A jar of tahini is handy long after you've made a batch of hummus. A spoonful can become a dressing for roasted vegetables, and it makes a tasty spread on toast too.

If you're weighing up hulled vs unhulled tahini, flavour is a good place to start.

Hulled tahini is made from sesame seeds with their outer hulls removed. Unhulled tahini keeps those hulls, which gives it a stronger, earthier taste. For a first jar, the milder hulled variety is an easy introduction.

Hulled vs unhulled tahini: how they compare

Hulled tahini

Removing the sesame seed's outer hull produces a lighter paste with a mellow flavour. Hulled tahini is often creamy and blends easily into a dip or dressing. Its milder taste also suits sweet baking.

Our Spiral Organic Hulled Tahini is made with hulled, toasted sesame seeds. Try it in a dip or a sauce for roasted vegetables.

Unhulled tahini

Keeping the outer hull gives unhulled tahini a more pronounced sesame flavour, often with a bitter edge. If you enjoy earthy flavours, try it in a lemony dressing or as a savoury spread. It can taste quite different from a mild nut butter, so a little is enough for your first try.

Spiral Organic Unhulled Tahini is made from sesame seeds that are toasted with their hulls on. It can be used in hummus or baba ghanoush when you want a more noticeable sesame flavour.

Which tahini is best for hummus?

Hulled tahini is a good choice for a mild, creamy hummus. Unhulled works too, but its stronger taste will be more noticeable alongside the chickpeas and lemon.

If you're changing to unhulled in a familiar recipe, add part of the tahini first and taste before adding the rest. You may prefer a smaller amount. Roasting and differences between brands also affect the flavour, so a new jar may taste different even when it's the same type.

Can you substitute one for the other?

In most dressings and dips, you can swap hulled and unhulled tahini to suit your taste. If one is thicker, add the liquid gradually until you're happy with the consistency.

For baking, use the type the recipe asks for. A biscuit made with unhulled tahini may have a stronger sesame taste than the writer intended.

Before measuring, stir the jar well so the oil and paste are evenly mixed. A spoonful taken from an unstirred jar can be quite different from one taken after everything is combined.

Simple ways to use tahini beyond hummus

Make a dressing

Stir tahini with lemon juice, then gradually add water until you can drizzle it from a spoon. Season to taste and serve over a grain bowl or roasted vegetables. Choose unhulled tahini if you want the sesame flavour to stand out.

Try it on toast

Spread a thin layer on toast and top with banana. A drizzle of honey works well too, or use maple syrup for a vegan version. Hulled tahini is a gentle starting point for this sweet combination.

Add it to a dip

Try tahini with roasted eggplant in baba ghanoush. If hummus is your usual choice, this gives you another way to use the jar. Either type can work; choose according to how much sesame flavour you enjoy.

Bake with it

A tahini biscuit or slice recipe gives you a chance to try sesame in something sweet. Check which variety it uses before you begin, particularly if you have a strong-tasting unhulled tahini in the pantry.

Choosing your next jar

Think about how you'll use it most. For mild hummus and sweet toppings, start with hulled. If you like the sesame to be more noticeable, try unhulled in your next savoury dip.

Keeping the seed hull can also affect a tahini's nutrient content. Compare the nutrition panels on the jars if that's part of your decision, as amounts vary between products.

Browse our spreads online to shop hulled and unhulled tahini.

FAQs

Is tahini made from nuts?

Tahini is made from sesame seeds. Sesame is an allergen, and some products may also have nut cross-contact warnings. Check the individual label if you're shopping for an allergy.

Is plain tahini vegan?

Tahini made only from sesame seeds is vegan. Check the ingredients if you're buying a flavoured spread or a prepared tahini sauce.

How should I store tahini?

Follow the storage instructions on your jar, including any directions for refrigeration after opening. Keep the lid closed and use a clean utensil each time.