Tahini

Tahini is a creamy paste of ground sesame seeds – the cornerstone of Middle Eastern cooking. At FUDI you will find authentic tahini from Lebanon and Turkey, suited to hummus, baba ganoush, dressings and baking.

What is tahini?

Tahini (also called tahin or sesame paste) is made by grinding sesame seeds into a smooth, runny paste – much like peanut butter, only from sesame. The flavour is nutty with a faintly bitter edge, and works as well in savoury dishes as in sweet ones.

Light or dark tahini?

Light tahini is made from hulled, lightly roasted sesame seeds and is mild and creamy – the safest choice for hummus and dressings. Dark tahini is made from unhulled or more heavily roasted seeds and tastes deeper and more bitter; good for baking and for dishes that can carry a pronounced sesame note. If the jar says nothing, it is usually the light type you are holding.

How to use tahini

• Hummus – blend tahini with chickpeas, lemon, garlic and olive oil.
• Dressing – whisk tahini with lemon juice, garlic and a little water into a silky sauce for salads and bowls.
• Baba ganoush – stir tahini into grilled, mashed aubergine.
• Halva and baking – tahini adds depth to cakes, cookies and the classic sesame confection halva.
• Topping – drizzle over grilled vegetables, falafel or yoghurt.

Our brands

Chtoura is a Lebanese classic with a clean, full sesame flavour, while Turkish Sera delivers consistent quality in several sizes – from 300 g to bulk packs. The rest of the meze table is in the Middle Eastern kitchen.

Frequently asked questions about tahini

What is tahini made of? Pure tahini consists only of ground sesame seeds – some varieties add a little oil or salt.

What is in tahini? Tahini is made from sesame seeds alone, so it is energy-dense. A spoonful or two goes a long way. The full breakdown is on the individual jar.

How do I store tahini? Somewhere dark and cool. The oil may separate in the jar – that is completely normal, just stir well before use. Once opened it keeps for several months.

Is tahini vegan and gluten-free? Yes – pure tahini is both vegan and naturally gluten-free.

What can replace tahini? Unsweetened nut butter with a few drops of sesame oil comes closest, but for a true hummus flavour tahini is hard to substitute.