Sesame Seeds

Sesame seeds come in white and black. White sesame seeds, more popular than the black variety, are lightly toasted and ground into a coarse flaky paste. Unlike classic mortars with smooth walls, a Japanese mortar and pestle called a suribachi has grooves along the inside of the mortar that make it perfect for grinding small seeds. Lacking a suribachi, grind toasted sesame seeds in a coffee grinder. Freshly made sesame seed paste is used as a thickener and flavoring in dipping sauces and salad sauces. Commercially made sesame paste is not an adequate substitute for freshly ground seeds.