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Traditional sweet dessert made with sesame paste, rich and energy-dense
In season: Autumn · Winter
CALORIES
GI
POTASSIUM
FIBER
1 piece (medium) of Tahini dessert (50 g) has 215 calories. That works out to 430 calories per 100 g. It contains 24 g of carbs, 3.8 g of protein, 11.5 g of fat and 1.6 g of fiber. Its 0.3 mg of Copper covers 28% of the Daily Value. Its glycemic index is 55 (medium), so it raises blood sugar at a moderate pace.
Tahini dessert is a dense, sweet sesame confection made with tahini, the paste of ground sesame seeds. In Turkey, it is often helva-like in texture: pale, firm and slightly crumbly when sliced. Its toasted sesame flavour balances the sweetness, so a small piece is usually enough. It can be served after a meal or alongside tea, and sesame sweets are also enjoyed in Turkish communities abroad. The sesame paste gives it a rich, energy-dense nutritional profile; 100 g provides 430 kcal. Pair a modest slice with fresh fruit, or serve it with unsweetened tea if you want to balance its sweetness.
Selected: 100 g
430
KCAL / 100G
Carbs
48g
· 17% DV
Protein
7.5g
· 15% DV
Fat
23g
· 29% DV
Fiber
3.2g
· 11% DV
DV is the share of the daily value covered, on a 2,000 kcal reference diet.
Calories come from: Carbs 45% · Protein 7% · Fat 48%
Vitamins
Vitamin K
18µg · 15% DV
B1
0.17mg · 14% DV
Vitamin E
1.7mg · 11% DV
Biotin
3µg · 10% DV
Minerals
Copper
1mg · 111% DV
Manganese
1mg · 43% DV
Phosphorus
140mg · 20% DV
Magnesium
65mg · 15% DV
Medium
How many vitamins, minerals and how much fiber this food carries per calorie. A high score means a lot of nutrition for few calories.
Low
An EatBetter score computed from fiber, protein and calorie density. A high score means staying full longer on the same calories.
Both scores are calculated per 100 g and do not change with the selected portion. The satiety score is EatBetter's own calculation, not a clinical measure.
GLYCEMIC INDEX
GLYCEMIC LOAD
Accounts for portion size — a more realistic measure than GI alone.
To burn the 430 calories in 100 g:
🚶
Walking (5 km/h)
🏃
Running (8 km/h)
🚴
Cycling
🏊
Swimming
Times are calculated with the MET equation for a 70 kg adult. Actual burn varies with your weight, age and pace.
NOVA 3
Processed
1. Unprocessed
2. Minimally Processed
3. Processed
4. Ultra-Processed
NOVA classifies foods into 4 groups by industrial processing. NOVA 1 (unprocessed) is the healthiest.
Contains these allergens:
Vegan
— Not suitable
Vegetarian
✓ Suitable
Gluten-Free
— Not suitable
Dairy-Free
— Not suitable
Mediterranean
✓ Suitable
Paleo
— Not suitable
Whole30
— Not suitable
DASH
— Not suitable
Keto
— Not suitable
Low FODMAP
— Not suitable
SATURATED
3.2g
MONOUNSATURATED
8.5g
POLYUNSATURATED
9.2g
Omega 6:3 ratio 38:1
Above the ideal 4:1 (38:1).
The firm, sliceable tahini dessert shown here is typically made from sesame paste and a sweetener, with ingredients that help it set. Turkish tahini halva may also use soapwort extract; recipes vary, so not every tahini dessert has the same formula.
A dense, sliceable tahini dessert is often a type of tahini halva. But “tahini dessert” is a broader description: recipes for cakes, cookies, and other sweets can also use tahini without being halva.
For a halva-style tahini dessert, you combine tahini with a cooked sweetener mixture and a setting ingredient, then work the mixture until it becomes dense and sliceable. Follow a recipe designed for tahini halva, since the method differs from baked tahini sweets.
Tahini dessert tastes sweet, rich, and distinctly nutty, with the roasted-sesame flavor of tahini. Its dense texture can be slightly crumbly or sandy, rather than creamy, and the sweetness and texture vary between recipes.
Serve tahini dessert in small slices, on its own or with tea or coffee. Its concentrated sweetness and dense texture make it an easy after-meal treat; pairing it with another very sweet dessert can make the serving feel heavy.
Store tahini dessert sealed in a cool, dry place away from sunlight and heat. Refrigeration can make a firm tahini halva harder and may affect its texture, so keep it covered and follow the storage directions on its packaging.
Yes, tahini halva can be warmed in the oven and served as baked halva. Break it into a heatproof dish and warm it just until soft; it can become runny, so check it rather than leaving it in the oven for a long time.
Tahini dessert contains sesame paste, but it is also a sweet, energy-dense treat. The presence of sesame does not make it a health food or a substitute for a balanced meal; enjoy it as a dessert in a modest serving.
Tahini dessert contains carbohydrates and commonly added sugar, so it can raise blood glucose despite being made with sesame paste. If you have diabetes, ask your healthcare professional how a portion fits your individual glucose-management plan.
Eating tahini dessert frequently or in large portions can contribute to weight gain because it is energy-dense. A small piece enjoyed occasionally is easier to fit into an eating pattern than treating it as an everyday snack.
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Nutrition data compiled from USDA FoodData Central and scientific sources.