How to Make Tahini Paste

Hummus is a traditional Middle Eastern spread.

Tahini paste is used in hummus, sandwich spreads and soups. Middle Eastern cooking depends on tahini, which is a simple combination of sesame seeds and oil. Buy sesame seeds in bulk at a grocery store or Middle Eastern or Indian market. By making your own tahini, you can adjust the roasting time to change the bitterness of the tahini. Make as much or little as you need; tahini will keep in the refrigerator for up to four weeks.

Things You'll Need

• 3 c. sesame seeds
• 1/4 to 1/2 c. olive, peanut or vegetable oil
• Baking sheet
• Blender or food processor
• Bowl scraper

Instructions

1. Spread the sesame seeds out on a baking sheet. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Place sheet in oven for 10 minutes to lightly roast the sesame seed. Stir the seeds once at about 5 minutes and stir again when you remove them from the oven. Do not brown the seeds.

3. Pour the toasted sesame seeds into a high-speed blender. Pour in the ¼ cup olive oil and blend on high until smooth. Add more oil 1 tbsp. at a time if the paste seems too thick.

4. Pour the tahini paste into a sealable jar or plastic container. Store it in a refrigerator.

Tips & Warnings

• Spread tahini on bread like peanut butter or as a condiment on a vegetarian sandwich.

• Do not try this in your typical blender.

References

• Food.com: Kitchen Dictionary: Tahini
• Dede Med: Home Made Tahini Paste