Tahini Recipe

162 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure policy.

Jump to RecipeJump to Video

It’s super easy to make homemade tahini! All you need are sesame seeds and a little olive oil for a tahini that’s fresh, creamy, and smooth. Turn this into a sauce or dressing, blend it into hummus, or mix it into cookies – there’s so much you can do with it!

Tahini in a jar.
Photo: Gayle McLeod

What Is Tahini?

Tahini is simply toasted and ground sesame seeds that’s turned into a paste or seed butter. That’s it! It’s a staple ingredient in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern culture and is frequently used to make hummus or tahini sauce, which is then served alongside other dishes like falafel, pita, shish kabobs or baba ganoush.

I enjoyed my fair share of it when I lived in the Middle East and now love it as a flavor enhancer because it makes everything taste delicious. It’s also really easy to make with a high-powered blender. And you guys know my philosophy, fresh is best – so there’s no need to purchase it from the store again! 

Ingredients for homemade tahini.

Tahini Ingredients

You only need two ingredients – raw sesame seeds and a little olive oil. This makes it naturally gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan.

  • Sesame Seeds: Make sure to use hulled sesame seeds for a smoother texture that tastes less bitter.
  • Olive Oil: Use a high-quality oil such as olive oil or avocado oil. The moisture from the oil ensures that your high-powered blender isn’t overworked. Commercial blenders on the other hand are much stronger, so they can omit the oil.

Find the printable recipe with measurements below.

Making tahini in a blender.

Blending Tips

  • Gently toast the sesame seeds. Sesame seeds will burn quite quickly, so make sure to keep an eye on them on the stove. You only want them to turn slightly golden to help release their natural oils.
  • Use a high-powered blender. I love my Vitamix blender and it works great. Just remember to use the tamper to help push the seeds down into the blades. For a Ninja blender, readers have said this blender works just fine, but you might need a bit more oil as you’re blending.
  • Avoid using a food processor. While food processors are a great tool for blending, they’re not as powerful as blenders, so they can’t deliver the creaminess (without double or triple the oil) that makes for the best tahini. 
Blended tahini.

How To Store Tahini

This recipe calls for 4 cups of sesame seeds, which may sound like a lot. But remember that once it’s blended, that’s only about 2 cups of tahini.

Homemade tahini will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to a month, but you could also freeze leftovers. Just do what I do for fresh herbs and compound butter – freeze it in an ice cube tray and pop out a cube when needed.

Ways To Use Tahini

Tahini in a glass jar.

More Easy Sauce Recipes

I can’t wait for you to try this homemade tahini recipe! If you make it, I’d love to hear how it turns out in the comment box below. Your review will help other readers in the community. 

Homemade tahini in a glass jar.

Tahini Recipe (Super Easy and Creamy!)

4.92 from 36 votes
Prep: 2 minutes
Cook: 6 minutes
Total: 8 minutes
Servings: 16 servings
Author: Lisa Bryan

Description

It’s super easy to make homemade tahini in a blender! All you need are sesame seeds and olive oil for a fresh, creamy, and smooth texture. Watch the video below to see how I make it in my kitchen!

Video

Equipment

Ingredients 
 

Instructions 

  • Toast the sesame seeds. Gently toast the sesame seeds (stirring constantly) on medium-low for 5 minutes, or until slightly golden. Then, let them cool to room temperature.
    Toasting sesame seeds in a pan.
  • Blend. Once the sesame seeds have cooled, add them to your high-powered blender. Blend on high for one minute, using the tamper to push the seeds into the blades, creating a tahini paste.
    Blending tahini in a Vitamix.
  • Add oil. Add the olive oil and blend for another minute to create a creamy consistency.
    Blended tahini.

Lisa’s Tips

  • The recipe makes approximately 2 cups of tahini
  • If your Vitamix heats up strongly during the first mix, just turn down the blending a notch, pause, and re-blend as you go!

Nutrition

Serving: 2tablespoons | Calories: 238kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Sodium: 4mg | Potassium: 176mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 0.1g | Vitamin A: 3IU | Calcium: 366mg | Iron: 5mg
Course: Appetizer, sauce
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Tahini, Tahini Dressing, Tahini Sauce
Did you make this recipe?Mention @downshiftology or tag #downshiftology!

Recipe originally posted October 2017, but updated to include new photos and information for your benefit!

You May Also Like

About the author

Lisa Bryan

Lisa is a bestselling cookbook author, recipe developer, and YouTuber (with over 2.5 million subscribers) living in sunny Southern California. She started Downshiftology in 2014, and is passionate about making healthy food with fresh, simple and seasonal ingredients.

4.92 from 36 votes (2 ratings without comment)

Leave a comment

All comments are moderated before appearing on the site. Thank you for sharing your feedback!

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




162 Comments

  1. LOOKS EASY TO MAKE! WHEN HUBBY COMES HOME WE ATE GOING TO THE STORE TO BUY THE SESAME SEEDS!

  2. Not sure what (if anything) I did wrong.  My tahini is NOT as liquid as yours.  I used brown sesame seeds, toasted them.  But, I had only 3 cups, so that might have made a difference in how the blender blades worked.  Also had to add more oil and water.  The only other thing I can think of is that I think they might have been too warm when I added them to the blender.  Next time I think I would toast them the night before and let them get quite cool before blending.4 stars

    1. Hi Sandy – you do need 4 cups of sesame seeds for this recipe. Blenders require a minimum amount of ingredients to work properly. If there’s not enough “stuff” to push into the blades with the tamper, they won’t turn liquidy as there’s not enough friction.

  3. Mine didn’t work 😭 It turn out like a thick paste I really didn’t know what to do so I ended up throwing it away 😩

    1. Hi Patty – it sounds like you just needed to blend it a little bit longer. It will go from seeds, to paste, to then a thinner nut butter consistency.

    1. Hi Bernadette – unfortunately, no. You need to roast them as it heats up the seed’s natural oils which allows them to be blended into a liquid tahini.

  4. I make Hummus A LOT (Downshift recipe when in a hurry).

    This Tahini recipe is wonderful (never would have thought to make my own Tahini) … I’m using it in nearly everything that needs a bit of oil (like dressings) not just in hummus. I don’t like adding oils (fats) to anything so only use half of amounts in recipes and still the fresh Tahini finishes off the Hummus to perfection (better than my favorite brand).

    Thanx5 stars

    1. Hi Rebecca – it really depends on how powerful your motor is. I’m sure it could work, but it might not be quite a smooth without a high-powered blender.

  5. I love your recipes and this is one is also simple and wonderful like the rest of them. We make tahini paste regularly as we use as a dressing for our daily plate of lettuce.
    Hugs from Croatia!5 stars

      1. Hi Donna – you could make this in a food processor as well, it will just take a bit longer.

  6. Thank you for this inspiring recipe.
    I like very much that you add the nutrition information…
    Blessings from France
    PatH5 stars

  7. Hi Lisa,

    It looks like you are using the classic style blender carafe. Can this be made in the 64 oz low profile container or should the qualities be changed using that style? 

    Thanks so much and love your recipes – especially the chicken salad – yum!

    1. Hi Debbie – I’m using the 64oz low profile container here. :) Happy you love the chicken salad recipe as well!

  8. Hi there, I’m Antoinette and I live in the Bahamas. I recently came across your channel on YouTube as I searched for smoothie recipes. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the meal prep ideas along with the healthy recipes shared. I’m getting into healthy eating and exercise and you have inspired me.5 stars

    1. Hi Antoinette- Happy to hear you are loving everything here at Downshiftology and that I’ve been able to play a positive role in your life when it comes to healthy eating :) Hope you continue to enjoy all my recipes and tons more lifestyle tips I have in store.

  9. Hello! Love your blog – sometimes I slim down your recipes – for example only had 1 cup of sesame seeds. I noticed when I use the Vitamix the portions doesn’t pair well with the blender. Do you recommend using a smaller blender cup? Thanks!

    1. Hi Jennifer – Thanks so much! Yes, you really need a minimum amount of ingredients in the Vitamix to ensure it blends properly. You can use the smaller blending cups, but they’re not good for recipes in which the tamper is required, for proper blending.

  10. This came out great!  I have a Vitamix blender but the machine made lots of weird noises and seemed to be struggling when there was nothing in it but sesame seeds.  I added the oil so the blender would work better and it really helped, turning the seeds into a lovely smooth paste.5 stars

    1. Hi Giselle – Happy to hear you loved this tahini recipe! Sometimes, you just need to add a bit of moisture from liquids to make sure your Vitamix isn’t overworking on just dry ingredients – so glad the oil helped!

    2. Mine does not look like that it’s thick and wouldn’t get loose and I’m using my brand new vitamix 

  11. I love tahini and this might be my new favorite recipe for it!! Thank you so much for sharing, love it!5 stars

    1. Hi Krissy – It really is such a versatile recipe that can be used for many dishes to add extra flavor :)

  12. I love Tahini and this is such an easy to follow recipe. My husband will love this for our salad dressings!5 stars

  13. Hi! I tried making this in my vitamix, but the sesame seeds just became a powder (flour) instead of a paste. Do you know why and how I can fix it?

    Thanks!

  14. Hi Lisa!
    I just discovered you about a week ago looking for new recipes for a healthier lifestyle….and I think you are my new BFF!! :) I have watched almost every meal prep video on YouTube only to discover there are so many more videos!! AHHHHHH!!!! So, I want to make your hummus and tahini, but I do not have a Vitamix blender. I do have a Kitchen-aid food processor…do you think I can still have a good turn out?

    I can’t wait to watch more videos and learn more about you and your recipes and new foods to try! Thank you for sharing with me and the world!

    1. Hi Kacee – I’m so glad you discovered my channel and have been loving my videos and recipes! As for the hummus and tahini, you can try blending it in your food processor. It just might take a bit longer to blend all the way through!

  15. Hi Lisa. I will definitely try this. Could you tell me what 4 cups of sesame seeds are in grams? The same goes for the Almond butter, I am experiencing it not being as easy as your videos shows and I believe it is because of me translating cups to the wrong amount of grams. Thanks for your great recipes :-)

    1. Hi Bettina – if you click on the button that says “metric” right above the ingredients, it provides the conversion to grams for you. :)

  16. Hi Lisa,
    almost a year ago I got a Vitamix Pro 750. Yesterday I tried your Tahini recipe, but it did not really come out as expected – it is not creamy. I am afraid of burning my Vitamix, when using it on high speed for seeds or nuts. It works perfectly well for soups and green smoothis.
    But trying to make Tahini – it was unbelievable loud and the engine did not sound good. The blades are spinning,although I am using the tamper. Besides this the sesame seeds are getting really hot. Please let me know what you
    think about it. I would really like to use my Vitamix for your great recipes!!! Thank you.

    1. Hi Catharina – Did you first toast the seeds as well as use the full amount of as stated in the recipe? If so, this amount shouldn’t be too harsh on your Vitamix when running on high and while you are tampering the seeds down. If you have further questions, let me know :)

  17. Hi! Just tried your recipe and followed to the T. However, my tahini turned out way darker than yours and while it smells amazing, there is this bitter/tart taste in it. I fear I might have over-roasted the seeds a bit – could that be a reason?
    I have made a hummus with it and again, there is this “off” bitter taste in it (while again, smells amazing!) Any advice? Should I throw it away and redo?

    1. Hi Liliana – if it’s darker, you may have over-roasted it. Tahini is naturally a bit bitter, but it shouldn’t be distinguishable in the hummus. I’d redo it. :)

      1. Thank you Lisa, you confirmed my suspicion, I’ll redo it and be extra careful to keep turning the seeds so they don’t over-roast!

      2. Of course Liliana! Do let me know if you come across anymore problems :)

      3. I am SO HAPPY to report that my second try it turned out exactly the same color as yours and tastes so good! I literally only roasted it for 5-6 minutes, stirring constantly. Can’t wait to redo your hummus recipe with it and try adding it to salads! Thank you Lisa!!

        P.S. It did heat up pretty strongly during blending, there was even vapor coming out of my Vitamix after first minute (before I added olive oil and blended for another minute). Is it normal? I was using the tamper and constantly pushing the seeds towards blades. Maybe I should have done 30 seconds, then pause, open the lid readjust the mixture to be all pushed down and even, then blended for another 30 seconds?5 stars

      4. Hi Liliana – So excited to hear that your tahini recipe came out perfectly! If your Vitamix was heating up strongly during the first mix, maybe just turn down the blending a notch or as you said, pause, and re-blend as you go!

        Can’t wait for you to make the hummus recipe now!

  18. Perfect! I only had a few tablespoons of sesame seeds, but I was able to adapt it. It was great! Very helpful. But I used too much oil so I couldn’t crush the seeds. I was going to use the tahini to make a peanut tahini sauce so when I added the peanut butter, it was thick enough to mix in the professional blender.5 stars

    1. Great, I’m so happy you were able to adapt the recipe Karen! And that sounds like a delicious sauce with the peanuts as well.

  19. My Tahini is not creamy, not white and incredibly bitter.
    I used the vitamix, hulled roasted seeds, oil…
    :(

    1. Hi Simone – you can see that my tahini is not white either, it’s more of a beige color. Tahini is naturally fairly bitter, which is why it’s typically added to other ingredients as in my lemon tahini dressing or hummus recipe. If you haven’t yet made my hummus, you could always add it to that recipe to use it up. :)

  20. Shoot 
    Posted on the wrong recipe ?
    Was supposed to be on your hummus recipe 
    Will repost over there

  21. Just tried this recipe. Added extra garlic ?
    Spot on delicious- as always. 
    Didn’t know you could freeze this – so excited about that. Have a large family and lots of guest so this will be perfect to have on hand. Going to try the beet hummus next. 5 stars

  22. Hi!  My Vitamix is still in the box from Christmas. I want to make hummus for New Years and found your recipe and the tahini recipe. Do you use the wet or dry container for the tahini?  I was curious since you startbout with no liquid at all and then add the oil at the end.  Also, what size container?
    Thanks so much!!

    1. Hi Stacy – I use the wet container for pretty much all of my recipes. And I use the 64oz container, though you could use the 48oz container as well.

    1. Great recipe thanks Lisa!
      Can you tell me what glass containers you use and where to find them? Thanks in advance:) 

      1. Hi Alicia – You can find all my storage containers in the Shop page on my website :)

  23. Hi, I was wondering if you could half the recipe. I have a Vitamix but know that if I try to do too little in it, it is not effective. Thanks for the recipe, it’s been a while since I’ve made tahini, and will be the first time in a Vitamix.

    1. Unfortunately, this likely won’t work in the Vitamix is you halve the recipe because like you mentioned, you need a minimum amount of ingredients for the blades to work properly. But you could always freeze half of it!

  24. I made this with unhulled seseame seeds (I didn’t realize until I was already halfway through with the recipe that I got the wrong kind) and they wouldn’t blend even after extra oil and almost 3 minutes of blending. They started to smoke even though I was constantly using the tamper. Not sure what I did wrong or if it was just the type of seeds I got that caused this to happen….? 5 stars

    1. Unhulled sesame seeds have a different flavor to hulled sesame seeds, but they still should have blended into tahini. Did you toast them? And did you use a Vitamix?

    1. There’s such a difference making it in a blender versus a food processor. Smooth as can be!

    1. I know – I can’t believe I never made it at home until recently as well. But once you do, you’ll never buy it from the store again! :)