Sesame Seeds: Tips, Health Benefits And Recipes

They are on salads, on desserts, on breads and even in crackers.  They are the main constituent of tahini and are a crown on top of delicious Asian dishes. Yes, we are talking about sesame seeds.  Besides being versatile and crunchy, sesame seeds are little kernels packed with amazing nutritional benefits. They are derived from the sesame plant and grow inside pods.

These seeds are widely grown across India and companies like HL Agro are known for their bulk production of these seeds every year, putting India right on the top of exporters of sesame seeds in the world. Let’s know more about them.

Sesame Seed Power

• Sesame seeds are loaded with calcium and iron and about 2 tablespoons of these seeds contain about 100 calories.  They have 3 grams of protein, 2 grams of dietary fiber and 8 grams of fat. 

• They are loaded with many kinds of nutrients and minerals including phosphorus, magnesium, copper, tryptophan, zinc and selenium etc. They are also an excellent source of Vitamin B1.

• What makes these seeds even more beneficial for the human health is the fact that they contain fibers called sesamol and sesamin which can protect the liver from damage and also lower cholesterol levels.

• They are laden with antioxidants and also with amino acids.

Sesame Seed Tips

• While it is true that most people like sesame seeds in their toasted form, it is not necessary to toast them before using them in recipes.  But if you wish to toast them anyhow, all you need to do is to spread them in an even layer in a non stick frying pan and put the stove on medium heat. Stir them continuously until golden brown and till they start popping.  Let them cool.

• As far as storing them is concerned, don’t put them in a contained right away. Wait till they cool completely and them put them in a container that is air-tight.

Sesame Seed Recipes And Dishes

• There are many popular and easy to make recipes which incorporate sesame seeds-both the black and white varieties. The most famous recipe which uses them is tahini sauce or dip which is mostly made in Middle Eastern countries.

• You can also make herbed chickpea with sesame crackers as this comes out to be a brilliant combination of textures, tastes and flavours.

• You can sprinkle white sesame seeds on top of salads and on example of such a salad is roasted beets and greens with sesame oil and sesame seeds.

• Even Asian slaw salad with miso ginger dressing can consist of black sesame as the sprinkle on top.