I need a favor! Mind filling out a quick survey? I'd like to learn more about you and what you think of Salt Sear Savor. Iâm going to randomly select 3 people who fill it out and send them each one of my favorite cookbooks! Take the survey here. Please and thank you!
Cooking with Tahini
Knowing more about ingredients makes you a better cook. The more you know, the more you can freestyle in the kitchen.
So letâs talk about one of my favorite ingredients lately: tahini.
Tahini is so much more than something you add to hummus.
It can be used across cuisines and in both savory and sweet applications. Best part? You can quickly turn it into one of my favorite sauces for roasted meats or charred vegetables. I especially love it for vegetarian meals because it instantly makes a dish more satisfying!
What is Tahini?
Itâs made from ground sesame seeds that may be soaked, hulled, and/or toasted. You can think of it like nut butter.
So whatâs it taste like?
On its own, tahini has a strong sesame flavor. Itâs nutty and creamy. And itâs a tahini bit bitter. đ But in a bittersweet kind of way.
Ways to Use Tahini
We all know what itâs like to buy an ingredient for a recipe, use a tablespoon of it, and then never touch the jar again. And I bet youâve done that with tahini after making hummus. But donât worry! I got you.
First up, my favorite. Make a quick tahini sauce. Mix tahini with lemon juice and water, a grated garlic clove, and a pinch of salt. I like a ratio of 4 parts tahini to 1 part lemon juice to 1 part water. If itâs too thick, add a teaspoon of water at a time to thin it out until itâs a drizzleable (I think thatâs a word) consistency.
Pour it over roasted cauliflower, charred eggplant, seared chicken breasts, or even a bowl of chickpeas.
Here are few more ideas:
- Your tahini quick sauce can turn into a wonderful vinaigrette. Itâs perfect for hardy salads. Swap half of the tahini for olive oil and then replace the water with more acid.
- Like you would sour cream or creme fraiche, add a tablespoon to soups or stews to add body, creaminess, and richness.
- Try it with something sweet. Really? Yep! Think about where you use peanut butter in desserts. Then use tahini instead! Brownies, cookies, tahini and jelly sandwiches...
- While tahini isnât the same as the sesame paste youâd find in Asian markets, itâs a great substitute. Mix tahini, soy sauce, grated ginger, rice wine vinegar, and whatever else youâre feeling. Then pour over noodles or stir-fried veggies! It works for peanuts! Why not sesame?
- Remember slash and char chicken? Use tahini in a rub for meats and vegetables before you cook themâletâs say tahini, honey, salt, cumin, coriander, and a little bit of lemon juice and oil. Rub that all over your meat or vegetables before throwing them in the oven.
Picking a Good Tahini
Like most ingredients, brands differ. Some are thicker. Some are sweeter. The best way is to try a few different ones and pick your favorite.
I like to go for ones that are made using toasted sesame seeds. To me, they have a better flavor. đ
While separation is natural and going to happen, a good tahini should be easy to remix until it is smooth. If you grab a spoon and feel like youâve hit rock bottom when you dive into the jar, it might be worth trying a different brand.
But remember this. Donât feel the pressure to pick the âperfectâ tahini. Itâs more important that you find one you like and get used to using it. For example, you may want a tahini sauce to be thinner so itâs drizzeable. But you may use a thicker brand of tahini. All good! You just use more liquid than a recipe calls for to thin it out.
Storage
You can store tahini in a pantry or refrigerator! Either works. It will be thicker when stored in the fridge and be slower to separate. On the other hand, it will be more difficult to recombine.
The nice thing is that tahini lasts a while. Like months usually. How do you know if itâs gone bad? You can smell it when itâs rancid. đ
I hope youâre inspired to grab that jar of tahini off the back shelf and put it to use. But if you havenât used it in a while, sometimes the lid will stick. Just make sure to utter the magic phrase: âopen sesameâ. đ
Luciano đšâđł
P.S. Please take the survey!