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Tahini (or "tehina"/"tahina" in Arabic and Hebrew, "tahin" in Turkish) is a paste made from ground sesame seeds. It is a major ingredient in hummus and other dishes from the Middle East. It can be purchased fresh, in cans, in jars, or dehydrated. Tahini comes in two varieties ? 'hulled' and 'unhulled'. Both types are relatively high in vitamins and contain a small amount of protein. Unhulled tahini is quite bitter but has a much higher proportion of vitamins, calcium, and protein because the sesame seeds are ground whole.

As a spread, tahini can replace peanut butter on bread. Tahini paste is often used in a wide variety of dishes. It can be found in most Arabic restaurants as a side dish or as a garnish. It is often mixed with lemon juice, salt and garlic, then thinned with water to create a sauce. Tahini sauce is a popular condiment for meat and vegetables in Middle Eastern cuisine.

In Turkey, Tahini mixed with Pekmez is common as a breakfast item, especially in winters.

Tahini is becoming more common in European cuisine and can be found as an ingredient in many pricey ready made supermarket sandwiches.