How to Make Tahini Paste (No Oil!)

homemade tahini stirred with a spoon in a glass jar.

How to Make Tahini Paste (No Oil!)

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: gluten-free

Keyword: how to make tahini, tahini recipe

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 0

Total Time: 10

Servings:

Calories: 162kcal

Author: Megan Gilmore

Here’s how to make tahini with just one ingredient (sesame seeds!) and about 10 minutes of effort. After comparing prices, the homemade version is much more affordable than buying it at the store. Plus, there’s no added oil required! Be sure to read the tips below, so you don’t wind up with a super-bitter flavor.

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Ingredients

1 pound hulled sesame seeds (see notes)

Instructions

Pour the hulled sesame seeds into the bowl of a large food processor fitted with an "S" blade, secure the lid, and start processing. (I use a 12-cup food processor.)
The seeds will take roughly 5 minutes to break down into a crumbly texture, so let the food processor run without stopping, if possible. You may see the seeds start to climb the walls of the food processor at times, but they will eventually fall back down towards the blades.
After 5 minutes, stop the machine, remove the lid, and scrape down the sides to make sure everything processes evenly. Then secure the lid and process the seeds again, until the tahini becomes silky-smooth. It should take roughly 5 more minutes. (So, 10 minutes total of processing.) You'll hear a change as the tahini gets runnier; it will start to sound more "sloshy" as the seeds release their natural oils and it will look like it's spinning much faster.
The tahini is done when it's smooth, with a runny or drippy texture. There will still be a slight graininess when you taste it, but ultimately it will be pretty creamy looking. Transfer the tahini to a clean 16 ounce jar, and seal it with an airtight lid. Tahini can be stored in the fridge for up to a month.

Notes

Nutrition information is for approximately 1 ounce of tahini (or 2 tablespoons). This information is automatically calculated, so it's just an estimate and not a guarantee.

One pound of tahini ~ 3.12 cups of seeds. You don't have to be exact with measuring this if you don't have a food scale, but it's a good idea to not use less than 3 cups as a starting point when using a 12-cup machine.

Sesame Seed Note: I buy organic hulled sesame seeds on Amazon (affiliate link). There are several brands available, so feel free to price compare!

Nutrition