Sesame Seeds

Originally from Africa, the unassuming sesame seed is used in the cooking of a surprisingly diverse number of cuisines across the globe. In Sicily, for instance, sesame seeds are sprinkled over sweet and savoury pastries and breads before baking, while in the Middle East they are ground into the thick, creamy paste known as tahini or used to make the sweetmeat, halvah. In Japan, gomashio — made by grinding sesame seeds with salt — is a popular condiment, and the distinctive toasted sesame oil is often drizzled over East Asian dishes at the end of cooking.