There aren’t too many ingredients that go into this impressive dish – and everything is nice and easy to find! A study published in the International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases saw patients with knee osteoarthritis given either glucosamine plus Tylenol twice a day, a standard treatment for osteoarthritis, or 40 g per day of powdered sesame seeds, comparable to 2 tablespoons of tahini.

So how do the syns of popular tahini brands compare? Since recipes different from company to company, culture to culture, it’s only natural there would be SOME variation in the syn values. Different volumes of oil, low fat or fat free alternatives Cooked beetroot. We’re keeping things simple by using the handy ready-to-eat beetroot you can easily find at the store. Go for one that’s not sitting in vinegar if possible, or your sauce will be a little too acidic. MAKE IT VEGAN: Use a vegan aioli or mayo! This is a good time to try my recipe for easy vegan garlic aioli. How to make it Unfortunately, the oil does elevate the tahini as a whole. Turning a mushy paste of roasted seeds into a soft and creamy texture, perfect as a sauce or additional ingredient in your hummus. The iconic smoothness of the paste just wouldn’t be the same without it. Syns Value of Popular Tahini Brands Lignans have a similar structure to estrogen. The sesamin and sesamol lignans in tahini can bind to estrogen receptors, which may protect against hormone-related cancers.Haghighian, M. K., Alipoor, B., Sadat, B. E., Mahdavi, A. M., Moghaddam, A., & Vatankhah, A-M. (2014, July 12). Effects of sesame seed supplementation on lipid profile and oxidative stress biomarkers in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Health Promotion Perspectives, 4(1), 90-97 One 2014 study showed that they may also have a positive impact on cholesterol levels and oxidative stress in patients with osteoarthritis. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Nutrient Database, a 2-tablespoon (tbsp) serving of tahini made from roasted sesame seeds and weighing 30 grams (g) contains: Tahini. Go for a brand that’s produced in Israel, Lebanon or Palestine for the best flavour and consistency. I like using the tahini from Belazu, Al Yaman or Al Nakhil. Basic report: 12166, seeds, sesame butter, tahini, from roasted and toasted kernels (most common type). (2016, May)

Heat the olive oil. The secret to super crispy potatoes is HOT oil. That means you want to start by pouring ¼ cup of olive oil into the dish you’ll be cooking your potatoes in, and popping into the oven at 250C fan. Let the oil heat for at least 30 minutes before you add the potatoes.Here comes the special part! Often when I make crispy potatoes with this technique, I’ll toss them in polenta to help them get that lovely crispy crust. In this recipe, dukkah is front and centre and acts as the polenta. This makes them extra special in two ways – first, like polenta, it helps create that lovely crunch. And second, it provides another delicious layer of flavour. All you need to do is scatter over the dukkah and give the pot a good shake to coat the potatoes. Then, once the oil is nice and hot, transfer them to the dish and pop it in the oven. They’ll need 45 minutes to cook – give them a couple of stirs throughout that time. The Al Nakil brand is manufactured in Lebanon and is a good, reliable tahini, made with 100 per cent sesame seeds. It is the preferred choice of Nicola Crowley, who runs Mezze, a Middle Eastern food store, cafe and deli in Tramore, Co Waterford with her Israeli husband Dvir Nusery. “We find the consistency and flavour is much better. It’s smooth and easy to work with,” she says. All kinds of oils can be used, some marginally better than other, but the point remains that oil is what’s ruining your syn allowance. Sunflower, grape seed, avocado, even a lighter oil will still drown your hummus is syns that yo might not be looking to use up.

Tahini seems to contain large amounts of fat. However, only 2 of the 16 g found in a 2-tbsp serving are saturated. The rest are mono- and poly-unsaturated fats, known to be beneficial to the heart and overall health. Experience the authentic flavours of Middle Eastern and Arabic culinary traditions with MyJam -the largest online cultural grocery store in the UK. Our vast assortment of Middle Eastern and Arabic grocery items will take you on a journey to the core of these regions, enabling you to prepare classic meals in the comfort of your home. Being made from sesame seeds means that tahini can provide some of the benefits of sesamin and sesamol. That’s right, just three table spoons of tahini and you have use all your daily syns maybe less if you’re looking at a 5 or 10 syn intake. Obviously, this complicates your hummus recipes, or even just a light lunch with a tasty dip. So why exactly does tahini eat up so much of your recommended daily intake? Let’s take a look. Where do the Syns Come From?

Since this is the norm, it’s only right that you’ll struggle to find many low calorie tahinis that are under the illusive 5 syn count. This doesn’t mean they don’t exist however. So let’s take a look at a few store bought alternative tahinis which offer the same great taste and texture, for less of your daily allowance.