Is Tahini Vegetarian?

A lot of people nowadays are becoming health conscious with the food they’re eating and will spend a lot of time searching on the internet if it’s healthy or not. Let me help you answer your question on how tahini paste is made? And is tahini vegetarian?

Tahini is commonly used in cuisines at Eastern Mediterranean regions, and popular among Asian countries such as China, Japan, and Korea. It is used as dressing and as a dip. It is popular ingredient for the Tahini Korean barbecue, and Miso Tahini dressing for Japanese salads. These three countries are mostly likely their population are vegetable eaters; and it shows on their skin anyway. This tahini paste was also mentioned in an Arabic cookbook during the 13th century.

Sauces made from tahini are common at Middle Eastern restaurants. They use this sauce as its garnish, or a side dish; it can even use as a dip. Tahini sauce is usually mix with salt, juice of lemon, garlic and olive oil to overcome the bitter taste of tahini paste.

Tahini pastes are made from raw or roasted sesame seeds. It is a ground sesame seed paste, just like the well-known peanut butter. To make the paste, you should use a machine to make it into a paste. Together with raw or roasted sesame seeds, it is mix with a vegetable or coconut oil to make the right consistency. You could add or mix it with water to achieve the consistency you want for your tahini paste. Right after undergoing the process, you will have a creamy, oily, and smooth and soft paste of raw or roasted sesame seed, which is called the tahini paste.

Paste from sesame seeds is a good source of calcium, manganese and amino acid. This is also known as rich source of omega-3 and omega-6 that is good for our heart. In addition, tahini paste made from raw, not roasted, sesame seeds are healthier because it has lower fat content compared to the roasted seeds.

Calcium, omega-3 and omega-6 are helpful for people who are vegetarians and recommended to eat since it has lower sugar and fatty content and higher in fiber and protein levels.

What are you waiting for? Grab your car keys and drive yourself to the nearest grocery store. Let’s start hoarding Tahini paste for a healthier meal.