You ever look through your fridge, take out a bunch of ingredients, throw them together, and find yourself creating a really delicious dish? Well, mixed nut butter is kind of like that – it’s a nut butter that’s made with a bunch of different nuts, creating a unique yet tasty spread!
We’re going to take a closer look at mixed nut butter, but we’ll also face it off against tahini, a nut-free spread that you may know as one of the main ingredients in the ever-popular dip hummus!
Their face-off will include finding out which one has better culinary uses, nutritional profiles, tastes, textures, and more, making this a competition for the ages! Both spreads will put their best performances on, and in the end, will decide which one is the better one!
Let’s jump in!
Comparing mixed nut butter vs tahini
Mixed nut butter is made with a bunch of different nuts, which gives it a nutty flavor and tree nuts as an allergen. Tahini shares a nutty flavor, although it’s much milder, but has sesame as an allergen. They also share a creaminess in their textures, and you can use both spreads in vegan, paleo, and keto diets – talk about versatility!
Mixed nut butter has different nuts and seeds in it, which makes it difficult to calculate its glycemic index. However, it’s likely low – talk to your physician if you have any concerns about your blood sugar levels spiking with it! Tahini’s glycemic index is in the low category, which makes it a generally safe option, but still talk to your physician if you have any issues.
| Mixed nut butter | Tahini (sesame seed butter) | |
| Taste | Nutty, rich, almondy | Mildly nutty, toasty, slightly bitter |
| Texture | Creamy, slightly grainy | Thin, creamy |
| Allergens | Tree nuts | Sesame |
| Vegan? | Yes | Yes |
| Paleo? | Yes | Yes |
| Keto? | Yes | Yes |
| Glycemic index (GI) | Unknown due to a mix of different nuts/seeds; likely low | 40 |
What is mixed nut butter?
Mixed nut butter is a spread made by blending many types of nuts together into a creamy and (in this case) slightly grainy spread. The graininess comes from the chia seeds that are in this spread that we’re referencing, which is Kirkland Signature’s mixed nut butter. This spread also has almonds as its first ingredient, giving it an almondy taste – however, the nuts/seeds and ratios can change from brand-to-brand, but you’ll commonly find almonds, cashews, walnuts, and hazelnuts!
If you want, you can get creative and make mixed nut butter at home, where you can choose which nuts and how much of them go into it!
What is tahini?
Tahini is a thin, creamy, and smooth spread that comes out of the Middle East. It’s made from toasted sesame seeds, which are ground down into the drizz-able paste!
It’s also really easy to make tahini at home, so you can enjoy the unique nutty and slightly bitter spread the way you want. Plus, you can use it to make hummus, or enjoy it as a nut-free spread.
Differences between mixed nut butter and tahini
The biggest differences between mixed nut butter and tahini are the flavors and textures.
Mixed nut butter boasts a rich and nutty taste, with this one that we’re referencing having an almond flavor (since almonds are the first ingredient listed). Tahini has a mildly nutty, toasty, slightly bitter taste that generally mixes really well with other ingredients, not overpowering anything.
Texture-wise, mixed nut butter has a creamy and slightly grainy (from the chia seeds) texture, while tahini has that thin, runny, and creamy texture that is perfect for drizzling!
How to use mixed nut butter vs tahini
Both spreads, although they have different flavors and textures, can be used in basically all the same ways!
Try adding them as ingredients in your bakes, lending their flavor profiles to your delicious baked creations! Or, mix them into your smoothies and oatmeal – and even into your salads and pastas for some flavor twists!
You can also dip fruits and vegetables into them for some healthy snacks, or use them in the classic way of spreading them on your toast, pancakes, waffles, etc.
Nutrition: Mixed nut butter vs tahini
Mixed nut butter has an awesome protein content of 7 grams per serving versus tahini’s 5 grams, which is still solid. They both have a great source of healthy fats and have decent fiber contents.
Mixed nut butter has 4 grams of net carbs per serving, while tahini has 3 grams of net carbs – both are great for keto recipes! However, mixed nut butter has the awesome benefit of having multiple nuts in it – that means you get the zinc and copper from cashews, folate from hazelnuts, vitamin E and healthy fats from almonds, and omega-3 fatty acids from walnuts, for example!
| Serving size: 2 tbsp | Mixed nut butter | Tahini (sesame seed butter) |
| Calories | 200 | 176 |
| Total fat (saturated) | 16 g (4 g) | 16 g (2 g) |
| Total carbs | 8 g | 6 g |
| Net carbs (fiber) | 4 g (4 g) | 3 g (3 g) |
| Total sugars (incl. added) | 1 g (0 g) | 0 g |
| Protein | 7 g | 5 g |
How to store mixed nut butter and tahini
Store mixed nut butter and tahini in the fridge. Mixed nut butter doesn’t have any added oils or preservatives in it, which makes it go rancid quicker at room temperature. Tahini will also thicken up a little, making it easier to handle – you could also store tahini in a cool and dry place outside the fridge, but I recommend the fridge just for best practice.
Most nut butters generally last around 2-3 months after opening – but always check the labels for any specific storage instructions and best-before dates!
Mixed nut butter vs tahini: Which is better?
And here we are, the final showdown!
Mixed nut butter proudly boasts some unique nutritional qualities, along with a variety of tastes depending on the recipe or brand.
Tahini is also very unique with its thin texture and mild taste, lending itself as the perfect thing to drizzle over different dishes!
But which spread takes the win?
Looking at all the factors, mixed nut butter wins due to having a unique nutritional profile with the benefit of many different nuts, while also having some great customizability when making it at home!
FAQs
Almond butter is considered the healthiest due to its great blend of vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats. I also suggest looking at walnut butter!
Mixed nut butter can be made with a variety of nuts – even to your liking if you make it at home!
Both spreads are great for keto diets, boasting low carb contents – with the added benefits of fiber and protein!
Tahini is made from sesame seeds, which makes it a completely nut-free spread!
Leave a Comment