Every once in a while, a new condiment comes along that livens up clean eating. And right now, tahini is showing us that our taste buds don’t have to suffer the next time we opt for a healthy salad or dip.

Traditionally used in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisines, you’ve most likely noticed tahini on menus alongside other plant-based dips, like hummus and baba ghanoush.

Why we love it:
Unlike many condiments, tahini is dairy-free, easy to make, and cost-effective! Tahini is made from hulled white sesame seeds, which can be purchased in bulk at your local market or grocery store. Sesame seeds are a great source of healthy fat, amino acids, calcium, and iron. They can also help regulate blood sugar and cholesterol, while improving your skin health. What’s not to love?

You can enjoy tahini guilt-free in your favorite salad dressings, dips, sauces, and falafel. It’s always fun to experiment with something new, so we encourage you to make it on your own and then share it with friends!

How to make it:
To make the perfect batch of raw tahini, you’ll only need two ingredients! When it’s done, you can enjoy the tahini on its own or take it one step further to create a rich and creamy tahini dressing.

Raw Tahini

Ingredients:

• 2 cups hulled white sesame seeds
• 1–2 tablespoons olive oil

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Pour seeds onto baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes or until seeds reach a golden brown. (Be careful not to burn them!)
2. Remove baking sheet from oven and add seeds to a food processor. Add olive oil and blend until tahini is smooth. If the consistency doesn’t look right, don’t hesitate to add in a little more olive oil!
3. Put mixture in a mason jar or sealed container, and store it in your fridge for 3–4 weeks!

Or take it a step further and create a delicious and nutritious homemade dressing. Try out one of our favorite creamy tahini dressing recipes by IIN grad Megan Gilmore of Detoxinista. It only requires six key ingredients: raw tahini, fresh lemon juice, garlic, onion powder, sea salt, and water.

Are you enjoying tahini as much as we are? Comment below and let us know what you think of this sesame-based condiment!