If you or someone you know is allergic to peanuts, peanut butter, or flour, yet craves a really good cookie, I have a perfect - super-easy - recipe... Tahini cookies. That's right. Tahini (sesame seed paste), the same ingredient used in making hummus, is the key ingredient in this delicious cookie providing a crispy, somewhat chewy texture. And, no flour is required!
Tahini Cookies
Yield: about 2 dozen
Ingredients:
1 cup tahini, very well-stirred
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp. baking soda
Dash salt
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toasted sesame seeds for sprinkling, optional
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Combine tahini, sugar, egg, baking soda and salt until well blended.
3. Roll dough into walnut-sized balls with slightly dampened hands. (This helps to prevent sticking.) Place each ball on an ungreased baking sheet about 1 ½ inches apart. Using the tines of a fork, press down to slightly flatten each cookie and create a criss-cross design. Sprinkle tops with toasted sesame seeds, if desired.
4. Bake for about 10 to 12 minutes. Cookie bottoms should be golden and centers slightly soft.
5. Cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then cool completely on wire racks.
Cookie Baking Tip:
Roll the balls of dough the same size to ensure even baking and uniformly-sized cookies.
Yes! These are delish! And if you look in the dessert section of Alice Antreassian's cookbook (the vegetarian one), you will even find a recipe for cake with tahini! I am firmly convinced that tahini is the Armenian version of bacon (as in, "everything tastes better with bacon/tahini").
ReplyDeleteThank you thank you thank you for posting this!
Glad you like the cookie recipe, Ara.
ReplyDeleteIn reference to the cake... are you referring to the 'Sesame Seed Lemon Pound Cake'? That sounds really good. Maybe I'll give it a try when it's not so darn hot outside!
That's the one. Not being a baker, that recipe was a lifesaver a couple of times.
ReplyDeleteIf you bake the cake, Robyn, I volunteer to taste/test it!
ReplyDeleteIt's a deal, Bonnie!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your AMAZING website! I want to cook everything here. I am currently a college student living away from home & these recipes are invaluable to me :) THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!
ReplyDeleteAni
Hi Ani,
ReplyDeleteGlad you found us! If you have any cooking questions, feel free to email robyn@thearmeniankitchen.com.
Good luck in college!
Wow nice recipe! It waked the curiosity in me! I've never thought of adding tahini...
ReplyDeleteAwesome. It is my first time to hear about this tahini cookies. I can't wait to try this one and share with my best friend who is allergic to peanuts.
ReplyDeleteAdding a tiny bit of cinnamon to the mix goes very well with this, and brings to mind 'tahinov hatz', which is a truly wonderful pastry my grandma used to make from time to time.
ReplyDeleteHi there, I'm a tad obsessed with tahini, and also eat low carb - so these cookies are right up my alley! Could you tell me though, do they freeze? .....I'd like to know so I don't risk eating the whole batch in one sitting!
ReplyDeleteI must be honest, Helena. I never had leftover cookies to freeze! The only way to find out is to freeze some and see how well they turn out once defrosted. I'd love to hear the result of this experiment.
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