Toasted Sesame Seed

Toasted sesame seeds are small, oval seeds with a warm golden-brown hue. Toasting intensifies their nutty, tahini-like flavor and releases aromatic oils; the texture is crisp and gently crunchy. Sprinkle over noodles, rice, salads, and breads, fold into dressings and slaws, or grind for rubs and furikake; sold hulled or unhulled, and sometimes pre-seasoned with salt.

Sesame is among the oldest oilseeds, domesticated in South Asia and spread across the Middle East, Africa, and East Asia. Toasting became a routine flavor step in Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Middle Eastern, and Mediterranean cooking, where seeds are pan-toasted or roasted before use.