Look out, peanut butter: tahini is the new pantry spread of our dreams. This creamy, rich sesame seed butter gives a nutty appeal to desserts and savory depth to soups, sauces, and marinades. Call it liquid gold in a jar.
1. Tahini-Date Shake
Eating healthy should still be delicious.
View Recipe: Tahini-Date Shake
2. Tahini-Carrot Soup with Pistachios
Elevate toast, grilled chicken, or ice cream instantly with a drizzle of tahini straight from the jar. Or go for our quick garlic-infused Tahini Sauce; it's great with grilled or roasted vegetables or meat.
View Recipe: Tahini-Carrot Soup with Pistachios
3. Chocolate-Tahini Banana Bread
View Recipe: Chocolate-Tahini Banana Bread
4. Homemade Tahini Sauce
Use this sauce to make a killer hummus. Blend it with a can of chickpeas, some water, olive oil, salt, and cumin until very smooth. We love it with toasted pita.
5. Tahini-Marinated Chicken Thighs with Cucumber-and-Tomato Salad
View Recipe: Tahini-Marinated Chicken Thighs with Cucumber-and-Tomato Salad
6. Sesame-Ginger-Chickpea-Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Make sure to stir tahini well in the jar before you measure (it should be pourable). If the paste is still too thick, add a splash of water to the jar and keep stirring until the mixture is loose and smooth.
View Recipe: Sesame-Ginger-Chickpea-Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
7. Lentil-Tahini Burgers with Pickled Cabbage
Why does tahini turn to a gluey paste when liquid is added? Tahini is made of carbs, and carbs stick to water molecules like, well, glue. Keep slowly adding liquid and stirring; the sauce will start to absorb the liquid and smooth out.
View Recipe: Lentil-Tahini Burgers with Pickled Cabbage
How to Buy
Look for tahini that is smooth and pourable, with little separation. It should taste mild and nutty out of the jar; not sour or burnt. Three brands we love:
SEED + MILL
A buttery, velvety mouthfeel, slight tang, and clean finish. Treat like a finishing oil and enjoy on its own. $12 per 9-oz. jar; seedandmill.com
365 ORGANIC
Mild and smooth, with a slightly sweet finish. Sesame flavor comes through in dips and sauces. $6.39 per 16-oz. jar; Whole Foods
SOOM
Nicely thick, with no oil slick on top. Creamy, with toasty, faintly bitter yet balanced notes. Perfect for spreading. $8.25 per 11-oz. jar; amazon.com
