The Chief Middle Eastern Ingredient – Tahini

A Middle Eastern pantry essential – ‘tahini’ is a paste that is prepared from ground sesame seeds. It is a major ingredient used in the preparation of hummus bi tahini and several other Middle Eastern dishes. The difference between the Middle Eastern tahini and the East Asian sesame paste is that the former is made of hulled and lightly roasted seeds, while the latter is made of unhulled seeds. Apart from this, the East Asian sesame paste is comparatively bitterer than tahini and also higher in some nutrients. Tahini is generally sold fresh or dehydrated.

History and Etymology

The word ‘tahini’ is an Arabic loanword used in English. It is also known as ‘tahina’, when based on its Hebrew pronunciation. Tahini originated as ‘ardeh’, which means the ‘holy food’ in ancient Persia. It has been mentioned as an ingredient in the recipe of ‘Hummus Kasa’, transcribed in an anonymous Arabic cookbook of the 13th century, ‘Kitab Wasaf al-Atima al-Mutada.

Uses of Tahini

Tahini is used in a large number of Middle Eastern dishes. Some of its uses are discussed below:

• In the Arab and Israeli restaurants, tahini-based sauces are often used as a side dish, or a garnish, which usually includes salt, lemon juice, and garlic, thinned with water. In Middle Eastern cuisine, the tahini sauce happens to be a major condiment for vegetables and meat.
• Despite the flavor and texture being different, tahini, as a spread, may replace peanut butter on bread.
• Tahini is used as a major ingredient in soups.
• Tahini is generally mixed with date syrup for making a sweet dessert to be eaten with bread, in Iraq and some other Gulf countries.
• In the winter season, in Turkey, tahini is commonly used as a breakfast item, after being mixed with pekmez, a kind of molasses or thick fruit juice syrup.
• In the Mediterranean preparation of halva, which is a sweet dish, tahini is used as a major ingredient.
• Tahini is gradually becoming more and more common in European cuisine, since it is often used in some pre-packaged sandwiches as an ingredient.
• In the famous Middle Eastern dish called, hummus bi tahini, tahini is used as the chief ingredient.

Use of Tahini in various other cuisines other than Middle Eastern cuisine is becoming increasingly popular. Tahini seeds are inexpensive and can be found practically everywhere. They can survive for a long period of time if it is stored in domestic refrigerators.