Tahini

The Tahina [t ˤ ː na ɒħi ] (Arabic طحينة, DMG tahina ), also tahini or tahini, a paste made from finely ground sesame seeds. Tahina is derived from the Arabic cuisine and is a basic ingredient of hummus ( Kichererbsenbrei ). It is also often served as a side dish or as a dip, plus there is mixed with lemon juice and garlic, often slightly decorated with Gewürzsumach.

A distinction tahina prepared from peeled and unpeeled from sesame seeds. Tahina from unhulled sesame is darker and more bitter, but it contains more vitamins and nutrients. Frequently Tahina is made ​​from a mixture of both sesame seeds. Tahini from hulled sesame exclusively called white tahini.

Tahina is very rich in vitamins (especially B1, B2 and B6) and contains a lot of calcium ( 783 mg per 100 g of almost 5 times as much as cow's milk). It is therefore very popular among vegetarians and vegans and is offered as an alternative to bread spreads such as peanut butter often in health food stores, but also in Turkish or Arab food stores.

In the Orient, Baba Ghanoush is also common, a dip of grilled, pureed eggplant and tahini. Tahini can also be used for the preparation of halvah.