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

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

The vegetable crudité wreath is then finished off with a store-bought tahini dip drizzled with honey.

From Salon • Dec. 15, 2025

“They take flour, sugar, oil, tahini, and then they go and sell them to the starving people at astronomical prices!” he later wrote on Facebook.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 18, 2025

Also included is cooking oil, salt and tahini, or sesame paste.

From BBC • Jul. 25, 2025

The popular treat combines the flavours of chocolate, pistachio and tahini with filo pastry, and is inspired by the Arab dessert Knafeh.

From BBC • Jun. 12, 2025