Tahini used as a cooking sauce for meat and always served as a side with fish. It is also a main ingredient in a seafood dish called Siyadiyeh. Tahini is in sweet desserts like halva and halva with pistachios. In East Asia, sesame paste () is a major condiment used in dry noodles (hot or cold). Sesame paste can also be eaten as a dessert, known as black sesame soup. Tahini is a source of calcium, manganese, the amino acid methionine, and omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Tahini made from raw sesame seeds is lower in fat than tahini made from
Ali Baba's Tahini who, along with Umphrey's McGee, performed a number of Ali Baba's Tahini songs in concert. The band recorded Rockstars and Lawnmowers with former Mother Vinegar bassist Jeff Hinkle. Ali Baba's Tahini has been hard at work on their new release, slated for Spring '09, which will feature new member and songwriter, Justin W. Powell (The Mantras) on keyboards. A mini-tour through the midwest followed shortly after the release of Living Room. ABT also did a one off appearance at Summercamp Music Festival to a crowd of over 4000 in 2011. Ali Baba's Tahini performed a benefit show for Michael Welter