Tahini is probably most commonly known as an integral ingredient in hummus making, but tahini can (and should) be used lavishly in all kinds of dishes both sweet and savory.

If you are unfamiliar with tahini, think of it as another nut/seed butter just like its friends the mighty peanut butter, sunflower butter, and almond butter.  It is made by grinding toasted or raw sesame seeds into a paste.  It has a powerful and deeply nutty flavor that can simply be enjoyed on toast with a little jam or added to a whole range of recipes.

Just as with most other seeds and nuts, tahini is an excellent source of healthy fat, essential vitamins and minerals, and antioxidants, so introducing it to your diet will be beneficial to your health and your tastebuds.

You will likely find tahini in the nut butter/jam aisle of the supermarket, or you can very easily make your own.  Either way, get yourself a jar of tahini and start playing with some of these OGP tahini-based recipes.

1.  One-Pot Lemon Tahini Pasta

Source:  One-Pot Lemon Tahini Pasta/One Green Planet

This One-Pot Lemon Tahini Pasta by Katherine Vaught is quick to make so is ideal for those with no time to waste.  The tahini and coconut cream make for a smooth and creamy sauce while the lemon keeps things light and fresh.  With a huge helping of veggies, too, this is a hearty, healthy, and super easy dish to whip up.

2.  Tahini-Roasted Cauliflower with Lemony Herb Oil

Source: Tahini-Roasted Cauliflower with Lemony Herb Oil/One Green Planet

Wow! This Tahini-Roasted Cauliflower with Lemony Herb Oil by Maikki Vasala will really be the talk of the dinner table.  This work of art would make a stunning centerpiece at a dinner party or holiday meal.  It’s delicious, too.  This cauliflower has a spiced tahini coating, is drizzled with a fresh, lemony herb oil, and is garnished with roasted almonds.

3.  Mushroom Rice Stuffed Peppers with Tahini-Yogurt Sauce

Source: Mushroom Rice Stuffed Peppers with Tahini-Yogurt Sauce/One Green Planet

Teri Macovie chooses crimini mushrooms for this Mushroom Rice Stuffed Peppers with Tahini-Yogurt.  Drizzle chilled tahini and plant-based yogurt sauce over these beauties and set them on a bed of tomatoes for a full family meal.

4.  High Protein Chickpea-Stuffed Sweet Potatoes With Garlic Tahini Sauce

Source: High Protein Chickpea-Stuffed Sweet Potatoes With Garlic Tahini Sauce/One Green Planet

Fresh garlic, lemon juice, and tahini are blended together to make a silky smooth dressing for this recipe by Alexandra Caspero. These High Protein Chickpea-Stuffed Sweet Potatoes with Garlic Tahini Sauce are filling, delicious and protein-packed.

5.  Artichoke, Chickpea and Lemon Dip

Source: Artichoke, Chickpea and Lemon Dip/One Green Planet

If you love the taste of tahini, appreciate the protein power of chickpeas but are looking for an alternative to the classic hummus, then this recipe for Artichoke, Chickpea and Lemon Dip will certainly satisfy you. Julie Zimmer adds artichoke hearts for extra creaminess and a vitamin and mineral boost.

6.  Cucumber Tahini Gazpacho with Crispy Spiced Chickpeas

Source:  Cucumber Tahini Gazpacho with Crispy Spiced Chickpeas/One Green Planet

As much as we love soup, sometimes it is just too much to bear on hot summer days.  Gazpacho, a cold soup, is perfect for such occasions.  This Cucumber Tahini Gazpacho with Crispy Spiced Chickpeas by Sheela Prakash is a full meal in itself with the addition of protein-packed tahini and crispy chickpeas that add a tasty textural contrast.

7.  Caramel Tahini Brownies

Source: Caramel Tahini Brownies/One Green planet

And now for dessert!  Blending together dates and tahini makes for a perfect plant-based caramel.  These Caramel Tahini Brownies by Vicky Coates are gooey and chocolatey and everything you want from a brownie while being vegan and gluten-free.

8.  Tahini Oat Bars

Source: Tahini Oat Bars/One Green Planet

These no-bake Tahini Oat Bars by Vicky Coates are super easy to make, chewy, and covered in chocolate.  They are indulgent yet super healthy thanks to the powerhouse of seeds that goes into making this yummy snack.

9.  Midnight Black Sesame Tarts

Source: Midnight Black Sesame Tarts/One Green Planet

Black sesame seeds make black tahini! Buffy Ellen Gill sees her Midnight Black Seasme Tarts as a welcome contrast to the rainbow food craze that has recently infiltrated our lives.  No food coloring needed here to make this visually stunning little dessert.

10.  Maple Pecan Tahini Fudge

Source: Maple Pecan Tahini Fudge/One Green Planet

Can it be?  A high protein, refined sugar-free, vegan, creamy fudge?  Tara Sunshine‘s Maple Pecan Tahini Fudge is all of those things and more.  The tasty maple monk fruit sweetener pairs perfectly with the crunchy pecans in this fudgy treat.

Recipes both sweet and savory can become a flavorful and healthful sensation with the addition of tahini.  Use it as a base for creamy and nutty sauces or as a binder for snack bars and brownies.  Enrich your recipes and your health by adding a little tahini.

Learn How to Cook Plant-Based Meals at Home!

Reducing your meat intake and eating more plant-based foods is known to help with chronic inflammation, heart health, mental wellbeing, fitness goals, nutritional needs, allergies, gut health, and more! Dairy consumption also has been linked to many health problems, including acne, hormonal imbalance, cancer, prostate cancer and has many side effects.

For those of you interested in eating more plant-based, we highly recommend downloading the Food Monster App — with over 15,000 delicious recipes it is the largest plant-based recipe resource to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy! And, while you are at it, we encourage you to also learn about the environmental and health benefits of a plant-based diet.

Here are some great resources to get you started:

• Weekly Vegan Meal Plans
• Plant-Based Health Resources
• Plant-Based Food & Recipes
• Plant-Based Nutrition Resources
• The Ultimate Guide to Plant-Based Nutrition
• Budget-Friendly Plant-Based Recipes
• High Protein Plant-Based Recipes
• Plant-Based Meal Prep

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