Tahini: Everything You Need to Know

Tahini: Everything You Need to Know

We all know the famous hummus dip, with it’s different versions all over the world. But did you know that it has one ingredient that is famous in it’s own right? Everybody’s favorite, tahini to be specific! Let’s talk about tahini and everything you need to know about it.

What’s Tahini?

Tahini, also known for various names like Tahina and Ardeh, is a toasted ground hulled sesame seed-based condiment. It is famously used in a lot of well known Eastern Mediterranean cuisines, but has also gained popularity in China and other Southeast Asian nations.

Basically, the tahini can be used as a standalone dip, which is a must-have in most Mediterranean dishes. Although it is also a major ingredient of hummus, halva, and baba ghanoush. Those are already famous appetizers, so take that popularity and the tahini can make a name of its own.

Everything You Need to Know About Tahini

Now that we know a bit of what tahini is, let’s delve deeper into this delectable dip/spread/ingredient and discover things you might not have known previously about it.

Bowl of Tahini with Matzos - For the Love of HummusIt’s Versatility is Endless

We already know that you can use tahini as a dip or even as a component to the widely-known hummus. But more than than, there are various ways you can enjoy this yummy substance. It can be used as a base for sauces due to its creamy texture, try it as a salad dressing, transform the way you enjoy pasta, and even create a tahini-based ice cream! Your imagination is the only limit to the way you can use it.

Tahini is a Healthy Addition to Any Dish

One compelling reason why people choose to experiment with tahini is not only because of its delicious taste, but also the health benefits it can bring. It is known to pack more protein that most nuts and milk. It even has various vitamins and minerals, such as B vitamins for brain function and energy, vitamin E for lesser risks of stroke and heart disease, plus calcium, iron, and magnesium. That’s a lot of great things from a humble condiment!

Creating Homemade Tahini is Easy as Pie

If you thought a dish this beneficial can only be bought in stores, you’re wrong. You can make your own tahini at home with white hulled sesame seeds, grapeseed or olive oil, an oven, and a food processor! And the best thing is that it takes only 20 minutes to create your own version, with prep time and cooking time combined. Easy and cost-effective!

It is Going to Have its Own Film

If you still don’t believe the impact of tahini in your life, then perhaps a documentary will? A “Tahini the Movie” is in the works, which pays homage to this healthy dish. Coincidentally, the same team that made “Hummus the Movie” is working on it. What are the odds?

We could go on and on, but let’s leave it at this bite-sized information for now. Interested to try it out?

Tahini - Everything You Need to Know - For the Love of Hummus

5 Popular Hummus Recipes on the Internet You Should Try

5 Popular Hummus Recipes on the Internet You Should Try

5 Popular Hummus Recipes on the Internet You Should Try if you really do love hummus. We are pretty crazy about it, but truthfully we aren’t the only ones. There are literally thousands of websites that offer hummus recipes, but it’s basically the same basic ingredients with some geographical additions. We have heaps of different ideas on this site and we like to put just about anything with it to improve it. After all, we don’t want to get tired of it, do we?

Culinary Revolution

Food has been one of the most basic physiologic needs that man cannot do without, but what started as a mere need for sustenance has evolved with sophistication and class. With the culinary revolution throughout generations, variations and combinations were made, thus the hummus was born. It has been around for so long and has been eaten in so many parts of the world. 

Hummus does not necessarily have to be the main dish, but it does form a very important part of the meal. Generally it is also used as a dip or spread which is used in so many cultures.

5-Hummus-Recipes you should try

Hummus Ingredients

Hummus is made primarily with chickpeas and tahini, while the other components vary from one recipe to another depending on your tastes and those dining at your table. These can include garlic, lemon or lime and sumac.

This exceptional appetizer has made waves everywhere that people are further enriching it while sharing their creations, where else, but on the web. Here are five must-try recipes that can easily be found on the internet.

Classic Dip

The first one features the hummus as a classic dip that can be prepared by anyone. By mixing the two staple ingredients with ground cumin, crushed garlic cloves, lemon juice, olive oil, and baby coriander leaves, it works best as a partner to Turkish bread. This is a great preparation for entertaining guests.

Better than Store Bought

While there are those that can easily be purchased instead of home-prepared, there is another recipe that confidently says it might be better than store-bought hummus. There is no other way to prove such an argument but to try following the step-by-step instructions, so if you are up for it then you might as well give it a go.

Trade Secrets

The secret to making a better-tasting hummus is in the order of adding the ingredients. Another way to make it stand out from the commercial ones is by skinning the chickpeas. Also, this recipe gives you the option to add tahini or make adjustments should you choose to do away with it, providing you a free hand in concocting your own hummus.

Chicpea and tahini make hummus tasty

Basic Hummus

For those who are simply starting to learn how to make hummus, here is a basic recipe that you can follow. The required ingredients are chickpeas, tahini, garlic cloves, sea salt, olive oil, and lemon juice. After mastering the basic concept of preparing hummus, you can let your imagination run wild and experiment with the flavor and texture.

Basic hummus recipe

If you wish to pick a different ingredient other than chickpeas, this unique hummus recipe suggests that you can use garbanzo beans instead. You also have the option to add a dash of cayenne pepper to make the dip spicier. Also, apparently you can keep it in the freezer for one month and just add a little olive oil if it becomes too dry.

Lastly, the food safari hummus recipe suggests preparation ahead of time, but the effort is well worth it. Soaking the chickpeas in water and bicarbonate soda a day before making the hummus makes it very soft and can easily be blended with other ingredients. If you have time to do this, then this may give a different culinary experience.

There are a lot of ways to prepare hummus, but ultimately it’s who you enjoy it with that makes the difference.

Banana Hummus Recipe

Banana Hummus Recipe

This Banana Hummus recipe is perfect for banana lovers everywhere. You just need to combine ripe banana with your traditional hummus mixture to give it a delicious and unique flavour. Aside from banana other fruits like avocado and strawberry are also used as a hummus ingredient. You can mix it up depending on who is going to eat it. Kids seem to love the banana hummus taste and it lends itself well to nutella and crackers. Just sayin.

About this Banana Hummus Recipe

For this recipe, you will really only spend 1-2 minutes to prepare this hummus variation. It usually takes around 5 minutes in the food processor and it can be served to 12 people. How amazing is that? So to make a yummy and sweet hummus dip for your loved ones. You can use bananas that are ripe and/or spotty. Bananas at this stage are really good for you and are usually wasted in banana bread which cooks the banana, making it lose a lot of it’s nutrients. Using it in a hummus is essentially eating it raw, maintaining all of the best things from the banana.

Ingredients: banana hummus recipe

Mashed ripe banana
1 can garbanzo beans or chickpeas
1 tbsp tahini
1 tbsp garlic, minced
1 tbsp lemon juice
0.5 tsp cinnamon
0.25 tsp each cumin and chili powder
A dash each of ground cloves, ginger, and nutmeg
Water as needed

Method:

  1. Rinse and drain garbanzo beans or chickpeas.
  2. Place all the ingredients in a food processor.
  3. Blend until the mixture becomes smooth, adding water to achieve the desired consistency and removing excess as needed.

This banana hummus recipe is truly as easy as 1 2 3 to prepare. Now you can use it as a spread and share it with your neighbors or for a quick solution when company arrives. They will definitely ask you for the recipe.

Banana-Hummus-Recipe For the Love of Hummus

Roasted Carrot Hummus Recipe

Roasted Carrot Hummus Recipe

The Roasted Carrot Hummus recipe is going to change your perception of hummus forever. When we talk about hummus, often times people just assume you can only eat it plain. This is so far from the truth and the basic hummus recipe can be varied in so many ways its not funny.

Hummus is easy to make, and everybody loves it. Adding roasted carrot to your hummus can give it an unusual kick not to mention a bright, orange colour. Add Roasted Carrot Hummus immediately to your must try list of hummus recipes.

Behold the roasted carrot hummus recipe.

roasted carrot hummus

 

Ingredients:

400 grams of carrots
½ x 400 grams tin of chickpeas
1 clove of garlic, peeled
2 tablespoons tahini
4 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon ground cumin
juice of ½ a lemon
a pinch of salt
a pinch of freshly ground black pepper

 

Method:

  1. Preheat the oven to 200° C
  2. Cut the carrots into bite size pieces at any shape. Place them in the oven for 20-25 minutes.
  3. Rinse and drain the chickpeas.
  4. Fine chop the garlic.
  5. Add all the ingredients into the food processor.
  6. Pulse to mix the ingredients well.
  7. Add salt and pepper when needed.

Your roasted carrot recipe is now good to serve. Its perfect as a dip, sandwich spread and even goes well on your favorite salad as a dressing. Enjoy your hummus!

Roasted-Carrot-Hummus recipe

Avocado Hummus Recipe

Avocado Hummus Recipe

An Avocado Hummus Recipe is a great way to add some more healthy ingredients to your basic hummus recipes. The addition of avocado brings a creaminess to the mixture and packs a protein punch. So with this in mind, give your basic hummus a twist with some Avocado.

Fruity hummus dips are the best! Avocado itself is delicious and combining it with hummus can result into a nutritious and sweet dip for your snack time.

How to make Avocado Hummus

Forget smashed avo’s, here’s what you need to make this Avocado Hummus.

Ingredients:

1 can chickpeas (can be used as topping)
1 avocado (peeled and pitted)
5 tablespoons tahini
1 lemon (juiced, more to taste)
3/4 cups water
4 cloves garlic
salt and pepper (to taste)
Olive oil

Method:

  1. Drain chickpeas (set aside few for topping) and place them to the food processor along with the avocado.
  2. Add tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, water and garlic cloves. You can add more or less of the garlic cloves depending on your liking.
  3. Pulse until the texture becomes smooth, add more water to achieve the consistency you prefer.
  4. Top your hummus with the chickpeas.

Avocado hummus is best served with pita wedges, chopped veggies, crackers and breadsticks. Enjoy your newly discovered dip!

Avocado-Hummus recipe