Toasted Sesame Seed Applications
For such a tiny ingredient, the sesame seed certainly packs a powerful punch. Full of healthy fats, protein, calcium, antioxidants, and fiber, they are an easy way to sprinkle nutritional elements into a variety of dishes.
Many believed that the only use of sesame seeds was a component of hummus, but not anymore. Today, consumers are finding roasted sesame seeds in a wide range of sweet and savory dishes.
Sauces
Chefs often pair tahini with lemon, and a tahini-lemon salad dressing provides an excellent boost to many summer salads. Korean style sesame sauce is as simple as crushing the seeds and adding sugar and vinegar. Cooks enjoy Garlic sesame sauce over stir-fried snap peas. Sesame seed sauce is perfect as a dip for raw vegetables, a salad dressing or a sauce for noodles and ravioli.
Snacks
As consumers focus energy on healthy choices between meals, sesame seeds are gaining more popularity. They are full of monounsaturated fatty acids called oleic acid, which means they help lower bad cholesterol and raise good cholesterol. The healthy generations are reaching for sesame sticks or crunchy sesame chips, both of which can include turmeric and beet powder, known for their health benefits, as well.
Sweet Endings
Inspired by the toasted sesame seed’s nutritious component as well as their popularity, restaurants are adding the tiny treats to their dessert menus. Sesame cheesecake is turning traditional cheesecake on its head. Laced with orange and cinnamon, it has consumers requesting more sesame seed desserts. Sesame Kaak is a semi-sweet Lebanese bread ring people are enjoying with tea in the afternoon. Jewish bakeries are seeing more requests for babas, a date biscuit topped with crunchy sesame seeds.
The variety of savory or sweet offerings made with roasted sesame seeds appears to be more than a passing phase. Once enjoyed, consumers are looking for their new favorite ingredient to pop up in dishes everywhere.