Natural Sesame Seeds
Tiny seeds with a delicious crunch! Natural sesame seeds bring a mild, nutty flavor and satisfying texture to your cooking. Toasting them brings out an even richer aroma and taste.
Uses
Sprinkle over breads, bagels, salads, rice, noodles, and stir-fries. They’re also delicious on roasted vegetables or pressed onto fish before cooking. For extra flavor, toast in a dry skillet over medium-low heat, stirring frequently until fragrant.
From the Colonel
This is the oldest recorded spice. The Assyrians were using it in 3000 BC. The seeds come from the pods of a medium sized plant with either white or pink flowers. The color of the flower determines the color of the seed. Seeds are white (or gray ivory), or black. The brown variety is simply the white variety without the hull removed. We can thank the early African slaves for introducing it into our cuisine. Their name for the seeds was benne (behn nee) seeds. This is why they are more popular in southern dishes. With its warm nutty taste, this is a great old spice.
Two Quick Recipes
Sesame Cucumber Salad
Toss 2 cups thinly sliced cucumber with 1 tablespoon rice vinegar, 1 teaspoon soy sauce, and 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil. Add 1 tablespoon toasted natural sesame seeds, toss again, and let stand for 5 minutes before serving.
Sesame Roasted Broccoli
Toss 1 pound broccoli florets with 1 tablespoon olive oil and salt and pepper to taste. Roast at 425°F for 15 minutes. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon natural sesame seeds, toss, and roast for another 5–7 minutes, until the broccoli is tender and the seeds are fragrant.