Ideas for a Tahini Replacement

Tahini is a rich sesame paste and an essential component in everything from hummus to sweet treats. However, unless you’re making Middle Eastern food on the regular, you likely don’t keep tahini around. That’s where the idea of a tahini replacement comes in.

Using tahini substitutes

There are several reasons why you might look for a tahini replacement or alternative. For one, tahini is made primarily from sesame seeds, which are common allergens. If you or someone you’re cooking for has a sesame allergy, you need to find an alternative for their health.

Also, tahini is often expensive, doesn’t come in a big container and not always easy to find in stores. Sometimes, using a replacement just is the practical choice.

The best tahini replacement

It’s important to consider the role of tahini in the dish you’re making when choosing an appropriate substitute. Is the tahini used mostly for flavor or for texture? Knowing this will help guide you toward the best substitute choice.

Sunflower seed butter

Sunflower seed butter is a great replacement for tahini. One of the reasons it works well is because, like tahini, it is a seed-based spreads. Because you tend to use tahini in savory dishes, looking for a sunflower butter that doesn’t contain added sugars. You can also make the flavor taste more authentic by blending it with a little sesame oil. A jar of sunflower seed butter is worth keeping around since it’s also a great substitute for peanut butter.

Cashew and almond butters

Cashew and almond butters are solid picks if you’re looking to swap out tahini. You can use them as a one-to-one replacement for tahini. No one will likely notice, as is the case with Sage Scott of Sage Alpha Gal.

“When I’m making hummus and realize we are out of tahini, I replace it with an equal amount of almond butter,” she says. “No one in my family is the wiser.”

Greek yogurt

I love using Greek yogurt in place of so many ingredients, such as sour cream or even mayonnaise. It works as a tahini substitute, too. True, it will change the flavor profile a bit, but it can work wonders in the right dishes.

Greek yogurt isn’t ideal when tahini’s role is to balance out sweet flavors, like when drizzled over sweet potatoes or roasted vegetables. However, in zesty dips or creamy dressings, Greek yogurt’s thick and creamy texture makes it a decent stand-in. It would probably work in an eggplant dip like baba ganoush.

Pumpkin seed butter

Pumpkin seed butter is a fantastic alternative to tahini if you’re looking for something allergy-friendly and packed with nutrients. Made from ground, de-shelled pumpkin seeds, called pepitas, it boasts a creamy texture that holds together well without the oil separating too much.

Sesame oil

Sesame oil works well as a substitute for tahini when you want to capture that distinctive sesame flavor in marinades and salad dressings. Because it comes from the same plant as tahini, their flavors are quite similar.

However, sesame oil is liquid, so it won’t provide the creamy texture tahini adds to recipes that rely on its body. It also contains more oil, so use less than you would tahini. Begin with about half the amount called for and adjust to your taste.

Remember this

There might come a time when you’re all set to cook but realize tahini is missing from your pantry. Now. you’ll have an idea about which replacements you can reach for if and when that situation arise.

Portions of this article originally appeared on Food Drink Life.