Impossible not to do an encore.
Cookies
We said that sesame paste can also be used in desserts. For example, in these particular and crumbly biscuits in which it is replaced with butter. The result? Some rather caloric sweets, it’s true, but which we’re sure you’ve never tasted.
Halva
For those unfamiliar, halva is a traditional dessert of Middle Eastern origin prepared with ground sesame seeds, sugar or honey, and sometimes dried fruit. If you want, you can use tahini as a base, the result will be equally satisfying.
Where to buy sesame sauce
Tahini is available in different variations, both whole and flavored (some, in addition to the two main ingredients, which are sesame seeds and oil, may contain garlic, parsley or various spices). In recent years it has become increasingly available, so much so that it can easily be found in most supermarkets. In any case, you can easily find it in specialized grocery stores or online.
