Sesame Paste substitutes
Out of sesame paste? Here are the best substitutes — what to reach for, why it works, and how much to use. Tahini is the top pick.
- 01Tahinibest pick
The Middle Eastern sesame paste — closest match, slightly less roasted.
1:1 (toast lightly for depth)
- 02Peanut butter + sesame oil
Rebuilds Chinese sesame paste's roasted, nutty body.
2:1 PB to sesame oil
- 03Black sesame paste
Same ingredient, darker and earthier.
1:1
Cooking with sesame paste?
Paste your recipe into Mise — we'll find every ingredient as a real product you can buy, and swap the ones you can't, like sesame paste, for the closest match in stock.
Turn a recipe into a basket →How we choose these
These are tested kitchen substitutes, chosen for matching flavor, texture, and role — with ratios so the swap actually works. Taste as you go; substitutes shift intensity, not just flavor.
Flavor data: Epicure (Radzikowski & Chen, 2026), arXiv:2605.22391, CC-BY-4.0.