Tahini
Tahini is a creamy butter made from toasted, hulled or un-hulled sesame seeds. Ground to a fine creamy paste, it is nutty in flavor, with a thick, oily, and smooth texture similar to natural peanut butter.
Should tahini be a staple in your diet?
The answer is a resounding yes! In many corners of the world, tahini is called a nutritional powerhouse, and many call it a superfood for its outstanding nutritional benefits.
When you think of copper, pennies might be the first thing that come to mind. But this trace mineral is a nutrient your body needs, and tahini has plenty of it. Copper plays a crucial role in assisting in the formation of red blood cells, controlling blood pressure, maintaining healthy bones and connective tissue, and preventing anemia.
Sesame seeds have more phytosterols than other nuts and seeds, and these plant compounds have been shown to help lower cholesterol.
Studies further show that sesame seeds contain both sesamol and selenium, natural chemicals found in sesame seeds and sesame oil, have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-aging benefits, as well as strong anti-cancer effects.
There are numerous ways to use tahini, and they’re all delicious. On the savory side, it’s commonly found in hummus, sauces, and dips, including eggplant-based baba ghanoush. But tahini is also tasty in sweet recipes. The most popular tahini-based sweet, halvah, is a slightly crumbly treat made into in bars.
Source: webmd.com/diet/benefits-of-tahini; syndian.com.au/single-post/amazing-facts-about-tahini
Recipe – Healthy Halvah
Ingredients
1 ½ cups raw almonds, or almond pulp from homemade almond milk
3 Tbs. honey
½ tsp. vanilla powder or flavoring
½ cup tahini sesame butter
1 Tbs. carob powder
Process
Process almonds in a food processor until finely ground. Add the honey, vanilla, and tahini butter; process thoroughly. Place ½ mixture in a bowl; set aside. Add carob to the remaining mixture and process until mixed. Press the plain mixture into a flat dish until it is ¼ inch thick. Pat the carob mixture evenly onto the plain mixture. Press the two mixtures together to make ½ inch thick. Chill for 1 hour, then cut into bite-sized pieces.