What Is a Substitute for Tahini?

What's the best tahini substitute?

Sunflower seed butter is the closest substitute because it's also seed-based and has a similar slightly bitter, earthy flavor. Use 1-to-1 in hummus, dressings, and most recipes. The color is darker than tahini, but the texture and function match well.

Cashew butter is another 1-to-1 swap with a milder, creamier flavor. The result will be less distinctive than tahini-based but more universally appealing. Almond butter (1-to-1) is slightly sweeter and works particularly well in dessert applications.

Can you make tahini at home?

Yes. Toast 1 cup of hulled sesame seeds in a dry pan over medium heat for 5-7 minutes, stirring constantly, until fragrant and lightly golden. Cool slightly, then blend in a food processor with 2-3 tablespoons of neutral oil (sunflower or grapeseed) until smooth, scraping down the sides as needed. This takes 3-5 minutes total.

Homemade tahini matches commercial tahini closely and stores in the fridge for up to a month. The oil separates over time (just like commercial tahini), so stir before each use. For a less bitter result, don't toast the sesame seeds too dark; for a stronger flavor, toast them slightly darker.

What about peanut butter as a substitute?

Peanut butter works as a tahini substitute in some recipes, but the flavor shifts noticeably toward peanut. Use 1-to-1 in dressings, sauces, and Asian-style applications where peanut flavor fits. For hummus and Middle Eastern recipes specifically, peanut butter changes the dish's character significantly.

For people with sesame allergies, sunflower seed butter is the safer substitute because it's seed-based without overlapping allergens. For people with nut allergies, sunflower seed butter is also safe (sunflower seeds aren't nuts or tree nuts). For both allergy concerns, sunflower seed butter is the best all-purpose tahini substitute.

When does the tahini substitute fail?

For hummus specifically, tahini is one of the defining flavors. Substitutes work but the result tastes like a different dip rather than traditional hummus. Sunflower seed butter is the closest match; cashew butter makes a creamier, milder hummus that's distinct.

For halva and other Middle Eastern desserts that depend on sesame's specific nutty bitterness, no nut butter substitute fully matches. The DIY tahini (homemade from toasted sesame seeds) is the only true substitute for these applications. For Middle Eastern restaurants and authentic recipes, real tahini is worth seeking out.