A favorite Middle Eastern food, tahini (sesame paste) is a rich paste made from hulled sesame seeds. Here’s an array of delectable plant-based tahini recipes — dips, dressings, salads, noodles, sweets, and more —to which it adds its delightfully nutty, earthy flavor. If you’re wondering what you can make with tahini, you’ll see that there are so many great ways to use it!
Thanks to the talented bloggers who participated in this roundup for permission to use their beautiful photos and link to their recipes.
Tahini Tips
- Tahini comes in jars or tins. Stir well before using to mix the oil with the solids if they’ve separated.
- Keep tahini refrigerated once any kind of container is opened.
- Two tablespoons of tahini contain about 180 calories, 16 grams of fat, 6 grams of protein, and plenty of minerals. See its complete nutrient profile.
- See lots more about in our Guide to Sesame Seeds (+ Tahini and Sesame Butter).
Tahini Dressings and Dips
Baba Ghanoush
Baba Ghanoush (alternately spelled baba ghanouj), is a classic Middle Eastern eggplant dip that’s delicious scooped up on wedges of pita or other flatbread and fresh vegetables.
Avocado and Tahini Dip
Avocado and Tahini Dip is a richly flavored blend that makes a fantastic appetizer or snack. Use your favorite baby greens — spinach, arugula, kale, or a power greens mix.
Tangy Tahini Salad Dressing, Sauce, or Dip
Tangy Tahini Salad Dressing, Sauce, or Dip makes any salad shine, and is delicious on steamed, roasted, sautéed, or grilled vegetables as a sauce, too.
Creamy Tahini Dill Watercress Dip
Creamy Tahini Dill Watercress Dip benefits from the peppery flavor of this tiny leafy green. Silken tofu is a fantastically smooth dairy-free base, and hint of tahini pulls all the flavors together.
Dreamy Tahini Dill Dip: This creamy, dreamy tahini dill dip uses only 5 ingredients and, being completely addictive, makes vegetables go down so easy.
Tahini Parsley Salad Dressing has a luscious flavor, making good use of nutrient-rich fresh herbs. The base is made with tahini and cucumber.
Vegan Lemon Miso Tahini Dressing from Zardy Plants is rich, tangy, and a great sauce for virtually any dish. Use it to top pasta, salads, bowls, and more! It is a versatile sauce you’ll want to make every week, and takes less than 5 minutes to make!
Tahini-Flavored Salads
Falafel Salad with Orange and Lemon Tahini Dressing from Healthy Green Kitchen will completely revitalize your lunch! Homemade falafel is super easy, full of flavor, and a protein-filled vegan lunch!
Falafel Salad with Lemon Tahini Dressing from Plant Based Folk is another flavorsome and filling falafel salad. It features quinoa and a chopped falafel all pulled together with a delicious tahini dressing.
Kale and Cucumber Salad is dressed in a luscious dressing of avocado and tahini. While this dressing is ideal for this and other kinds of kale salads, it’s great on most any kind of green salad.
Tomato Cucumber Tahini Salad from Non-Guilty Pleasures is a simple yet satisfying and refreshing side. Cubed fresh veggies tossed with a generous splash of olive oil and a creamy lemon tahini dressing are the perfect accompaniment to Middle Eastern dishes.
Hummus Salad with Roasted Chickpeas from Bean Recipes has a dressing that tastes like hummus, and the rest of the bowl is full of tomatoes, tomatoes, red onions and (optional) green olives. The best part is the crushed pita chips on top, because every salad needs a bit of crunch!
Ginger-Lemon Tahini Dressing with Chopped Salad and Tofu Strips from Vegan Blueberry is a special dish. Tahini is the key ingredient in its creamy vegan lemony dressing.
Simple Ancient Grains Salad with Tahini Dressing from Health My Lifestyle is a protein and fiber-packed dish featuring cherry tomatoes, kalamata olives, and fresh basil with in a trio of hearty grains.
Beet Slaw with Tahini Dressing: From Kind Earth, a simple dressing and dresses this chopped beet slaw, and has what it takes to inspire you to a new level of tahini-love! All you need is a few ingredients, including garlic, ginger, lemon and a good appetite.
Hummus
Cilantro Avocado Hummus: If classic hummus and guacamole got married and had a baby, this simple and delicious hummus would be the result. If you enjoy both chickpeas and avocado, you’re sure to love this (literal) mashup.
Sweet Potato Hummus with Artichoke Hearts: Sweet potato hummus is a mellow backdrop for briny artichoke hearts (or olives, if you prefer the variation).
Fresh Herb and Artichoke Hummus: The ingredients in this easy recipe take ordinary hummus up a notch. Marinated artichokes are a delectable addition to the classic dip.
Noodles & Pasta
Cold Sesame Peanut Butter Noodles: Sesame noodles or peanut butter noodles — why choose? Combine the two in luscious cold sesame peanut butter noodles, with a dollop of tahini, a dash of spice, and plenty of crisp raw vegetables.
Easy Cold Noodles with Sesame Sauce: If you’re a fan of sesame noodles found on Pan-Asian restaurant menus, you’ll love these naturally plant-based, easy cold noodles with sesame sauce.
Tahini Miso Ramen from This Healthy Table is incredibly savory and delicious, with caramelized mushrooms and plenty of scallion.
Vegan Tahini Miso Noodles from Feasting Not Fasting are so delicious and a perfect meal with delicious shiitake mushrooms and baby bok choy mixed in. Edamame are added for a boost of protein too!
Saucy Tahini Pasta with Crispy Tofu from Zardy Plants is creamy and delicious, a bountiful bowl that’s ready in 20 minutes or less. Load it up with your favorite veggies and customize the sauce to your liking for your new favorite go-to lunch or dinner.
Creamy Tahini Pasta from The Fast Recipes is creamy, rich, and made with just a few ingredients. Ready in about 15 minutes, it’s very adjustable – you can add more ingredients according to what you have or what you crave.
Creamy Tahini Pasta with Lemon, Garlic, and Tofu from TY Berry Much is tossed with tender kale and topped with crispy savory tofu. Add a few red pepper flakes for a spicy kick!
One-Pot Tahini Pasta with Toasted Walnuts ticks all those boxes and more with its unique flavor and extra creamy texture. The nutty flavor of the tahini is amplified by the toasted walnuts and made extra savory by the addition of garlic.
Spicy Tahini Miso Soba Noodles from My Pure Plants envelopes noodles and tofu in an easy no-cook sauce. As delectable to eat as it is to behold!
Tahini-Flavored Vegetables
Mediterranean Roasted Eggplant with Tahini from Debra Klein is flavored with herbs and garlic. It’s super easy and so flavorful!
Roasted Cauliflower with Tahini, Lime & Cilantro is a fantastic way to highlight this delightful vegetable. This easy recipe makes a great side dish with many kinds of meals.
Mediterranean Roasted Cauliflower with Tahini from The Rustic Foodie is a fantastic side dish. It’s tossed in savory spices and served with a lemon tahini sauce, toasted pine nuts, and fresh mint.
Roasted Radishes with Tahini Sauce from Babaganosh features a creamy, nutty tahini sauce that pairs so well with roasted radishes. Cooking the radishes makes them milder and sweeter — a totally unique and delicious veggie side dish!
More Tahini Goodness
Olive Hummus Wraps with Greens and Avocado: Featuring easy homemade olive hummus plus leafy greens, avocado, and tomato, these wraps are a delicious lunch for home, school, or work.
The Best Falafel Sandwich from My Pure Plants presents a traditional way to highlight tahini — delectable falafel pita with a tangy tahini sauce.
Buckwheat Bowls with Roasted Vegetables and Tahini Sauce: Tahini is used for a sauce to take these roasted veggie buckwheat bowls to a whole other level. Such a great combination of flavors and so nutritious.
Cypriot Tahinopita Bread is a traditional vegan pastry filled with a sweet mixture of tahini and sugar, baked to golden perfection, offering a delightful blend of nutty and sweet flavors.
Tahini Sweets and Treats
Summer Peaches and Lemon “Cream” Tart from Jazzy Vegetarian features a delicious secret — the crust is made with tahini. An incredible summertime treat!
Double Chocolate Maple Tahini Puffed Cereal Treats from Simple Bites are a delicious vegan lunchbox treat!
Chickpea Flour Crepes with Tahini Chocolate Sauce from Healthful Ideas are gluten-free, vegan, and delicious with a homemade chocolate tahini sauce and chia jam!
Vegan Sesame Tahini Lemon Cookies are tender, moist, and easy to make. Rich with tahini and subtly flavored with lemon, these cookies will take your coffee or tea break to a new level.
Three-Seed Tahini Cookies: Filled with crunchy seeds, these vegan tahini cookies are wholesome and richly flavored. If you like “salty sweets,” use salted sunflower seeds.
Apricot Granola Bars from Wholesome Patisserie are flavored with tahini and are a staple recipe to have on hand when you need a quick snack. Fabulous to pop into your kids lunchbox and also great to take to work!
Vegan Tahini Brownies from Debra Klein are easy to make with plant-based ingredients. They’re moist and fudgy and loaded with chocolaty yumminess.
Fudge Tahini Brownies from Glitter Inc. are a dairy-free, gluten-free and grain-free dessert to satisfy your sweet tooth? They are totally incredible and a family favorite.
Two-Minute Tahini Pudding from Kind Earth is a quick and easy treat that you can make in only two minutes.
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