By Rachel Myerson, The Nosher
It took me almost a decade of living in Israel to “get” tahini. When I first moved, I found this spread made of pressed, roasted sesame seeds bitter, messy and unpredictable. I didn’t understand why my Israeli friends considered tahini sauce (raw tahini plus ice-cold water, lemon juice and salt, at its most basic) to be such a vital component of every meal — or why they drizzled raw tahini onto everything from ice cream to toast (with date syrup, a must-try if you haven’t already).
But over time I developed a taste for it, much like for strong coffee or red wine. And a true appreciation for the subtleties of flavor, the balance of bitterness and creaminess, its nutritional value, and its versatility.
These days raw tahini paste is an indispensable ingredient in my pantry, and rarely am I without tahini sauce in my fridge. Both my kids were weaned on it, and when they insist on dipping their schnitzel into tahini instead of ketchup it makes me proud.
It’s increasingly easy to find excellent raw tahini in the U.S. — both made locally or from the Levant via Amazon. There’s really no need to buy ready-made tahini sauce when it takes five minutes to make it yourself, and is much better when it comes to taste and nutrition.
I’ve rounded up six of the best-tasting tahini brands available, so you never have to be disappointed again.
Note: Excellent tahini may or may not have a layer of oil on top of the jar — I’m not knocking any points off for needing to shake or stir the jar, which is simply a practicality.
Available on Amazon
Widely considered to be one of the best-tasting tahini brands on the market. Or, as one Amazon reviewer put it: “Gold standard tahini.”
Mild, smooth and creamy, let the natural nutty flavors of this tahini paste elevate any dish you drizzle it on.
“We buy a 12 pack of Baron’s tahini from Amazon every few months,” shared a trusted colleague, but you can also find this excellent tahini paste at Walmart.
Locally Produced
This female-owned, New York-based artisanal tahini brand has been celebrated by the U.S. press and chefs alike since it burst onto the scene in 2016.
The brainchild of three entrepreneurial sisters dedicated to bringing Israel-standard tahini to the American market, this Philadelphia-based brand is one of the smoothest around.
Roasty, toasty flavor available in classic tub form or in a squeezy bottle for ease.
Plus: 3 Tahini Recipes To Try ASAP
For breakfast: Start your day off right with Adeena Sussman’s tahini and olive oil granola. Adding extra nutty notes into the mix just makes sense.
For dinner: Roast vegetables don’t need more than a generous drizzle of extra-lemony tahini sauce to turn them into a treat.
For dessert: Classic coffee cake gets a sweet tahini upgrade and a welcome nutty backnote that perfectly balances the dark sugar swirl running through it.
For more articles like this, visit MyJewishLearning.com/The-Nosher/
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