Tahini
Tahini next to lemon and whole garlic | |
| Alternative names | Tahinia, tahin, tahina, tahine, etc. |
|---|---|
| Type | Spread or dip, ingredient or filling in other dishes |
| Region or state | West Asia, Eastern Mediterranean, South Caucasus, parts of North Africa |
| Main ingredients | Sesame seeds |
Tahini (/təˈhiːni, tɑː-/) (Arabic: طحينة, lit. 'the meaning is derived from ground', or in Iraq: (rashi-راشي)) is a Middle Eastern condiment (a seed butter) made from ground sesame seeds. The most common variety comes from hulled seeds, but unhulled ones can also be used; the latter variety is slightly bitter, but more nutritious. The seeds are more commonly roasted than raw. Tahini can be served by itself (as a dip), made into a salad dressing, or used as a major ingredient in hummus, baba ghanoush, and halva.
Tahini is used in the cuisines of the Levant and Eastern Mediterranean, the South Caucasus, the Balkans, South Asia, Central Asia, and amongst Ashkenazi Jews as well as parts of Russia and North Africa. Sesame paste, used in some East Asian cuisines, may differ only slightly from tahini.