That Tahini is versatile, is something that the food industry has always known. Apart from being the flavour bringer in everyone’s beloved hummus, it has been an integral ingredient in dressings, sauces and marinades. Salads are jazzed up with the earthy sesame paste, while wraps and gyros get their ‘authentic’ touch from the creamy stuff.
However, that tahini was so versatile as to become an experimental – and successfully so – ingredient in desserts and sweet treats was something we didn’t see coming. And yet, we are glad that the first few decided to experiment with tahini in baked goods, cookies and cakes, for we are sold on the addition! Tahini is now one of those irreplaceable flavoursome ingredients that foodies around the world want in all their desserts. From homemade popsicles, to tart fillings, chocolate bread spread, hot chocolate, molten cakes, ice creams, milkshakes and donut fillings, tahini is everywhere! And we are not complaining.
Are you interested in putting a Tahini-twist on your favourite chocolate-chip cookies? Here’s a recipe you can try at home…
Tahini Chocolate Chip Cookies
- ½ cup tahini
- ½ cup butter, at room temperature
- ¾ cup light brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp baking soda
- Salt, a pinch
- 1 ¼ cups all purpose flour
- 170 g dark chocolate chips
In a large bowl, combine butter and light brown sugar with a hand mixer, and beat until pale and fluffy. Add in tahini, vanilla extract and egg and beat until airy. Sieve the flour into the wet ingredients, add in the baking soda and beat until just incorporated. Using a spatula, mix in the chocolate chips. Transfer the cookie dough onto a piece of cling wrap, wrap tightly and refrigerate overnight.
Preheat oven to 175°C. Roll the dough into balls and place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper at least an inch apart. Bake for 12 minutes or until golden around the edges. Take the cookies out of the oven, allow them to cool completely on a wire rack and then serve as is, or drizzle with sea salt, or chocolate sauce.