Use Of Sesame In Chinese Cuisine

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Video: Use Of Sesame In Chinese Cuisine

Video: Use Of Sesame In Chinese Cuisine
Video: Sesame Noodles from A to Z: An Elementary Course in Chinese Cuisine 2024, November
Use Of Sesame In Chinese Cuisine
Use Of Sesame In Chinese Cuisine
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Sesame is one of the oldest seeds known to man. The first written records of sesame date back to 3000 BC. According to Assyrian mythology, the gods devoured sesame seed wine the night before they created the earth.

The Babylonians used sesame oil, and the Egyptians grew it to make flour. The ancient Persians used sesame as food and medicine.

It is not clear when sesame first found its way to China. Some sources claim that the Chinese used sesame oil in their lamps as far back as 5,000 years ago.

It is probably true that the ancients first used the sesame plant to provide this oil, and only later discovered its value as food.

Today toasted sesame seeds are sprinkled on salads, added to sauces for meat, pizza, spaghetti. And the fragrant sesame oil is used to flavor everything. Here's what we need to know about the use of sesame in Chinese cuisine.

Sesame oil

Sesame oil is widely used
Sesame oil is widely used

This amber aromatic oil made from pressed and toasted sesame seeds only confirms frequent use of sesame in Chinese cuisine. It is not used as a cooking oil, as the taste is too intense and burns quite easily. Rather, it is added to marinades, salad dressings or in the final stages of cooking. Recipes often require a few drops of sesame oil to be sprayed on a dish just before serving.

In addition to being used in cooking, sesame oil is found in preparations for everything from treating infections to stimulating brain activity. It is also believed to contain antioxidants.

Sesame tahini

Sesame tahini is widely used
Sesame tahini is widely used

It is impossible to describe the rich aroma and taste of sesame paste. In color and texture, it resembles peanut butter, which is often recommended as a substitute.

After opening, sesame paste should be stored in the refrigerator, where it will last several months. It should be borne in mind that sesame paste is quite high in calories - almost 200 in three tablespoons. On the other hand, recipes usually require only a few teaspoons.

Sesame

Sesame candies
Sesame candies

Sesame seeds are included in many Asian recipes. They also play an important role in Japanese cuisine with vegetarian recipes. A in China sesame is used for flavoring cakes, biscuits and popular desserts such as sesame balls and fried desserts. You can also find them in savory dishes.

Both black and white sesame seeds are used in Chinese cuisine. The third type of beige colored sesame seeds are not so popular. Like sesame oil, white sesame seeds have a pleasant taste, while black sesame seeds are more bitter.

White sesame seeds are almost always toasted before use. There are different opinions about the value of roasting black sesame seeds, as this can emphasize the bitter taste - let your taste buds decide.

As sesame seeds contain a high percentage of oils, it is best to store them in the refrigerator if you plan to keep them for more than two or three months. Otherwise, they can be stored in a covered jar at room temperature. In any case, check and make sure that they do not smell rancid before using them.

Sesame seeds are high in minerals and contain two proteins that are not normally found in other plant proteins. For people with a milk allergy, sesame provides an alternative source of calcium.

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