Buy black sesame seeds from supermarkets’ speciality sections, or Japanese and Chinese grocers.

Store away from direct sunlight or moisture, which will cause the seeds to form lumps. Dry-roasting black sesame seeds will help to improve their shelf life.

Black sesame seeds are used in Japanese and Chinese cookery to flavour salads, tofu, dressings, dipping sauces, cakes, biscuits, confectionery, desserts, ice creams and drinks. The Japanese dry-roast them lightly before use, then combine them with salt and use the mixture as a popular table condiment called goma-shio (‘sesame salt’), which is sprinkled over rice.

Miso vegetable ramen

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Miso vegetable ramen

Roast duck with sausage rolls, greens and spiced cherries

Hot smoked salmon, baked wasabi mushrooms and black rice

Gochujang chicken rice bowl

Simple sushi

Hoisin duck 'sausage' rolls

Gochujang prawn cocktail with pickled cucumber

Chickpea flatbreads with tasty toppings

Fried aubergine, cucumber, spring onion, white miso dressing

Spelt-battered pollock with satay sauce and pickled cucumber

Chicken bao

Korean seafood stir fry with kimchi rice

Ham and cheese crown

Vegetable bibimbap

Moroccan carrot

Seared scallops with avocado purée, marinated cucumber, mushrooms and potato crisps

Ramen burgers with gochujang sauce and kimchi slaw

Japanese-style mushroom broth with yuzu grilled prawns

General Tso’s tofu with ginger and sesame daikon

Radish and sesame soy noodle salad

Yaki udon noodles

Ultimate Korean fried chicken with pickled radish

White radish salad (Sangchae)

Mushroom noodle soup with smoked tofu

Buyer's guide

Storage

Preparation

Other seeds

Caraway seeds

Celery seeds

Chia seeds

Coriander seeds

Fennel seeds

Flaxseed

Melon seeds

Mustard seeds

Pine nut

Poppy seeds

Pumpkin seed

Sesame seeds

Sunflower seed

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