Open Sesame!

Today — March 8th — is International Women's Day, so what better time to feature a totally lady-owned company behind a delicious vegan product? That product is tahini by Soom Foods, a "Philadelphia-based, certified Women-Owned company started by three hard-working sisters who love to eat and value health and quality."

Soom shipped me two jars of their tahini products to sample and review. There's a single-sourced origin Sesame Tahini and a Chocolate Sesame Spread. 

I freakin' love tahini, but I'm quite picky about my spread. So many brands (which shall remain nameless) separate into a thick, hard paste with a ton of oil on top. With those brands, stirring is next to impossible, and I typically end up dumping the entire jar in my Vitamix to blend. It's a messy process. But not so with Soom Foods Tahini. I was immediately impressed with the straight-out-of-the-jar creaminess factor. No stirring necessary.

Of course, the regular tahini spread is most versatile, but I was most excited to try the Chocolate Sesame Spread because I'd never heard of such a thing. But it's such a genius idea. It's made with sesame seeds, cocoa, and powdered sugar. That's it! I've tried it in my oats (no pics because my oats weren't so pretty) and on locally made Sesame-topped Dave's Bagels with Fresh Strawberry Slices. What a perfect breakfast!

I also had some on a Lacy Davis-inspired Tahini Banana Snack this afternoon before my yoga class. Banana slices, chocolate sesame spread, trail mix (walnuts, almonds, pepitas, goji berries, & raisins), and hemp seeds. This powered me through an hour-long class until I could eat a proper dinner at Imagine Vegan Cafe.

As for the plain tahini, it's great on waffles, bagels, blended into homemade hummus, stirred into sweet or savory oats, or drizzled over grain/green/bean bowls. It's also fab on this delicious Baked Sweet Potato with Greens and Baked Tofu (another Lacy Davis-inspired meal -- this was a "one rep snax" suggestion from one of her recent Rise & Resist podcasts).

Baked Sweet Potato with Greens and Baked Tofu

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Yields 2 servings

2 large sweet potatoes

1 bunch Swiss chard, stems chopped, leaves torn 

1 clove garlic, minced

Soy sauce to taste

1 package baked tofu (I used Wildwood Teriyaki Tofu)

2 Tbsp. tahini

Cover the sweet potatoes in aluminum foil and bake on 400 degrees for about 40 minutes or until they're easily pierced with a fork.

While the potatoes are baking, fill the bottom of a large skillet with enough water to cover. Bring to heat over medium heat. Add minced garlic, and saute for one minute. Add the chopped stems, and saute for about 5 minutes or until slightly tender. Add the torn leaves, and saute until they begin to wilt. Add soy sauce to taste.

Meanwhile, cube the baked tofu and saute in a skillet with a little non-stick cooking spray until heated through.

Split each potato down the center and lightly mash the insides with a fork. Top each with half the chard and half the tofu. Drizzle each with 1 Tbsp of tahini.