‘Tahini’ is a pantry essential from the Middle East. It is the base for various Middle Eastern dips / sauces like the simple Tahini sauce or the Hummus to name a few. In simple terms, it is nothing but sesame seeds paste.
It has a unique nutty flavour which stays on your tongue for a long time after enjoying it with some Middle Eastern bread variety or some wraps or rolls!!!
Tahini can be commonly found in any Middle Eastern store. Having said that, it need not be purchased from a store as it can easily be prepared at home with the commonly found ingredients in the kitchen pantry!!!
Well, coming to the variety of sesame seeds to be used : there are a wide variety of sesame seeds available in the market, starting from the raw unhulled ones to a fine, white and polished ones, the black coloured ones and the likes. Yes, tahini prepared with each imparts a different taste to the dish. The ones commonly found in the stores are usually made with the white sesame seeds which imparts a lighter colour and smoother texture compared to the one prepared using unhulled ones. Well, here in the recipe, I have used the unhulled ones as I find it to be more healthier with all the nutrients intact. The sesame seeds are roasted to reduce the bitterness and enhance the nutty flavour that it imparts to the dish.
Interesting recipes using Tahini :
Lets quickly get into the dish preparation:
Total time: 15 minutes
Preparation time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 5 minutes
Cooling time: 5 minutes
Ingredients:
Sesame seeds: 1 cup
Olive oil: 4 tbsp.
Salt : To taste
Quick Video:
Method:
- Roast sesame seeds for a few minutes until the seeds start to spurt
- Remove from heat and let it cool for few minutes before you proceed with the next step
- In a mixer / food processor, grind the roasted sesame seeds to a smooth paste
- Add olive oil and continue grinding to a smooth paste / until you get the desired consistency
Note :
- Desired consistency : Tahini should be thick, but yet have a pourable consistency. So, adjust while grinding to arrive at the desired consistency with adequate amount of olive oil
Tahini stories:
Though I had heard about Tahini, I never got an opportunity to taste it until I happened to visit a vegetarian food stall at the Esslingen Medieval Market serving the authentic vegetarian falafel with tahini and other dips. I loved the dish so much that once home, I wanted to try to prepare one myself. Now, I have a small bottle of Tahini in my pantry, which I use whenever required to make dips and sauces instantly!!!
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