tahini

American  

[tuh-hee-nee, tah-] / təˈhi ni, tɑ- /

noun

Middle Eastern Cooking.

1. a paste made of ground sesame seeds.

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tahini British  

/ təˈhiːnɪ, təˈhiːnə /

noun

1. a paste made from sesame seeds originating in the Middle East, often used as an ingredient of hummus and other dips

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Etymology

Origin of tahini

First recorded in 1895–1900; Levantine Arabic ṭaḥīni (standard Arabic ṭaḥīna ), derivative of ṭaḥana “to crush, grind”; compare Hebrew tākhan “to crush, grind”

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

tahini

To make the creamy pistachio-tahini paste, combine ¼ cup of pistachio butter with a quarter-teaspoon of tahini.

From Salon ● Jul. 20, 2026

And don’t stop at dressings, you can add it to other sauces and dips too like chimichurri, tzatziki, tahini, pesto; the possibilities are endless.

From Salon ● May 28, 2026

You must have heard of Dubai chocolate: the sticky, indulgent confectionary filled with pistachio cream, tahini and shreds of knafeh pastry, which has become a global sensation.

From BBC ● Jan. 14, 2026

But is that really a better deal than a $13 bowl of fresh greens, whole-grain rice, grilled chicken, tahini and pickled cabbage?

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 30, 2025

The GHF has said these boxes also contain some ready-to-eat food, like halva bars - a popular snack made from blending tahini or sesame paste and sugar.

From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2025