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Sesame seeds origins uses recipes
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Origin and History
Whilst mostly grown in
India and the Far East nowadays, it is thought to have originated in Africa.
Evidence of the use of sesame seeds for oil and wine dates back to 3000 BC
as archeological excavations throughout the Middle East have revealed,
and the Chinese were using the oil for fuel and for making ink (by way of the
soot) as far back as 5000 years ago. Cooking wise,
paintings in ancient Egyptian tombs
dating back 4,000 years show bakers sprinkling
sesame seeds into dough, but it wasn’t until the 1st Century AD that
Europeans came across it, at which
time they were imported from India. They are mentioned by Apicius,
a cookery book writer during the Roman era, and the ancient Romans used to
grind them together with Cumin seeds to make a spread for bread amongst other
things.
They were introduced
to America by West African slaves (they called then Benne) and during the 17th
and 18th centuries slave traders running
slave ships to the Southern States and the Caribbean
considered them good luck and added them into many dishes which are still
used in Southern US cuisine.
Cultivation and Processing
During the natural
maturing process, the fragile pods actually burst, scattering the seeds and
although some hybrid varieties have been developed which are more robust
enabling them to be harvested by machine, most harvesting is still done by hand
before the pods fully ripen. The
plant stalks are cut and then
shaken over a cloth to catch the seeds. The seeds come in a variety of colours depending on the variety, including browns, red, black, yellow and ivory and once harvested some are hulled and some are just cleaned. The darker seeds are said to have the most flavour.
For the sake of completeness, we must make mention of Sesame Oil which is obtained from the seeds by a cold pressing process. It has a distinctive nutty flavour is a must in oriental cooking and excellent in dressings. However, beware, it has quite a strong flavour and should be used sparingly until you are used to its strength. It has the added benefit of being low in cholesterol.
Buying
and Storage Sesame seeds have a
high oil content and can quickly become rancid to it's best to buy them in small
amounts and use them relatively quickly. Seeds should be kept in an airtight
container in a cool, dry place and will last
up to three months however, if refrigerated, they will last up to six
months or up to one year if frozen. Sesame
Seed in cooking Sesame seeds have a
slightly sweet nutty flavour which is enhanced by toasting. To toast sesame seeds, spread seeds on a baking sheet and
toast in an oven which has been preheated to 180C, 350F, Gas mark 4 for 15-20
minutes, turning several times during the period. You can also toast them in a
dry frying pan which will only take a few minutes. Shake the pan to toss the
seeds from time to time. They are used in many
cuisines worldwide in both sweet and savoury dishes including Chinese,
Japanese, Middle Eastern, South American,
African and West Asian cooking. Oh,
and not forgetting anywhere that sells hamburgers. It’s almost
impossible to get a hamburger bun without sesame seeds sprinkled on top. They go particularly well
with chicken and other meats , sprinkled
over bread rolls, biscuits and pastries as a garnish before baking and toasted
sprinkled over salads, vegetables and stir-fries.
Below is a selection of savoury and sweet dishes using both the seeds and the oil. More recipes can be found using the search form. Happy Cooking!
Starters and Party Food Mini Cheese Croquettes Veg HT PFC 15mins plus chilling Fried Goats Cheese with Caramelised Pears Veg HT HD 20mins Prawn Toasts HT Chinese HD 20mins Sesame Asparagus Veg HT HD 20mins Spicy Wrapped Meatballs HT HD PFC Moroccan 40mins Glazed Spare Ribs HT HD Chinese 50mins plus marination
Main Courses Tofu with Satay Sauce and Noodles Veg HT MC Japanese 15mins Bul-Kogi (Beef) HT MC BBQ Korean 20mins plus marinating Wrapped Steamed Halibut HT MC 20mins Squid with Black Bean Sauce HT MC Chinese 25mins Sesame Pork Kebabs HT MC 35mins Chicken Mole Poblano HT MC Mexican 80mins Grilled Miso Chicken HT MC Japanese 90mins
Accompaniments Homemade Tahini Veg CD Condiment M Eastern 5mins Oriental Barbecue Marinade Veg CD BBQ ACC 5mins Saffron Sauce for Vegetables Veg CD ACC 10mins Brussels Sprouts with Sesame Veg HT ACC 20mins Garlic Asparagus with Ginger Veg HT ACC 25mins Stir-Fried Noodles HT ACC 25mins Szechuan Aubergine Veg HT Chinese ACC 30mins Beetroot Paratha Veg HT ACC Pakistani Indian 60mins
Desserts and Baked Fayre Chocolate Sesame Tart Veg CD DP 50mins plus chilling Caramel Apples or Bananas Veg HT DP Chinese 40mins Cherry Biscuits Veg CD CBF 55mins Sesame Raisin Biscuits Veg CD CBF 55mins Sesame Bread Veg CD CBF 70mins plus proving
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Sesame
seeds, also called benne seeds, come from the plant Sesamum indicum
The
sesame plant is an
