A honey tahini smoothie is a nutritious and tasty breakfast! Tahini packs in a burst of flavor and a punch of nutrients, vitamins and protein. This honey tahini smoothie is simple to make with only 5 ingredients.
As much as I like my fruit and oat smoothies in the morning, sometimes I could use some variety. So I’d like to introduce you to Ms. Tahini, our guest ingredient at The Worktop. Tahini is a tasty and nutritious paste made with sesame seeds. It looks like almond butter, but is often thicker and a bit sludgy. When making recipes with it, Tahini packs a real punch of power! Just a small spoonful will give a burst of flavor, as well as a healthy dose of vitamins, protein and fiber.
On its own, Tahini can be a bit bitter, but it’s a great ingredient to use with other flavors. Essentially, it’s a “sesame butter” (and sometimes called that) since it’s made by grinding sesame seeds down into a paste, just like how peanut butter and almond butter are made with their respective nuts. But because sesame is not inherently sweet, Tahini ends up tasting a bit sharp, and isn’t as versatile as peanut butter or almond butter as a condiment on its own. The flavor is incredible though, when mixed in with other ingredients (it is a main player in any hummus recipe).
When shopping for tahini, there are a few different types to look out for.
Roasted vs. Raw Tahini
Tahini can be made from sesame seeds that are either roasted or raw (unroasted). Raw tahini will be more nutrient-rich since it isn’t heated or cooked. Roasted tahini can have a nuttier flavor, making it taste a bit closer to peanut butter.
Hulled vs. Unhulled Tahini
Tahini can be made with sesame seeds that are either hulled or unhulled. Unhulled tahini is more nutrient-rich, but it also tastes more bitter. I’ve noticed that the bitterness of the tahini varies tremendously between brands, so you might need to give a few different ones a try before settling on your favorite. I used one by Raw Health and it had a smooth taste that wasn’t too bitter.
You can use any of these types to make this Honey Tahini Smoothie. I used a raw unhulled tahini to maximize the nutritional aspect. The honey and banana add sweetness to the smoothie, but the tahini’s nutty and savory taste doesn’t shy away. And while I’ve mentioned that tahini can carry a bitter taste, you don’t get any of that in this Honey Tahini Smoothie.
Ingredients
- 2 cups milk or dairy free milk alternative (you can use any type - whole milk, skim milk, almond milk, etc.)
- 2 ripe bananas - sliced and frozen
- 1 tablespoon tahini
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1/2 cup ice cubes
Instructions
- Place everything in a blender and blend until smooth.
Raw Health provided me with the Whole Tahini and Organic Pure Blossom Honey used in this post.
Lorelai @ Life With Lorelai says
June 4, 2015 at 6:07 pmYUM’d! This looks delicious. A definite must try! Please come share your blog posts over at the Home Matters Linky Party! We’d love to have you for a visit. The Door OPENS tonight at 9pm Pacific Time. :)
~Lorelai
Life With Lorelai
Christine says
June 2, 2015 at 4:35 pmSo. Yummy! Why have I never used tahini in my smoothies before? Can’t wait to try this.
Frederik says
May 28, 2015 at 2:29 pmWhat do you think of adding a dash of lemon to this?
Rachel says
May 27, 2015 at 8:13 pmThis looks so tasty! I have a peanut butter version of this most mornings, varying for cashew butter etc, but for some reason it has never occurred to me to use tahini! Genius! Thank you ❤︎
Tina Jui says
June 2, 2015 at 2:39 pmOh, I’ve never tried cashew butter in a smoothie before. I’ll have to do that next!
Marissa | Pinch and Swirl says
May 26, 2015 at 9:25 pmI’m a big fan of tahini, but have never had it in a smoothie. This looks so delicious!
Tina Jui says
June 2, 2015 at 2:39 pmGive it a try and add tahini to your next smoothie :) It’s so healthy and delicious, and I’m happy I found a quick way to eat more of it in my diet.