Tahini - what is it? Sesame paste: cooking recipe. Tahini (tahina) - lean sesame paste

Tahini paste, whose recipe will surprise you with its simplicity, is widespread in the Middle East. Made from ground sesame seeds. Tahini (tahini, tahina) has a creamy texture. The taste is tart. Intense nutty aroma. The color can vary from light beige to dark brown.

Oriental delicacy tahini

Tahini is a traditional Arabic snack with its own history. In ancient times, this could only be seen on the table of a wealthy person. In some countries, the mixture was even used as a currency. Over time, its value has somewhat diminished - it has become an everyday, affordable food for different segments of the population, but the taste and love of the Arab people for this product has remained unchanged.

The main advantage of tahini is its versatility. For example, in Turkey they like to mix pasta with fruit syrup, in Greece with honey. In Iran, tekhina is a “raw material” for making halva and seasoning for barbecue.

Types of sesame

The key to a good dish is the observance of the rules of preparation and the high quality of raw materials. In tahini, the main ingredient is sesame. The taste of the finished pasta depends on its quality.

Sesame seeds differ from each other in shades and taste, depending on the variety.

There are 3 primary colors found in nature. Those, in turn, can have different undertones, which ultimately gives the seed its own unique color. For example, beige, ivory, grayish and even shades of red.

Types of sesame:

White.

The best among the "brothers". Considered a delight, it is often exported to other countries. It is suitable for consumption in its pure form, it is actively used in the confectionery industry and in the preparation of Asian cuisine. Ground white sesame seeds are often used to make curries and chutneys. In India, the use of this species to make unrefined sesame is popular. Has a mild aroma.

Brown.

It has a mild taste and aroma. It is used for the preparation of food and cosmetic oils.

Black.

Types of sesame

Sharp, pronounced tart smell and taste. Black grains are often ground and used in the preparation of rice dishes. They have medicinal properties, are contained in many medicines, as they contain antioxidants. Black sesame oil is considered the best, it is used for cosmetic and medicinal purposes.

When buying sesame seeds for making tahini, please note that the taste of the paste will depend on the taste of the grains. If you are not used to tart dishes, then it is better to take white or brown sesame seeds.

If you like experiments, you can take several types by weight. The recipe for making tahini paste does not oblige you to use only 1 type of sesame.

Properties and nutritional value of tahini paste

In 100 gr. thiny contains:

18 gr. ;
51 gr. fat;
18, 5 gr. carbohydrates.

At the same time, it contains up to 90% fatty acids, which are polyunsaturated.

Benefit

Tahini is rich in nutrients. Its composition contains:

Vitamins (E, C, group B).
Minerals (calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, zinc).
Cellulose.
Lecithin.
organic acids.
Fitin.
Beta-sitosterol.

It has been proven that regular consumption of sesame paste works as a cancer prevention. In addition, it removes toxins from the body, improves blood clotting, improves metabolism.

Harm

Eating pasta is contraindicated in people:

Allergy sufferers or those with a predisposition to reactions to food products.
Those who have a problem of excess weight due to the fact that the calorie content of tahini is high. Especially if there is a diagnosis of one of the degrees.
Suffering from diseases of the liver, stomach, pancreas, gallbladder.

If you use pasta in large quantities, then even a healthy person may experience a side effect. It is expressed in a possible upset stomach, nausea. As such, there is no norm of consumption that cannot be exceeded. Listen to your feelings and remember that the product is fatty, high-calorie and quite “heavy”.

Tahini in the kitchen

The beauty of tahini lies in its versatility. This paste can be used as:

Self-catering dish.
Component of the main dish.

It is added when preparing hummus, falafel and other oriental dishes. Used as a sauce base, the mixture pairs well with garlic, low-fat yogurt, spices, and sweet fruit syrups.

What can be cooked with tahina

Hummus

You will need:

tahini;
oil (olive or peanut);
lemon juice;
greenery;
parsley;
paprika.

Cooking:

Chickpeas must first be soaked and left for 7-10 hours. After that, it needs to be boiled, ground into a puree. Add tahini, lemon juice, squeezed garlic, mix again. Pour oil into the mixture. The amount is adjusted by eye based on the volume of the paste, mix thoroughly.

Ready! Serve with paprika and parsley.

Hot sauce.

You will need:

tahini;
garlic;
salt;
freshly ground;
oil.

Cooking:

All ingredients are mixed together until the desired consistency is formed. The amount of spices varies based on your own preferences.

As previously written, tahini is versatile and goes well with just about anything! So when preparing a sauce based on sesame paste, do not be afraid to experiment, “play” with the ingredients until you come to the very taste!

How to make tahini at home

Making tahini at home

Sesame paste will be a great addition to the holiday table. This oriental delicacy will allow you to diversify the usual dish, allowing the taste to play in a new way.

It will also become a lifesaver in those moments when there is almost no time for cooking, and guests are on the way. You can cook quick snacks, sandwiches with sesame mixture.

An easy recipe for tahini paste contains only 2 ingredients:

100-150 gr. sesame seeds;
oil about 100 ml (can be sesame, walnut). The quantity can be increased as needed.

Cooking:

Sesame must be dried for 5-10 minutes. in the oven or on a non-stick frying pan. Then place the seeds in a special container, stirring with oil, beat with a blender.

That's all. You can add salt, pepper, garlic to taste. You can store the mixture for up to 2 months, but always in the refrigerator and a closed container.

Tahini Sesame Paste Recipe:

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Ingredients:

Cooking step by step with photos:

Before you start cooking homemade tahini, ALWAYS try sesame seeds. Just take a pinch and chew - there should be no bitterness. If sesame seeds taste bitter, this is a spoiled product that is not only not necessary for food, but also impossible. So, pour white sesame seeds into a dry frying pan. I have 200 grams, but you take as much as you need.

On medium heat with constant stirring, fry the sesame seeds until a pleasant light gold. Be careful and do not leave for a second - miniature grains are fried very, very quickly. As soon as you hear a pleasant characteristic aroma, remove the sesame seeds from the heat.

Let the seeds cool slightly, then pour the sesame seeds into the blender bowl. Next, I will show you step by step how the grains change, turning into a homogeneous paste.

At high speed, we begin to punch sesame seeds. At first, the seeds are simply crushed, turning into small crumbs. Some of the sesame mass will settle on the walls, so help - either shake the bowl slightly, or open it and scrape the sesame with a knife so that it falls to the bottom.

It's time to add an assistant - refined vegetable oil. Why refined? Well, you don't want your sesame paste to smell like olives or sunflower seeds, do you? Of course, ideally use sesame oil. I don't have one, so I used unscented sunflower. For 100 grams of sesame seeds, 1 tablespoon of oil is enough.

27.04.2015

Tkhina, tahini, tahina, sesame paste or sesame paste- all this is the same ingredient, which is part of many Israeli and Middle Eastern dishes, such as, and . When I traveled around Israel, tahini was added everywhere and to all dishes, it was sold in every small and large store, from the grocery store under the house to hypermarkets. Returning to my country, of course, I didn’t find it on the shelves, so I set out to cook tahini on my own. It turned out that it is not so difficult. Let's try! .

Ingredients

- 400 gr (unroasted, non-bitter)
- or olive odorless - 2-3 tbsp

Cooking method

Prepares very quickly. To make delicious tahini sesame paste, you need to choose the right sesame seeds. Try it before you buy it, it shouldn't be bitter otherwise the sesame paste will be bitter too. We measure the right amount of sesame seeds.
Pour half into the blender chopper and start grinding. When the sesame turns into gruel, add the second half and grind again.
This may take about 5 minutes. If you use a coffee grinder, the result, of course, will be much better and you will achieve the desired consistency faster. My blender can only grind as shown in the photo below, but the finer the better.
Add sesame oil. And we grind again.
Due to the fact that sesame seeds are very hot, the consistency should be homogeneous and liquid. Then the tahini will thicken a little in the refrigerator. If the consistency is uneven, add a little more oil and grind again until we achieve the desired result.
ready for further use. Many people already use this tahina as a separate sauce, but there is a classic (with the same name)

Sesame paste is a kind of snack that can be eaten with bread, deli meats and even desserts. The main ingredient of the product is sesame seeds. The aroma is nutty, persistent, the consistency is viscous, like butter, the taste is sweetish, a little tart. Pasta is rich in healthy fats and proteins, it has a healing effect. However, not everyone can include a snack in their daily diet. What does a sesame delicacy consist of and why is it dangerous for people?

Composition and calorie content of sesame paste

In the countries of the Middle East, sesame paste is called "tkhina" or "tahini". It consists of sesame seeds, carefully roasted, ground and seasoned with vegetable oil.

The calorie content of sesame paste per 100 g is 586 kcal, of which:

Proteins - 18.1 g;
Fats - 50.9 g;
Carbohydrates - 24.1 g;
Dietary fiber - 5.5 g;
Ash - 5.4 g;
Water - 1.6 g.

The ratio of proteins, fats and carbohydrates is 1 to 2.8 to 1.3.

Vitamins in 100 g of product:

Vitamin A, (RE) - 3 mcg;
Vitamin B1, thiamine - 0.24 mg;
Vitamin B2, riboflavin - 0.2 mg;
Vitamin B5, pantothenic acid - 0.052 mg;
Vitamin B6, pyridoxine - 0.816 mg;
Vitamin B9, folates - 100 mcg;
Vitamin PP, NE - 6.7 mg.

Macronutrients in 100 g of sesame paste:

Potassium, K - 582 mg;
Calcium, Ca - 960 mg;
Magnesium, Mg - 362 mg;
Sodium, Na - 12 mg;
Phosphorus, P - 659 mg;

Trace elements in 100 g of product:

Iron, Fe - 19.2 mg;
Manganese, Mn - 2.54 mg;
Copper, Cu - 4214 mcg;
Zinc, Zn - 7.29 mg;
Selenium, Se - 35.5 mcg.

On a note! A teaspoon contains only 12 g of sesame paste, and a tablespoon holds 35 g.

Health benefits of tahini sesame paste

Due to its oily consistency, sesame paste is quickly absorbed by the human body, saturating it with the maximum amount of useful vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. The product does not contain sugar, so it can be consumed by people suffering from diabetes. The benefits of sesame paste do not end there.

The main medicinal properties of tahini:

Quickly saturates the body with nutrients - the product has a high calorie content, therefore it is considered the best snack that you can eat during a short work break.
Fights cholesterol that is detrimental to humans - sesame contains a large amount of omega-3 fatty acids.
Increases the elasticity of the walls of blood vessels - the paste is rich in polyunsaturated fats and can improve the functioning of the cardiovascular system in just 1.5 months.
Strengthens the immune system - iron, copper and other useful trace elements are responsible for this, which produce special blood cells programmed to destroy microbes.
It improves the well-being of women who have entered the menopause period and protects against the development of certain oncological diseases - the paste contains a large amount of phytoestrogens, which soften the body's response to hormonal imbalance.
Prevents the occurrence of osteoporosis, strengthens bones - this is due to the high content of calcium. 100 g of the snack contains 96% of the daily value of the compound for a healthy person.
Improves the condition of the skin and hair - is part of various cosmetic masks.
Enhances male sexual power - contains a lot of zinc and vitamin E, which are involved in the production of male sex hormones, including testosterone.
Uplifts mood, helps get rid of depression - the paste contains fats that stimulate the production of serotonin in the body. In simple words, serotonin is a hormone responsible for a person's good mood.
Optimizes metabolism and transport of oxygen to tissues - iron is involved in these processes, which is contained in the paste 3 times more than in the liver of a young calf (everyone knows that beef liver is in the TOP iron-rich foods).

Interesting! In Arab countries, sesame paste is considered a traditional ingredient for the preparation of delicacies.

Contraindications and harm of sesame paste

The harm of sesame paste lies in its high calorie content. In this regard, it is necessary to refrain from snacks or reduce the volume of its consumption for the following categories of consumers:

Overweight sufferers- the paste contains a lot of fats and proteins that contribute to weight gain. In order not to get better from a snack, you should take no more than 1 tablespoon per day.
People with pathologies of the gallbladder, liver or pancreas- Patients with the listed diseases should completely refuse pasta, otherwise they may suffer from diarrhea, vomiting and acute pain in the abdomen.
Allergy sufferers with individual intolerance to sesame seeds or vegetable oil- the most common allergic reactions to sesame: dermatitis, swelling of the eyes, shortness of breath.

Please note that scientists have proven that people with individual nut intolerance are 3 times more likely to be diagnosed with an allergy to tahini.

Tahini sesame paste is a high-calorie product, the excessive consumption of which can lead to a deterioration in well-being even in healthy people. Doctors recommend eating no more than 5 tbsp. l. pasta per day.

How to cook tahini sesame paste?

Are you wondering how to make your own sesame paste? It takes a minimum of time and ingredients to prepare tahini - you will need high-quality sesame seeds and about 20 minutes of free time.

To make a snack in your home kitchen, follow the simple recipe for sesame paste:

Pour sesame seeds with cold water and leave to infuse for 1-2 hours.
Drain the water using a sieve, dry the grains and grind them in a blender or food processor.
While grinding the grains, make sure that the resulting mass is not too dry, add vegetable oil to it. Olive oil or almond oil is great for pasta. Tahini is ready to eat!

The finished product can be immediately added to food. If after cooking you have leftover pasta, do not throw it away, but store it in the refrigerator in a glass dish.

Interesting! Tahini, which can be purchased at the average grocery store, is a by-product of industrial scale production. There are practically no companies in the domestic market that would specialize only in the manufacture of sesame paste. As a rule, it is obtained as a result of the production of sesame oil. That is why homemade tahini differs from store-bought tahini in its texture and taste.

Sesame Paste Recipes

Now you know how to cook sesame paste in your kitchen, but what dishes can you add this sauce to and in what volume? Here are some simple tahini recipes:

Babaganoush sauce. Wash and place 400 g of eggplant on a baking sheet. On each of them, make several punctures (7-8). Roast vegetables for 40 minutes, remembering to turn them from side to side. Punctures and turning are necessary in order for the vegetables to be baked as much as possible and to be soft. Peel the baked eggplants, mix their pulp with 100 ml of yogurt and 1 tbsp. l. tahini. Season the resulting mass with 2 cloves of garlic, 2 tbsp. l. lemon juice, zira and cilantro to taste. Grind all the ingredients with a blender and put the porridge in the refrigerator for 1 hour. Place chilled baba ganoush in saucepans, sprinkle with paprika and drizzle with olive oil.
Vitamin salad with tahini. Soak 0.5 tbsp. Turkish walnut overnight. In the morning, rinse and boil the nut in clean water with a little salt added. Drain the water and dry the cooked nut. Chop 10 cherry tomatoes and add them to the Turkish delicacy. Season the salad with salt, pepper, lemon juice and olive oil to taste. Before serving, season the dish with sesame paste. Bon appetit!
Papaya, tahini and banana pudding. Cut a quarter of a papaya and 1 banana into large pieces. Place these ingredients in a blender bowl, adding 2 tsp. sesame paste and favorite berries to taste. Grind the resulting mass to a homogeneous consistency and serve immediately.
Rice crackers with hummus. Boil 100 g of rice, cool it on a flat dish. Grind the following ingredients with a blender: rice, 20 g egg whites, a few pinches of salt and black pepper. From the resulting dough, form small balls and roll out cakes from them. Do not be surprised when you notice that the rice is not completely crushed and large pieces of it will stand out in the dough - this is how the creator of the recipe intended. Bake crackers for 35 minutes. Turn off the oven as soon as the biscuits turn brown. While the crackers are in the oven, prepare the green sauce (hummus). Boil 150 g frozen green peas in lightly salted water. As a rule, 4 minutes is enough for the peas to cook, but not boil. Drain the water from the peas into a separate bowl - you will need it again. Grind the peas in a blender, adding 1 tbsp. l. lemon juice 1 garlic clove 1 tbsp. l. sesame paste, salt and pepper to your liking. The resulting mass should be moderately thick. If necessary, add the water in which the peas were boiled to the sauce. Spread the mixture on the cooled rice crackers. The snack is ready to eat!

If you decide to use pure sesame paste, spread it on bread toast, add cumin, lemon juice and olive oil to it. Such seasonings will make it much tastier and healthier.

On a note! When buying tahini in a store, pay attention to the country of origin. The highest quality is considered to be a product made in the countries of the Middle East. If you want to purchase 100% high-quality and natural sesame paste without chemical impurities, use the services of specialized health food stores.

In the old days, only wealthy people could afford a sesame snack. In some states, pasta was used as a monetary means for which certain goods could be purchased. Currently, the product is used only for its intended purpose - as an ingredient in cooking or as a snack served with bread. It is sesame paste that is part of the world-famous seasoning called hummus.

In the United States and European countries, sesame paste is commonly called a "superfood" because of the huge number of its beneficial properties.

Half a century ago, scientists conducted a number of official studies and proved that tahini contains an extremely large amount of vitamins, polyunsaturated fats and various nutrients. Experts recommend including a snack in the diet of people suffering from diseases of bones, cartilage, joints, skin and more.

How to cook sesame paste - look at the video:

Experts, considering the benefits and harms of sesame paste for health, note that the product should be included in the diet of almost every person, but before using it, you should familiarize yourself with the list of contraindications. However, this list is rather small. Tahini is able to improve the body, cheer up and quickly satisfy hunger during a short break at work. In addition, cooking sesame paste at home is not difficult even for an inexperienced cook. The appetizer has a bright taste and smell and can make any culinary dish special.

Description

tahini sesame paste- a traditional product of oriental (Arabic, Jewish, Greek, etc.) cuisine. It is obtained by grinding sesame (sesame) seeds.

By itself, tahini is practically tasteless. Having tried it for the first time in its pure form, many are disappointed, although many like it anyway. In general, tahini is not intended for independent consumption. But it is a valuable component of many oriental dishes, including the famous halva. In combination with other products, tahini makes the taste of the dish sound in a completely new way, while ennobling its aroma. That is why so many sauces and gravies are made on its basis.

In eastern countries, tahini is sold ready-made. It is more difficult for us to get it, and it is not cheap. Therefore, today we offer you a recipe with a photo of making tahini at home. If you follow his recommendations, the paste will turn out tender, rich and homogeneous. Then spices can be added to it (lemon juice, salt, garlic, pepper, etc.) or mixed with sugar, honey, syrup, condensed milk - at your discretion. Either way, it will be delicious.

Well, let's start cooking!

Ingredients

Cooking steps

We take 100 g of sesame seeds.

We send it to a dry frying pan to fry over high heat until light golden. Do not leave sesame unattended for a minute and stir all the time so that it does not burn. When a pleasant smell comes from the seeds (after 5 minutes), remove them from the heat. Of course, you can toast the sesame seeds for longer, but keep in mind that even when removed from the stove, it will “reach” (continue to warm up) for some time, so don’t overdo it!

Pour the sesame seeds into a bowl to cool.

After that, we send it to the blender container.

For about a minute at high speed, interrupt the sesame seeds with a blender. Soon the oil will come out, and the grains will linger on the walls of the bowl.

At this point, you need to pour a tablespoon (or 3 tsp) of vegetable oil into the mass (in our case, sunflower oil, but the Greeks usually add olive oil). The indicated proportions are very important, because otherwise you will not get a homogeneous viscous paste. In general, tahini paste manufacturers proudly say that in its production they manage with one sesame without additives. Perhaps this is so, but at home, you can’t do without additional oil, otherwise the mixture will not be homogeneous. When preparing sauces from tahini, vegetable oil is still added to it, so such a deviation from the technology is not critical, and even useful for the quality of the pasta.

Again we interrupt the tahini with a blender for 1-2 minutes (until it becomes absolutely homogeneous). Now the pasta is ready and it can be added to any dishes.

Homemade tahini is stored for quite a long time, because it does not contain perishable ingredients. But it's still better to put a jar of pasta in the refrigerator.

Bon appetit!

Tahini - what is it? Sesame paste: cooking recipe. Tahini (tahina) - lean sesame paste

Types of sesame