Base for savory sesame sauces or dips

Base for savory sesame sauces or dips recipe videos

This is a foundational paste, most famously tahini, made from ground sesame seeds. It is a staple ingredient in Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, and East Asian cuisines, serving as the base for hummus, baba ghanoush, and various salad dressings. Its primary ingredient is simply toasted or raw sesame seeds, often with a neutral oil added for consistency.

🍽️ Nutrition at a glance

Tahini is high in healthy fats and provides a good amount of plant-based protein. It is a rich source of minerals like copper, manganese, and phosphorus, with a typical 2-tablespoon serving containing around 180 calories.

Nutrition breakdown

Calories	178 kcal
Protein	5.1 g
Carbs	6.4 g
Fat	16.1 g
Fiber	1.4 g
Sugar	0.3 g
Sodium	5 mg
Copper	0.5 mg
Manganese	0.5 mg
Phosphorus	128 mg
Magnesium	58 mg
Iron	1.4 mg
Zinc	0.9 mg
Thiamin (B1)	0.1 mg
Selenium	3.0 mcg

Per 2 tablespoons (30 g) · estimated, varies by recipe

💡 What's interesting

Culturally, tahini is a cornerstone of the ancient Levantine diet and is a key ingredient in the global phenomenon of hummus. Nutritionally, it contains lignans, which are antioxidant compounds that may have health benefits.