18 Ways to Use Tahini Beyond Hummus

If you’re not riding the tahini train yet, you better hop on because tahini is everything. The paste made from ground sesame seeds is most commonly blended into tahini hummus, but there’s so much more that this miracle seed butter can bring to your plate. So grab your jar (because, you definitely have plenty leftover) and get cooking. You’re about to open step into a whole new world of tahini-infused meals for any time of the time.

Everything you love about a great ice pop can be found in this simple recipe for Tahini Buttermilk Pops. They’re a touch tangy, subtly sweet, and perfectly nutty for a cool and creamy bite.

There’s nothing better than dipping a freshly baked apple cider doughnut head first into a warm glaze of tahini and maple syrup. Seriously, nothing. You haven’t lived until you’ve tried it. That’s why you need these Cider Doughnuts with Maple-Tahini Glaze in your life ASAP.

You know the slightly nutty, yet sweet flavor you love about sesame chicken? Try a tahini-infused marinade over chicken for a Mediterranean twist you’ll love. Start with this Tahini Chicken with Bok Choy and Mango Salad or this Tahini-Marinated Chicken Thighs with Cucumber-and-Tomato Salad. If you’re looking for a more Asian-inspired flavor, try the same idea using Chinese sesame paste.

Tahini adds a rich and toasty undertone to cakes like other nut butters do, but with a slight bitterness to balance the sweet. Pair tahini with powdered sugar and pour over a pumpkin-infused cake in this Pumpkin Bundt Cake with Tahini Glaze for the ultimate autumnal combination. If you want to give tahini in the cake batter a go, try this Tahini-Blueberry Sheet Cake with Strawberry Buttercream. Just be sure not to make these common cake frosting mistakes.

Tahini and yogurt should really be as popular as peanut butter and jelly. They just work. Try it in this Yogurt-Tahini Sauce with some warm pita or sliced veggies or add a dollop of tahini-yogurt over this 15-Minute Chicken Shawarma Bowl. It’s going to become your new favorite duo in no time.

These exceptionally simple White Chocolate-Tahini Cookies are soon to be your new go-to dessert. They’re everything you love about a toasty peanut butter cookie, with the decadent addition of white chocolate. Because everything is better with chocolate.

Trade in your basic red wine vinaigrette for a punchy Tahini Vinaigrette. The dressing is slightly sweet, yet spicy (we see you Aleppo pepper) and we’re drizzling it over every bowl of greens that comes our way. Speaking of green—this Ultimate Summer Tomato Salad features the tastiest Herb Avocado-Tahini Dressing for a super bright, creamy, and nutty flavor boost.

Don’t knock it till you try it, but a nutty kick of tahini is exactly what your chicken salad is missing. The mixture is simple for this Tahini Chicken Salad—yogurt, tahini, olive oil, and lemon juice make for a super creamy, flavorful sandwich spread. You won’t be turning back to the plain mayo-based blend anytime soon.

If you’re growing a little fatigued on hummus, but still want something nutritious and tasty to dip your pita in, this Charred Eggplant Dip with Tahini is what you’ve been waiting for. Set it out as an appetizer at your next get-together, and your friends might reconsider their devotion to plain chickpea dip.

Have you ever cooked a simple piece of fish and found yourself wishing for a bright, flavorful sauce to add? Been there; Green Tahini Sauce is your answer. Packed with parsley, cilantro, and dill this herbaceous sauce takes your dinner to next-level delicious. Try it on your favorite protein or even over roasted cauliflower.

Reminiscent of those banana and peanut butter sandwiches you ate as a kid, this Chocolate-Tahini Banana Bread is a treat like no other. It’s perfect as a not-too-sweet dessert, midday snack, or even a light breakfast to match with a cup of coffee. Sounds awesome right? Grab your brown bananas and get to it.

No, I’m not kidding. This Tahini-Carrot Soup with Pistachios is crazy-delicious. Just blend the creamy carrot mixture with tahini for a luscious spoonful without a splash of cream in sight.

Your morning toast just got a major upgrade. Smear a spoonful of creamy tahini onto a crusty slice of bread, pile on sliced apples, a squeeze of honey, and a sprinkle of cinnamon for the Apple-Tahini Toast of your dreams.

Nutty tahini cuts through the sweetness of a creamy, sugary milkshake perfectly for a seriously satisfying sweet treat. Spoon the buttery sesame goodness into your favorite milkshake recipe, or try this Tahini-Date Shake for a breakfast smoothie worth getting out of bed for.

Ditch the ketchup and mustard for a minute, because the classic combo of yogurt, lemon juice, tahini, and garlic is the perfect topper for your next burger. We love how it complements the patty flavors in this Lentil-Tahini Burger, but it would be equally delicious on a classic beef patty or lamb burger.

On a rainy afternoon, dust off your jar of tahini and dive into baking a decadent, tahini-laden custard pie. We love this Chessame Pie filled with an perfectly eggy, tahini-infused custard and finished with a stunning sesame seed topping. It’s an edible pun that’s sure to impress.

Fry them, scramble them, poach them, or whip them into an omelette. However you take your eggs, they need a drizzle of tahini. It’s the flavor combination you wouldn’t expect to love. Don’t believe us? Try these Avo-Tahi Toasts for an Insta-worthy breakfast.

Go ahead, dip your chicken fingers into a luscious tahini sauce. You’ll love it way more than an old school ketchup—we promise. But If you’re truly set on a ketchup-based dip, try this easy and addictive sauce made from lemon juice, mayonnaise, ketchup, and tahini. It could be just the answer you’ve been looking for.