How Much Peanut Butter to Substitute for Tahini
Works for baking, sauteing, and slow cook. Peanut Butter brings a noticeably different flavor than Tahini.
How much peanut butter equals one cup of tahini?
Use 1 cup peanut butter per 1 cup tahini.
Health notes
Compared with Tahini, Peanut Butter has: more saturated fat (9.5g vs 6.7g per 100g in Tahini), more protein (21.9g vs 17.8g per 100g in Tahini), and less carbs (24g vs 26.2g per 100g in Tahini).
Using peanut butter as a tahini substitute in baking
Swap 1:1 in cookies, bars, and quick breads; expect a heavier peanut taste.
Other cooking methods
- Sauteing
Stir into sauces 1:1; it loosens with heat similar to tahini.
- Slow Cook
Add 1:1 near the end to thicken stews and sauces with a nutty depth.
- Raw Cold
Use 1:1 in dips, dressings, and satay-style sauces.
- Drinks
Blend 1:1 into smoothies for a rich, nutty body.
Methods to avoid (3)
- Frying
Not recommended: sugars and low smoke point make it prone to scorching.
- Grilling
Not recommended: dense sugar content burns fast over direct heat.
- Steaming
Not recommended: doesn't hold up well without direct stirring into a sauce off heat.
FAQ
- How much peanut butter equals one cup of tahini?
Use 1 cup peanut butter per 1 cup tahini.
- Can I substitute peanut butter for Tahini in baking?
Yes. Swap 1:1 in cookies, bars, and quick breads; expect a heavier peanut taste. Not recommended: sugars and low smoke point make it prone to scorching.
- How much peanut butter to use as a tahini substitute?
Sweeter, saltier, and more peanut-forward; cut back on added salt and sugar in the recipe.
- How does the flavor change when substituting Peanut Butter for Tahini?
Peanut butter brings a noticeably different flavor than tahini.
- How does texture change when substituting Peanut Butter for Tahini?
Peanut butter thicker and denser but still pourable when warmed; blends and emulsifies much like tahini.
- What else should I know about substituting Peanut Butter for Tahini?
For satay sauces, smoothies, cookies, and dressings. Expect a sweeter, saltier result with a stronger peanut taste. Skip frying and grilling since sugars in peanut butter scorch fast. Cut added salt in the recipe since peanut butter is saltier than tahini.
- What still works when substituting Peanut Butter for Tahini?
Peanut butter still works as a fat, flavor carrier, texture, and emulsifier.
- How well does Peanut Butter match Tahini?
Peanut butter is good on structure, okay on heat, and okay on flavor.
- How does nutrition compare per 100g when substituting Peanut Butter for Tahini?
Peanut butter is slightly higher in protein, and is higher in sat. fat. Overall, calories and fat are similar.
- How do the flavor notes shift when substituting Peanut Butter for Tahini?
The flavor shifts toward more sweet, less bitter, and less pungent notes.