Lebanese Food Recipes

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Tahini - A Health Food Par-excellence
Lebanese Food Recipes - Page 17

Tahini - a health food par-excellence
By Habeeb Salloum

From Backwoods Home Magazine

Since time immemorial tahini has been a choice food in the countries which edge the eastern Mediterranean. The product of hulled and crushed sesame seeds, this delectable, nourishing, and wholesome thick paste with a nutty flavor is the mayonnaise of the Middle East. In consistency and looks it reminds you of peanut butter, but it has a more subtle taste. It is highly valued as a condiment in these venerable lands and, in particular, it has many culinary and health benefits attributed to it. To the people of the Levant, it is a near perfect food.

Tahini (also spelled taheeni, taheneh or tahineh, which comes from the Arabic word tahana meaning to grind) is very nutritious, containing many of the food values needed by the human body. It has no cholesterol, is relatively sodium free, and is made up from about 50% fat, 20% protein, 16% carbohydrates, 5% fibre. It also contains a good amount of calcium, iron, potassium, phosphorus, and vitamins C and E. In the Middle Eastern lands it has long been believed that, when combined with legumes, tahini becomes the ultimate human edible.

In the past ages, this sesame seed product, besides being employed as a tasty food enhancer in the kitchen, was eaten to restore vitality and sex appeal, and as a bowel movement stimulant. Today, modern science has established that these ancient attributes have some merit. It has found that sesame seeds have some anti-aging qualities helpful in the improvement of skin capillaries and the smooth movement of food through the body.

Versatile in all types of cooking, tahini is utilized in a wide variety of everyday dishes. However, it is chiefly used as a basic vehicle in many sauces and dips, and as a healthy substitute for butter on bread.

A common sauce is made from tahini, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and, at times, other seasonings. This tangy mixture can be served by itself as an appetizer, or combined with avocados, chickpeas, eggplants, potatoes, and a number of other vegetables to create vegetarian delights. It is served with fish and all types of barbecued meats, or employed as a dressing in falafel sandwiches and salads. It is also excellent for seasoning soups and stews and as an ingredient in candies or baking products. A mix of an equal amount of this paste and honey makes a tasty, healthy syrup, which is great with pancakes and waffles or as a morning dip for bread.

Tahini is manufactured in a number of countries, but in the main it is imported from the Middle East, the finest quality coming from Syria and Turkey. It can be purchased bottled or canned from Mediterranean markets and is found in most health, specialty, and gourmet stores. It will keep fresh for months if refrigerated, but if it stands on the shelf for long periods of time it separates and must be stirred before use.

In the large North American cities, tahini’s consumption is fast spreading in the health conscious stratums of society. A tasty and health food par-excellence, it is ensnaring, on a continuing basis, new adherents in all parts of the world.