Tehinah

Smooth, unctuous tehinah, a sauce made from tehini (sesame-seed paste), is a felafel-topping mainstay; every felafel stand in Israel has a bowl or vat of it, along with at least one variety of hot sauce. Well-made tehinah should be fluid but not thin, and should nicely balance bitter, acidic, and garlicky flavors. Stir tehini before using, as the oil will have separated from the paste.

  • Serves

    makes 1 Cup

Ingredients

  • 12 cup tehini
  • 6 tbsp. water
  • Juice of 1-2 lemons
  • 2 cloves peeled garlic, minced
  • 14 tsp. ground cumin (optional)
  • 1-2 pinches cayenne pepper
  • Salt

Instructions

Step 1

Whisk together tehini and water in a medium mixing bowl. Add lemon juice, garlic, cumin, and cayenne pepper. Season to taste with salt.

Step 2

Adjust seasonings, adding a little more lemon juice and spices, if you like. Serve with felafel.
  1. Whisk together tehini and water in a medium mixing bowl. Add lemon juice, garlic, cumin, and cayenne pepper. Season to taste with salt.
  2. Adjust seasonings, adding a little more lemon juice and spices, if you like. Serve with felafel.
Recipes

Tehinah

  • Serves

    makes 1 Cup

Smooth, unctuous tehinah, a sauce made from tehini (sesame-seed paste), is a felafel-topping mainstay; every felafel stand in Israel has a bowl or vat of it, along with at least one variety of hot sauce. Well-made tehinah should be fluid but not thin, and should nicely balance bitter, acidic, and garlicky flavors. Stir tehini before using, as the oil will have separated from the paste.

Ingredients

  • 12 cup tehini
  • 6 tbsp. water
  • Juice of 1-2 lemons
  • 2 cloves peeled garlic, minced
  • 14 tsp. ground cumin (optional)
  • 1-2 pinches cayenne pepper
  • Salt

Instructions

Step 1

Whisk together tehini and water in a medium mixing bowl. Add lemon juice, garlic, cumin, and cayenne pepper. Season to taste with salt.

Step 2

Adjust seasonings, adding a little more lemon juice and spices, if you like. Serve with felafel.
  1. Whisk together tehini and water in a medium mixing bowl. Add lemon juice, garlic, cumin, and cayenne pepper. Season to taste with salt.
  2. Adjust seasonings, adding a little more lemon juice and spices, if you like. Serve with felafel.

Continue to Next Story

Want more SAVEUR?

Get our favorite recipes, stories, and more delivered to your inbox.