Tahini is a sesame seed paste that you often find in grocery stores in the nut butter section. Tahini is a relatively simple recipe made with just 3 ingredients: toasted, hulled sesame seeds, oil, and salt (optional). These ingredients are ground or blended into a smooth paste. Tahini can be used as an alternative to peanut butter and is a key ingredient in hummus and baba ganoush. You can make your own Tahini at home. The tangy flavor of tahini is also a great addition to salad dressings.