Sesame Seed

Sesame seeds add nutty flavor and texture to various dishes.

Flavor

How to use it

Crunchy Topping. Sesame seeds add crunch to breads; toasting their lignans creates nutty aromas.

Tahini Time. Grinding seeds allows oils to emulsify into tahini's creamy texture.

Common mistakes

• Untoasted seeds miss out on Maillard flavor complexity.
• Bitterness comes from over-toasting or stale seeds.

What goes with sesame seed

• Soy Sauce. Soy sauce brings umami and highlights sesame's nuttiness.
• Miso. Nutty sesame softens miso's salty fermented edge.
• Radish. Sesame seeds add nutty crunch to radish's peppery bite.
• Rice. Sesame seeds add nutty crunch over soft rice.
• Salmon. Sesame seeds add nutty crunch to rich salmon.
• Salt. Salt and toasted sesame make gomasio, a nutty savory seasoning.
• Sesame Oil. Sesame seed and its toasted oil share the same toasty, nutty aroma compounds.
• Shrimp. Sesame seeds add nutty crunch to shrimp's sweet brine.

Try tonight

• Enhance stir fry with sesame seeds.
• Mix tahini into a salad dressing.
• Top a bagel with sesame seeds.

Storage

Store in a cool, dark place in an airtight container.