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Black and white sesame

Open Sesame!

If you’ve heard of the story of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, you’ve come across the magic words “Open Sesame!” These two words open the mouth of the cave that held treasures beyond anyone’s imagination. which brings us to the magic seeds called sesame . . .

Sesame is the oldest oilseed crop in all of man’s history. Sesame has several varieties, most of them wild. Their origins can be traced all around the world, from the wild species in Africa’s Saharan desert to the cultivated variety in India.

Charred remains have been found in archeological excavations as far back as 3500 B.C.E., and reports have surfaced of sesame trading in Mesopotamia and the Indian sub-continent as early as 2000 B.C.E.

The early origins of sesame suggest that it was favored for its ability to grow in areas that cannot support other types of crops. Sesame is robust and needs very little support in farming. It grows during high heat and drought season, and still retains residual moisture in soil at the end of monsoon season, which makes it an ideal crop for any weather condition. Its historical origins brand it as a true survivor crop

Sesame has one of the highest oil content of any seed—over 50% oil content compared to soybean’s 20%. It is one of the more stable oils and has a long shelf life due to the high levels of antioxidants such as sesamin, sesamol, and sesamolin. The oil extracted from sesame is widely used for cooking, for margarine, and salad oils.

It is rich in Omega 6 fatty acids and in protein. After the oil is extracted from the seeds, the hull is used to make flour called sesame meal, which has 35 to 50% protein, wonderful for poultry and livestock feed. Sesame has so many uses it is no wonder that it has been practically indispensable throughout man’s history.Sesame oil

One perfect partner that I have for my salad is roasted sesame dressing. I strongly recommend the roasted sesame dressing made by the popular, well-established Japanese Kewpie brand. Its rich characteristic aroma and taste give the humble leafy greens an extra punch. Add some shredded Japanese crab sticks, diced mangoes, slices of cucumber, and carrots. If you want to tickle your palate even further, add a teaspoon or two of flying fish roe.

You can also make your very own simple and delicious salad dressing:

Ingredients

5 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
2 teaspoon soy sauce
1-2 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1  teaspoon whole black sesame seeds
2 tablespoons ground white sesame seeds
2 teaspoon sesame oil

Mix all ingredients together in bowl and dress your salad. Enjoy!

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Read all about Japanese immersion learning and studying abroad. Check out our eZasshi archives for more articles!