Protein content
A 2 tbsp serving of tahini contains 5.1 g of protein - a moderate source of protein, about 10% of the 50 g Daily Value.
Share of this food's calories that come from protein - it is more of an energy food than a protein food.
| Serving | 2 tbsp (30 g) |
|---|---|
| Protein per serving | 5.1 g |
| Protein per 100 g | 17 g |
| Calories per serving | 179 kcal |
| Protein density | 11% of calories |
| Share of 50 g Daily Value | 10% |
| Protein quality | Incomplete protein |
| Category | Seeds |
| Food type | Prepared / processed |
| USDA record | FoodData Central #170189 |
A typical 2 tbsp serving of tahini contains 5.1 grams of protein (17 g per 100 g), which makes it a moderate source of protein. That covers roughly 10% of the 50 g reference Daily Value, so it adds toward your protein total for the day.
Only about 11% of the calories in tahini come from protein, so it is more of an energy food than a protein food. It is worth eating for other reasons; the protein it adds to a day is incidental.
Among the 27 seeds in the database, tahini ranks 18th by protein per serving, and 487th out of all 796 foods on the site. Set against chia seeds, another seed entry in the database, a serving carries about 0.5 g more protein (chia seeds has 4.6 g per 1 oz).
It is an incomplete protein on its own; pairing it with other plant foods across the day covers the full range of essential amino acids. The serving above is measured by volume at 30 g. The per-100 g figure lets you compare it directly against any other food here, whatever its serving.
Source: USDA FoodData Central #170189 - "Seeds, sesame butter, tahini, from roasted and toasted kernels (most common type)" (SR Legacy, published 4/1/2019). Values are the published reference figures for that record, not lab measurements for a specific brand or batch.
Quick answers
Tahini has 17 g of protein per 100 g. A typical 2 tbsp serving (30 g) provides 5.1 g.
No. Tahini is an incomplete protein on its own; pairing it with other protein sources across the day covers the full range of essential amino acids.
A 2 tbsp serving of tahini contains 5.1 g of protein, about 10% of the 50 g reference Daily Value.
Tahini is a moderate source of protein, and about 11% of its calories come from protein, which makes it more of an energy food than a protein food. Set against chia seeds, another seed entry in the database, a serving carries about 0.5 g more protein (chia seeds has 4.6 g per 1 oz).
Related