EST. 2011 BY LIZ RUEVEN
Lucious Meatballs Nestled in Creamy Tehini
Photo: Liz Rueven

Lucious Meatballs Nestled in Creamy Tehini

Tahini is a remarkably versatile ingredient that has finally found a broad swath of fans outside of the Middle East. For kosher keepers and vegans, it’s held a prized place in our cupboards for ages.

Why do we love tehini?

Its nutty flavor adds unique depth and character while calcium rich creaminess comes from hulled sesame seeds rather than dairy. On its own, tehini is vegan, gluten-free and kosher. We use it in everything from oatmeal cookies, to roasted sweet potatoes, raw veggie salads, smoothies and pasta salads. Of course, the gateway recipe for new tehini fans is easy- to- make, one processor bowl hummus.

kosher meatballs tehini
photo: Liz Rueven

For tahini newbies, be patient when you’re mixing tahini with water and lemon. Go for the right texture first, adding more water and lemon until the sauce is pourable. When the paste turns from dull beige to white-ish, you’ll know you’re heading in the right direction. Season with fresh minced garlic, parsley or dill, or both.

It’s not uncommon to find meatballs or whole fish baked in tahini when dining in Israel. When I find any variation on this dish I’ll always order it. The creamy, lemony blanket is simply irresistible.

kosher meatballs tehini
photo: Liz Rueven

To avoid having the sauce seize up in this recipe, I’ve browned the meatballs on the stovetop in my cast iron pan and layered them with tahini in an oven-to-table ceramic casserole. Stick the casserole under the broiler just long enough to relax the tomatoes and reheat the meatballs. Be sure to garnish generously with chopped parsley or dill as this dish needs a pop of color to brighten the sauce.

This tahini sauce can be stored in a sealed container for 3-4 days in the refrigerator. Add more water or lemon juice if it thickens up. You can be sure that it will.

Our favorite tehini? We love Seed and Mill, found in Chelsea Market in NYC and online. We also love Soom.

This post was originally published on The Nosher on February 21, 2017

Some of the links in this post are affiliate links meaning that at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. Thanks for supporting Kosher Like Me. 

kosher meatballs tehini
photo: Liz Rueven

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