Find a Favorite Tahini Recipe: Sauces, Salads, and Energy Bites

If you are looking to add a new flavor for your table, it might be time to discover a new favorite tahini recipe. Known as the "peanut butter of the Middle East," this sesame paste is a rich source of B vitamins, vitamin E, minerals, and calcium, according to The Guardian. It might already be familiar to you as a hummus ingredient. Tahini can be a savory addition to other recipes, too. Try it out in dips, snacks, salads, and desserts and it will soon become a tasty staple in your kitchen.

Tahini Sauce Recipe

With a creamy texture and savory flavor, tahini makes a great sauce for salads or noodles. You can find a jar of it at local grocery or specialty store and spruce it up with some fresh flavors. Here's what you'll need:

• ¹/₃ cup tahini

• ¼ cup water

• Juice of ½ lemon

• 1 garlic clove, minced

• Salt, pepper, and cumin to taste
• Fresh chopped parsley to taste

Whisk together tahini, water, and lemon juice until smooth and blended. If you prefer a thinner consistency, add more water. Add garlic and stir. Season with salt, pepper, and a dash of cumin or chopped parsley and taste. Adjust seasonings as needed.

Mashed Chickpea Salad with Tahini Sauce Recipe

If you are looking for a vegan substitute for egg or chicken salad, try this easy chickpea salad recipe:

• 1 ½ cup cooked chickpeas

• Handful of vegetables, such as carrots, red bell peppers, or spinach, chopped

• ½ cup tahini sauce (from the previous recipe)

Mash chickpeas with a fork. Stir in your chopped vegetables, then stir in tahini sauce. If you chop the vegetables finely, this mixture can also serve as a chunky dip for vegetables or pita chips.

Cucumber Salad with Tahini Sauce Recipe

A refreshing cucumber salad screams "summer!" Add your own herbs or veggies if you'd like!

• 1 ½ pound cucumbers

• ¹/₃ cup chopped red onion

• ½ cup tahini sauce

• Salt and pepper to taste

Slice cucumbers and mix with chopped onion. Fold in dressing and gently combine. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Vegan Tahini Energy Bites Recipe

If you are looking for a healthy snack or a vegan dessert option, these energy bites are great to have on hand. They'll keep in your fridge for up to two weeks. You can also stash them in your freezer for a cold treat that stores for longer.

• ¼ cup tahini

• ¼ cup almond butter

• ¹/₃ cup peanut butter

• 1 ½ cup cashews

• 1 ½ cup pitted dates

• ¼ cup flaxseeds

• ½ cup pumpkin seeds

• ¹/₈ cup maple syrup

Combine all ingredients and blend in food processor. Pulse until the mixture is soft enough to roll into walnut-sized balls. Shape, snack, and store any remaining balls in the fridge.

Recipes using tahini are delicious, versatile, and easy to add to your cooking repertoire. So don't let hummus have all the fun!

What is your favorite tahini recipe? Let us know on Twitter!

Image source: Mali Anderson | Mali Anderson | Mali Anderson

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