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The Cook Up with Adam Liaw
series • cooking
PG
series • cooking
PG
A paste made from ground sesame seeds, tahini, sometimes referred to as tahina is a treasured staple in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cooking, boasting versatility and a wealth of health benefits.
Eggplant sabich salad is a traditional Israeli dish, made of grilled eggplant, fresh vegetables and soft-boiled eggs. The simple creamy dressing made of tahini, garlic toum and cumin powder is poured on top of the egg, enriching the dish with layers of flavour and texture.
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Eggplant sabich salad with quick tahini dressing
Eggplant sabich salad with quick tahini dressing Credit: Kitti Gould
This chickpea-based savoury pancake is served with tartar sauce made of tahini, adding a delightful twist to the classic condiment, adding rich nuttiness and creamy texture.
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Falafel pancakes
Falafel pancakes Credit: Adam Liaw
Here's a unique way to incorporate tahini into Asian greens, like this barbecue by Hetty McKinoonMcKinnon using gai larn aka Chinese broccoli. Tahini is mixed with soy sauce and chilli oil.
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Charred gai larn and farro with soy tahini
Charred gai larn and farro with soy tahini Credit: Kitti Gould
Tahini sauce can make a perfect dipping sauce for fresh vegetables but can also work magic for fried vegetables like cauliflower and eggplant. The trick for a smooth sauce is continual whisking and additional water. Finish by stirring in the parsley through the sauce.
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Fried eggplant and cauliflower with tahini sauce
The flavour profiles of indigenous food and herbs cross over with other flavours well, like the tahini. Here tahini and Greek yoghurt are mixed with ground wattle seed and ground kudjera or bush tomato, perfect for lamb kababs.
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Lamb kebabs with bush tomato tahini
Credit: Adam Liaw
In this turmeric tea cake by Sharon Salloum, the delightfully moist and vibrant cake is further elevated by using tahini to grease the baking tray, an old traditional method used in Syria, adding the natural nuttiness of tahini to the cake.
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Turmeric tea cake (sfouf)
Credit: Adam Liaw
These panko-crumbed eggplant chips are a wonderful alternative to their potato counterpart, seasoned with paprika and cumin. Try pairing it with aioli sauce alternative, a garlicky zesty sauce made of tahini, lemon and maple syrup.
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Panko eggplant chips & tahini sauce
Credit: Jiwon Kim
Take roasted pumpkin to a new level, by serving it with whipped tahini, infused with caramelised garlic, scattered with roasted pumpkin seeds, herbs and nuts.
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Roast pumpkin with whipped tahini
Credit: Jiwon Kim
