Tahini

What is tahini? Definition: Tahini is a ground sesame seed paste, similar to peanut butter. It is a creamy, oily, and smooth nut butter rich in calcium. Look for tahini in a glass jar or a can, and sometimes in a powdered, dehydrated form in health food stores, or in the ethnic foods aisle of your regular grocery store. You can also find fresh tahini in the refrigerator section next to the hummus in larger well-stocked grocery stores.

Nutritional information

Tahini is high in iron.

Tahini is an excellent source of copper, manganese and the amino acid, methionine. Tahini is a source of the healthy fatty acids omega-3 and omega-6.

Tahini in a jar with natural oil separation visible at the top.

Tahini made from raw sesame seeds is lower in fat than tahini made from roasted seeds.

Tahini's relatively high levels of calcium and protein make it a useful addition to vegetarian and vegan diets, as well as to raw food diets when eaten in its unroasted form. Compared to peanut butter, tahini has higher levels of fiber and calcium and lower levels of sugar and saturated fats.