🍯 Sauces & Condiments

Peanut Butter Tahini Substitute - How to Use Peanut Butter Instead of Tahini

Learn how to use peanut butter as a tahini substitute in hummus, dressings, sauces, and baking. Get proper ratios, cooking tips, and when peanut butter works best as a tahini alternative.

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Quick Answer

Peanut butter is an excellent tahini substitute using a 1:1 ratio. It provides similar creamy texture and nutty flavor that works well in hummus, dressings, sauces, and baking. Use natural peanut butter without added sugar for best results.

Best Substitutes

Natural Peanut Butter

1:1

Natural peanut butter is the best tahini substitute as it provides similar creamy texture and nutty flavor. It's easily accessible and works well in most applications where tahini is used.

Best for:

hummusdressingssaucesbakinggeneral cooking

Best choice - no added sugar or salt, similar texture and flavor

Regular Peanut Butter

1:1

Regular peanut butter works as a tahini substitute but may be sweeter due to added sugar. It provides similar texture and flavor, though you may need to adjust other ingredients in your recipe.

Best for:

when natural peanut butter unavailablesweet applicationsbaking

Works well but may be sweeter. Adjust other ingredients accordingly

Crunchy Peanut Butter

1:1

Crunchy peanut butter can work as a tahini substitute and adds interesting texture. For creamy applications like hummus, blend until smooth. For baking, the crunch can add pleasant texture.

Best for:

when you want added texturebakingsome dressings

Adds texture. Blend until smooth for creamy applications

Peanut Butter + Sesame Oil

3/4 cup peanut butter + 1 tbsp sesame oil = 1 cup tahini

Combine peanut butter with a small amount of sesame oil to add sesame flavor and make it more similar to tahini. This creates a closer substitute to authentic tahini taste.

Best for:

when you want sesame flavorauthentic-tasting dishesMiddle Eastern recipes

Adds sesame flavor to peanut butter for more authentic taste

Peanut Butter + Water

1 cup peanut butter + 2-3 tbsp water = 1 cup tahini

Thin peanut butter with water to achieve tahini-like consistency for sauces and dressings. Add water gradually until you reach the desired thickness for your application.

Best for:

saucesdressingswhen you need thinner consistency

Thins peanut butter to tahini consistency for sauces and dressings

Cooking Tips

  • 💡Use natural peanut butter without added sugar or salt for best results
  • 💡For creamy applications like hummus, blend peanut butter until smooth
  • 💡Adjust sweetness in recipes when using regular peanut butter
  • 💡Add a small amount of sesame oil to peanut butter for more authentic flavor
  • 💡Thin peanut butter with water for sauce and dressing applications
  • 💡Peanut butter works best in recipes where the nutty flavor complements other ingredients
  • 💡For baking, peanut butter provides similar texture and binding properties as tahini
  • 💡Store peanut butter at room temperature for easy mixing and spreading

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I substitute peanut butter for tahini?

Yes, peanut butter is an excellent tahini substitute using a 1:1 ratio. It provides similar creamy texture and nutty flavor that works well in hummus, dressings, sauces, and baking. Use natural peanut butter for best results.

What's the ratio for peanut butter to tahini?

Use a 1:1 ratio when substituting peanut butter for tahini. This means if a recipe calls for 1/4 cup tahini, use 1/4 cup peanut butter. The texture and flavor are similar enough that no adjustment is needed.

Does peanut butter taste like tahini?

Peanut butter has a similar nutty flavor to tahini but with a distinct peanut taste. It's close enough to work well as a substitute in most recipes, though the flavor will be slightly different. For more authentic flavor, add a small amount of sesame oil.

Can I use peanut butter instead of tahini in hummus?

Yes, peanut butter works excellently as a tahini substitute in hummus. Use a 1:1 ratio and choose natural peanut butter without added sugar. It provides similar creamy texture and nutty flavor that complements chickpeas well.

What's the best peanut butter for tahini substitute?

Natural peanut butter without added sugar or salt is the best choice for tahini substitute. It provides the most similar texture and flavor to tahini. Regular peanut butter works but may be sweeter, requiring recipe adjustments.

Can I use crunchy peanut butter instead of tahini?

Yes, crunchy peanut butter can work as a tahini substitute. For creamy applications like hummus, blend until smooth. For baking or when you want added texture, the crunch can be pleasant. Use the same 1:1 ratio.

Summary

Learn how to use peanut butter as a tahini substitute in hummus, dressings, and baking. Get proper ratios, cooking tips, and when peanut butter works best as a tahini alternative.