Tahini is a cornerstone of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine, though you’re probably most familiar with it as the lead component in hummus. This powdered sesame seed paste also works well as a supporting role in sauces, marinades, salad dressings, and dips.
While this sweet, nutty flavor elevates any recipe, most people don’t always have a jar of seed butter on hand, even though it belongs in the category of pantry staples. Don’t give up if your recipe does ask for a dollop or two of tahini and you don’t have any on hand.
Although tahini is crucial for both taste and texture, there are a few substitutes that can fulfill the same requirements when you’re in a hurry without sacrificing the flavor, texture, or overall deliciousness of your dish. Use our guide to the top 5 tahini substitutes to add a palate-pleasing kick to your recipes, ranging from nut butters and oils to a version you can make at yourself.
1. DIY Tahini
Making something yourself might sometimes be the greatest approach to find a substitute for a dish or condiment. Fortunately, all you need to make tahini is two simple ingredients: neutral oil and sesame seeds. Just quickly toast the seeds until they turn golden, then combine them with oil in a food processor until they become smooth and pourable. Not a snag or a bother.
2. Almond Butter
Almond butter offers a smooth consistency and nutty flavor, making it a great substitute for nut butter when you’re searching for something that tastes and feels similar to tahini. Though almond butter lacks tahini’s roasted, bitter flavor, the taste will still be somewhat different. Nevertheless, you may still use almond butter in most recipes in place of tahini.
3. Peanut Butter
Among the tahini substitutes, peanut butter is the most widely used, and chances are you have a jar of it in your pantry somewhere for the occasional midday sandwich. Although peanut butter has a stronger flavor than tahini, its smooth texture makes it a good substitute.
Start with a tiny amount and adjust as needed to attain the perfect flavor balance. Blend the peanut butter with a few drops of sesame oil to get the flavor more on point.
4. Sesame Oil
Given that both are derived from sesame seeds, it should come as no surprise that sesame oil tastes just as good as tahini in marinades, sauces, and salad dressings. Sesame oil might not be the right choice if you’re seeking for a certain texture, though, as it won’t have the same consistency as tahini. Because sesame oil is oilier than tahini, use it sparingly and adjust to taste when using it as a flavor stand-in.
5. Butter made from sunflower seeds
In terms of flavor and consistency, sunflower seed butter is a wonderful substitute for tahini, even if it’s not as widely available as other nut and seed butters. Combine the sunflower seed butter with a few drops of sesame oil to best replicate the texture and flavor, then use it in any dish that calls for tahini.
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