Unhulled Tahini Substitutes

Out of unhulled tahini? These are the swaps that actually work, with conversion ratios for any recipe size and notes on how each one changes the result.

Need to convert unhulled tahini between cups, grams, or ounces first? Open the unhulled tahini converter.

What to use instead of unhulled tahini

  • Hulled Tahini

    Ingredient swap

    1 cup unhulled tahini = 1 cup hulled tahini

    Hulled tahini is the smooth, pale version made from skinned sesame seeds, equal in weight (240 g per cup) but milder and less bitter. It swaps 1:1 in hummus, dressings, and halva, giving a lighter colour and a milder sesame taste, with a little less fibre and calcium than the wholegrain style.

    See hulled tahini substitutes →

  • Sunflower Seed Butter

    Ingredient swap

    1 cup unhulled tahini = 1 cup sunflower seed butter

    Sunflower seed butter is the milder nut-free swap, a touch heavier per cup (250 g vs 240 g) and far less bitter than wholegrain unhulled tahini. Use it 1:1 in dressings, sauces, and bars; expect a mellow, earthy taste in place of tahini's bold, husky sesame flavour.

    See sunflower seed butter substitutes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I substitute for unhulled tahini?
There are 2 workable substitutes for unhulled tahini, depending on what you have on hand and which property of unhulled tahini matters most for your recipe. The closest swap is usually 1 cup unhulled tahini = 1 cup hulled tahini. Each option below lists the conversion ratio for any recipe size, plus notes on how the swap changes the texture, flavour, rise, or browning.
Will substituting unhulled tahini change how my recipe turns out?
Yes, every swap trades one property for another: fat content, moisture, acidity, or protein. The notes on each substitute describe what changes in texture, flavour, rise, or browning, so you can choose the swap that matters least for your recipe. Open the unhulled tahini converter
How do I measure unhulled tahini accurately?
Weighing in grams is more reliable than scooping cups, especially when a substitute has a different density from what the recipe expects. The unhulled tahini converter on this site converts between cups, grams, ounces, tablespoons, and teaspoons, so you can scale a recipe up or down without losing the ratio. Open the unhulled tahini converter

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