Sesame is the dried, oval-shaped, flat seed of the herb Sesamum Indicum. Commonly used in breads, rolls, crackers and salad dressings, sesame has a sweet, nutty aroma and a buttery taste.
When toasted, sesame intensifies to an almost almond or peanut butter-like flavor. It's a key ingredient in a variety of world cuisines, including specialty dishes from Asia, the Middle East and the Mediterranean.
History
Thought to be one of the oldest spices known to man, sesame is the first recorded seasoning, dating back to 3000 B.C. Assyria. It was cultivated in Mesopotamia, popular in Greek and Roman cuisine, and eventually brought to the Americas as part of the slave trade. The Africans called it benne seed and it subsequently became very popular in Southern cooking.
Sesame seed can be found in the spice aisle at the supermarket and also at natural food stores and Middle Eastern markets, where it's often sold in bulk. The most common variety is a pale, grayish-ivory color, but it also comes in shades of brown, red and black. A favorite of Japanese cooks, black sesame is the most aromatic, with a hearty, slightly bitter flavor.
All seeds have a relatively high oil content, so they turn rancid quickly. Store your sesame seeds in an airtight container in a cool, dark place for up to three months. Refrigerated, they will keep for up to six months. Sesame seeds can also be frozen up to one year.
Sesame seeds are a good source of protein, manganese, copper, calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorous, vitamin B1, zinc and fiber.
Try one of our favorite sesame seed recipes:
Sesame Scallops
Steve's Chicken Stir Fry
French Beans with Sesame Dressing
Pairing Suggestions
asparagus, beef
View BigOven's sesame-seeds recipes