My first introduction to sesame seeds as a child was on a hamburger bun, a big mac to be exact. "Two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, on a sesame seeded bun!" Didn't know any other use for sesame seeds then sitting on top of a burger bun. I also didn't care for the taste of the seeds by themselves.
Who knew that these tiny white seeds contain beneficial sources of vitamins and minerals such as: Copper, Zinc, Selenium, Calcium, and Magnesium to name a few.
The sesame plant is native to East Africa and India, but is currently grown in many places around the world. The plant produces two products that I am very fond of, one is sesame oil, and the other is raw tahini (sesame seed butter).
Sesame oil is great to cook with, keep in mind it has a slight nutty sesame flavor, so choose wisely on the food combinations when cooking. Sesame oil is my number one go to for sautéing vegetables and making salad dressings. I find it lighter than olive oil for dressings, as it doesn't separate as quickly as other oils.
A way to use sesame seed oil out side of the kitchen is in the bathroom for oral health. There is documentation that sesame seed oil (Ayurvedic Medicine) has been used for centuries in India for oil pulling (swishing oil in the mouth), proven to prevent tooth decay, bleeding gums, and dry mouth.
So if your interested in trying a little sesame oil, a quick and easy way to incorporate it into your diet is to add it to dressings, soups, vegetable sauté's and stir- fry's; it will give a boost of flavor to any dish.
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