When most people think of hummus, they know what chickpeas are. Olive oil. Lemon and garlic. Salt. But what is tahini again? It’s a staple food in any hummus recipe, but other than that it’s perhaps a bit of a mystery, yes? Well, wonder no more… in this post, we will explore everything you need to know about this delicious and nutritious treat.
Explained simply, tahini is a paste made from sesame seeds that have been roasted and then ground. A staple food in Middle Eastern cuisine, quality tahini is slightly salty, nutty and creamy—a smooth nut butter delicious enough to eat with a spoon. However, it has found its way into many modern dishes as well, such as sauces, dressings, baked goods, and even sweets! But of course we love its most popular use: hummus!
We’ve been asked before, what is tahini in hummus? It turns out that hummus tahini is not necessarily different from any other kind. The main distinction will be the quality used by each brand. Which means you should be looking at premium hummus brands that contain only USDA Certified Organic tahini, in order to make sure it’s free of unhealthy pesticides or additives.
Is Tahini Healthy? What are Tahini Health Benefits?
Fortunately for us all, tahini health benefits are both plentiful and well known. It’s been recognized as a healthy, plant based ingredient in many recipes, and it is commonly recommended as an alternative to other nut butters for people who have common allergies. What makes tahini so healthy? Check these stats out for starters, based on a two-tablespoon serving:
- 5 grams of protein
- 3 grams of fiber
- 12 grams of healthy unsaturated fat
- 50 milligrams of sodium – only 2% of the recommended daily limit of salt!
- Nutrient packed: copper, calcium, iron, zinc, manganese, thiamin, selenium, and magnesium
So then, how do these tahini benefits translate into better health for you? The nutrients in tahini promote better heart health, liver detoxification, proper cellular function, immune system strength, and skin and hair health. That’s why hummus and tahini are so inseparable; you can’t make a healthy dip without healthy ingredients!
Hummus Made with Tahini
Does hummus need tahini? You bet! In fact, tahini is one of hummus’ main ingredients, along with chickpeas and olive oil. That’s why our favorite dip can be so rich and delicious—in hummus, tahini adds smoothness to the texture, as well as a wide variety of vitamins and minerals. But as we mentioned before, different hummus brands use different grades of tahini, so you want to choose a brand whose ingredients you can trust.
At HOPE Hummus, we specialize in hummus made with tahini and other ingredients that are USDA Certified Organic: top quality, made without unhealthy pesticides and additives. Additionally, we use High Pressure Processing to ensure that we don’t have to add any synthetic preservatives—so that you can get all the chickpea benefits, tahini benefits, and extra virgin olive oil benefits without compromising with unnecessary chemicals.
If anyone ever asks you, “What is tahini used for,” you have the answers! And if they ask about hummus tahini, tell them about HOPE. In all our ingredients, and in all our delicious flavors, we invest to give you the very best.
As always, cheers and happy eating!
