The tahini

Hello everyone, I am the chef from the Quantum Isoraka restaurant, and today I am here on the culinary blog to talk to you about tahini, a delicious and versatile sesame paste.

What is Tahini?

 Tahini is a paste made from roasted and ground sesame seeds. It is widely used in Middle Eastern cuisine, particularly in dishes like hummus, baba ganoush, or tahini sauce. It has a creamy texture and a slightly bitter and nutty flavor.

What are the Benefits of Tahini?

Tahini is a healthy and nutritious ingredient. It is rich in plant-based proteins, unsaturated fatty acids, calcium, iron, magnesium, and vitamins B and E. It helps strengthen the immune system, regulate cholesterol levels, and prevent osteoporosis. It is also gluten-free and vegan. Tahini is used as a condiment, as a base for sauces, or as an ingredient in various recipes.

Tahini offers numerous health benefits due to its exceptional nutritional composition.

Here are a few of its advantages:

• It is rich in plant-based proteins, which are essential for tissue growth and repair. A 30g serving of tahini provides about 8g of protein, more than milk or eggs.
• It contains unsaturated fatty acids, including omega-3 and omega-6, which are beneficial for the heart and brain. They help reduce bad cholesterol (LDL) and increase good cholesterol (HDL), thus preventing cardiovascular diseases.
• It is an excellent source of calcium, which is essential for bone and dental health. Tahini contains more calcium than milk or cheese, making it particularly recommended for lactose-intolerant individuals or vegans.
• It provides iron, magnesium, zinc, copper, and selenium, which are important minerals for metabolism, oxygen transport, hormone synthesis, and protection against free radicals.
• It contains vitamins B and E, which are involved in numerous enzymatic reactions, energy production, and nervous system regulation. Vitamin E also has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

Tahini is a complete and balanced food that can be consumed daily. It pairs well with bread, raw vegetables, salads, soups, hummus, or falafels. It can also be used to prepare desserts like halva or sesame cake. Tahini can be stored in the refrigerator for several months. Just make sure to mix it well before using, as the oil may separate from the paste.

How to Use Tahini?

Tahini is very easy to use in cooking. Simply mix it with a little water, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and parsley to create a creamy and flavorful sauce. You can use it as a dip for raw or cooked vegetables, falafels, kebabs, or grilled meats. It can also be incorporated into soups, salads, dressings, or marinades.

And why not in desserts? Tahini pairs very well with honey, chocolate, or dried fruits. Here are some ideas to enjoy its benefits and flavor:

• To make a tahini sauce, you will need tahini, water, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and parsley. Mix all the ingredients in a bowl until you achieve a smooth and homogeneous consistency. You can adjust the amount of water according to the desired texture. This sauce can be refrigerated for several days.
• You can use the tahini sauce as a dip for raw vegetables such as carrots, cucumber, cauliflower, or radishes. It’s a simple and delicious way to enjoy fresh veggies.
• The tahini sauce can also be used to coat cooked vegetables like eggplants, zucchini, broccoli, or potatoes. Roast them in the oven with a drizzle of olive oil, salt, and paprika for added flavor.
• Tahini is an essential ingredient for making falafels, those fried or baked chickpea balls. Serve them with pita bread, salad, tomatoes, onions, and, of course, tahini sauce.
• Tahini can also accompany meat or fish dishes such as kebabs, grilled meats, or skewers. It adds a creamy and balanced note that pairs well with the smoky flavor of the cooking.
• Tahini can be incorporated into soups, salads, dressings, or marinades. For example, you can blend tahini with vegetable broth, cumin, and turmeric to make a comforting soup. Mix tahini with plain yogurt, honey, and mint for an original dressing. Or marinate chicken or tofu in a mixture of tahini, soy sauce, ginger, and garlic to enhance their tenderness and flavor.
• Lastly, tahini can be used in desserts. It pairs well with honey, chocolate, or dried fruits. For example, you can make a chocolate and tahini cake by replacing butter with tahini. Create chocolate and tahini truffles by mixing melted chocolate with tahini and rolling the mixture into cocoa powder-coated balls. Or make homemade granola by combining oats, tahini, honey, and chopped dried fruits. As you can see, tahini is a highly versatile ingredient that can enrich your culinary creations. Don’t hesitate to try it and discover its many possibilities. I hope this article has inspired you to discover or rediscover tahini, a sesame paste that has so much to offer. Feel free to share your recipes and tips with us on the culinary blog of the Quantum Isoraka restaurant. See you soon!