Tahini

2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29

Tahini is one of the valuable food products, which, fortunately, in recent years has entered as a welcome and long-awaited guest in the kitchens of Bulgarian hosts. In essence, tahini is a food product obtained by grinding sesame seeds, the final product having a semi-liquid consistency. It has oriental roots and is one of the pillars of the Arabic culinary tradition. It has a semi-liquid consistency.

Types of tahini

There are two types Tahini - of peeled and unpeeled sesame seeds. Unpeeled tahini tahini is darker and more bitter, but instead contains more minerals and nutrients. Most often, tahini is prepared from a mixture of both types. The tahini, which is made from peeled sesame seeds, is called white tahini.

Sunflower is less popular Tahini, which is also significantly cheaper. In addition, it has a darker color and heavier taste than sesame. In the market, next to sesame tahini, you can often find walnut tahini, the price of which is even higher. The best quality and useful is the cold-pressed black tahini, which retains all the preserved vitamins and minerals.

Composition of tahini

Tahini is extremely rich in vitamins (especially B1, B2 and B6), vitamin E and calcium (783 mg per 100 g). The calcium in tahini is five times higher than in cow's milk, making it an important food for vegans and vegetarians. Tahini contains large amounts of essential amino acids. It is also rich in other trace elements, such as silicon, phosphorus, copper, magnesium and potassium.

It is good to know that in sesame Tahini the amount of protein is greater than in cheese, soy and some meats.

Sesame Tahini contains approximately 20% protein, 50% vegetable oils, oleic and linoleic acid, saccharides, approximately 16%, about 9% fibrous substances, vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B6, and E. With its amount of minerals, sesame is one of the most valuable natural products. In it we find significant amounts of magnesium, iron, zinc, potassium and phosphorus.

Selection and storage of tahini

The real sesame Tahini is bright and has a very pleasant taste. If it is old, it smells of rancid fat. Sunflower tahini has a darker color and tastes much heavier - it smells of cake. Sunflower tahini is much cheaper than sesame, and walnut tahini is more expensive than the previous two types. Store in the refrigerator. The price of a large jar of sesame tahini is between BGN 5-7, and the walnut one is about BGN 10. Of course, smaller cuts are also offered, the price of which is correspondingly lower.

Culinary application of tahini

Tahini is a staple in many Oriental and Asian dishes, such as hummus. World-famous dishes such as baba ganush and halva are prepared with the obligatory addition of Tahini. In addition to salty dishes with tahini, a lot of pastries are prepared, such as creams, cake trays, uniquely delicious biscuits and more. Sesame Tahini used to make various types of hummus and pastries.

Mix the tahini with honey in a ratio of 1: 2, mix well and spread this delicious mixture on a toasted slice.

Recipe for Oatmeal cookies with sesame tahini

1 tsp sesame seeds; 1 tsp oatmeal; 1 and ¼ h.h. full grain flower; 1 baking powder; 1 tsp cinnamon; ½ h.h. crushed nuts; ½ h.h. raisins; ½ h.h. milk or water; ½ h.h. honey; ½ h.h. sesame seeds Tahini.

Method of preparation: Sift the flour twice and mix it with the baking powder. Then add all the other products and mix well for the sweets. From it, form small balls and arrange them in a tray with baking paper. Bake the oatmeal cookies with sesame tahini in a strong oven.

Health benefits of tahini

Sesame oil is a fat that is completely absorbed by the body. As for the benefits to blood vessels, sesame tahini is as valuable as adored olive oil. The beneficial substances in sesame tahini work well and relieve rheumatoid arthritis, asthma attacks, migraines, improve diseases of the circulatory and cardiovascular systems (high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke). It also has a positive effect on premenstrual syndrome, osteoporosis and even depression.

Traditional folk medicine considers tahini as a real elixir for the general health of the body. Taken in the morning on an empty stomach for 2-3 tablespoons, it perfectly protects the health of the gastrointestinal tract. High levels of calcium make it an excellent remedy against one of the scourges of the 21st century - osteoporosis, and for the prevention of the musculoskeletal system, as well as to increase the body's resistance.

The small sesame seeds are extremely suitable for pregnant women, nursing mothers and all active athletes and leading a healthy lifestyle. People of all ages should not be deprived of sesame tahini. For external use, use tahini for sore throat, vocal cords, redness and burns of the skin.