Tahini Recipe (Super Easy & Creamy)
146 Comments
Updated Nov 17, 2023
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Tahini is easy to make at home and can be used in many recipes. For super creamy tahini (and not one that’s gloppy and separated) use a high-powered blender and follow my tips below. I’ve also got a quick video to show you how to make it.
Homemade tahini is fresh, smooth and tastes better than anything you can buy in the store. It’s frequently used as a sauce or dressing. You can also use it in my Hummus, Tahini Sauce, Lemon Tahini Dressing, Chocolate Chip Tahini Cookies and so many other recipes.
WHAT IS TAHINI?
Tahini is one of those ingredients that I like to consider a flavor-enhancer, because it’s seedy simplicity makes everything taste delicious. It’s also super easy to make at home with a few tips I’ll share below. And you know my philosophy, fresh is best – so there’s no need to buy it from the store again.
So what exactly is tahini? Quite simply, it’s just toasted and ground sesame seeds. Tahini is a staple ingredient in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern culture (I enjoyed my fair share of it when I lived in the Middle East) and it’s frequently used as an ingredient in hummus or served alongside falafel, pita or baba ganoush as a condiment or sauce.
TAHINI INGREDIENTS
This couldn’t be an easier recipe – there’s only two ingredients! Tahini is made from sesame seeds and a little olive oil. That makes it naturally gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan.
After posting my Hummus recipe (where I use this tahini), I received numerous requests for a tahini recipe and video. And you know me, I’m happy to oblige. Especially when that means I now have a fresh jar of tahini in my fridge for a variety of recipes.
But I do have a few tips on making super creamy tahini, because if you’ve done any Google searching you’re likely to see examples of gloppy, separated and overly oily tahini. Stuff that doesn’t look very appetizing. So let me help you out.
Tahini Tips
- Use a high-powered blender. Like my favorite Vitamix. Food processors are great, but they’re just not as powerful as blenders, so can’t deliver the creaminess (without double or triple the oil) that makes for the best tahini. Case in point: when you use a Vitamix to make tahini, you only need 2 tablespoons of olive oil for 4 cups of sesame seeds. If you use a food processor, you’ll use that same amount of oil for 1 cup of sesame seeds.
- Use hulled sesame seeds. Hulled sesame seeds will make a smoother tahini and taste less bitter.
- Gently toast the sesame seeds. Sesame seeds will burn quite quickly, so make sure to keep an eye on them on the stove. You only want them turn a slightly golden color to help release their natural oils.
- Use a high quality oil. I prefer olive oil or avocado oil.
How to Store Tahini
The tahini recipe below calls for 4 cups of sesame seeds, which may sound like a lot. But remember that once it’s blended, that’s only about 2 cups of tahini.
Homemade tahini will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to a month, but you could always freeze leftovers. Just do what I do for fresh herbs and compound butters – freeze the tahini in an ice cube tray and pop out a cube when you need it.
More Easy Vegan Sauce Recipes
Tahini Recipe (Super Easy & Creamy!)
Description
Video
Ingredients
- 4 cups hulled sesame seeds
- 3 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Gently toast the sesame seeds (stirring constantly) on medium low for 5 minutes, or until slightly golden. Then, let them cool to room temperature.
- Once the sesame seeds have cooled, add them to your Vitamix. Blend on high for one minute, using the tamper to push the seeds into the blades, creating a tahini paste.
- Add the olive oil and blend for another minute to create a creamy consistency.
Lisa’s Tips
- The recipe makes approximately 2 cups of tahini.
Nutrition
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Love your receipes looks amazing wlll definately try. Tks.
Hope you enjoy!
This looks like a winning recipe, cant wait to try it! I haven’t had much luck with the food processor method. I have a good ninja blender but no tamper and don’t really know much about it. Can I still achieve the end product without the tamper?
i had to order sesame seeds online
i made your tahini sauce in a ninja blender
at first the blades weren’t doing much but after i drizzled in some olive oil it came together perfectly.
super easy.
I’m glad you enjoyed the recipe!
I think I’ll try using almond butter instead of tahini. Since I have some on hand right now. I buy the hundred percent organic almond butter. It makes the best milk.
Let us know how it turns out, Susan!
Hi Lisa, can I use a food processor?
Hi Miryam – yes, you can. Though it may not be quite as smooth.
Is there a tahini brand in a jar that will also work if I don’t have time or ingredients to make from scratch?
Yes, you can buy tahini at the store as well.
Turned out good for my first time making it, but next time I will add more oil if it turns out as thick as this time. It definitely wasn’t as creamy as I expected, but my sesame seeds were not fresh and I may have over toasted them. Tastes great though and my guests liked it as well, especially once I used it to make your roasted beet hummus. I will try again and learn from my mistakes. I’m still pretty new to using a high powered blender for anything other than smoothies.
I have made this twice now since the usual store bought tahini is so expensive. Super easy! However, my hummus which I use your recipe seems to be drier now that I use my own tahini. Maybe I’m not using the right olive oil. Which do you use or recommend? Exact one is always appreciated!
I use a few different brands, but right now I’m using Lucini. :)
Awesome video and recipe–can’t wait to try it! Thanks for the tips!
Can I use powdered tahini? I found some rather reasonable priced so I was curious.
Delicious and easy. The tahini I buy in my local grocery stores is always separated and I can’t get that stuff from the bottom re-incorporated into the runny oil at the top of the container, so this is so much better. I’ve found that not overdoing the toasting part keeps the bitterness down quite a bit.
Just tried making this with my new vitamix. It didn’t get creamy. Added a lot more olive oil. The tahini got really hot in the vitamix. Watched your video. Looked easy. Don’t think mine turned out. I’m going to freeze it in cubes and try making some of your hummus.
Did you make sure to use your tamper?
Look great, and so easy!
Bonjour!
How long can this tahini stay in the fridge? At room temp? Should it be stored in the fridge?
Thank you! :)
Homemade tahini will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to a month, but you could always freeze leftovers.
Hello appreciate your advice. Love your posts but this one I need a suggestion. Followed your recipe but sfter 3 min my Vitamix started to make the seeds steaming hot. And no liquidy Tahini as in your video🥲Any advice?
Did you make sure to really press down with the tamper? This will help to blend the seeds. And once you add in the oil, it should become creamy!
Hi Lisa, would it be better with sesame oil? Thank you.
This recipe traditionally does not use sesame oil.
Excellent recipe,
Sesame seeds will turn bitter if you toast them at a heat that is too high…. I toast seeds in the oven no more than 250 degrees Fahrenheit
Thanks for the tip. How long would you suggest leaving them in the oven?
Hi, can I used a regular blender for the Tahini recipe?
You will need a high powered blender for this recipe Cindy.
It turned out great in my Ninja. Just takes about 2 minutes longer to turn pasty.
Good to know this came out perfectly in your Ninja!
I don’t have a vitamix, I have a ninja. Is there any thing that needs to be done differently?
I haven’t tried using a ninja for this – but if you do, let me know how it turns out!
I made Tahini as you requested. It turned out very bitter. What do you think when wrong. I did freeze the toasted seeds in a zip lock bag for 2 weeks before making the Tahini. Ths. Judie
Hi Judie – plain tahini does have a naturally bitter taste, though some find it more bitter than others. I’d recommend looking up my tahini sauce or tahini dressing recipes, which have additional flavors added in.
Hi Lisa,
Do I need to stored it in the refrigerator? How long it last?
Hi Flavia – homemade tahini will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to a month, but you could always freeze leftovers as well.
Delicious easy recipe. I have been making this quite often.
Thanks.
After making the tahini…how much do you add to the Humus.
You can find the full hummus recipe on my website :)