Sesame: calorie content and useful properties of the ancient culture, who should not eat the product. Features of using the plant in cooking - the best recipes. To get the most out of sesame seeds, they should be eaten raw or slightly warmed. It is even better if the seeds are pre-soaked. With long heat treatment, for example, frying, sesame will turn from a useful product into nothing more than a fragrant seasoning.
Harm and contraindications to the use of sesame seeds
Unfortunately, even such a useful product as sesame can harm the body if it is eaten incorrectly and / or in the presence of certain diseases.
Recommendations for the use of sesame, which must be followed by every person:
- Seeds should not be eaten on an empty stomach, this can lead to thirst, nausea and other gastrointestinal discomfort.
- Do not abuse the product - the daily dose should not exceed 2-3 teaspoons. Overeating may cause dizziness and general ailments.
- You should use sesame seeds with caution in the presence of chronic diseases: if you suffer from this or that disease, check with your doctor if you can eat this product.
At the same time, there is also a group of people for whom sesame is, in principle, contraindicated: these are patients suffering from urolithiasis, bleeding disorders, varicose veins, and severe gastrointestinal diseases.
Also, an individual intolerance to the components is a contraindication: if after eating sesame seeds you feel unwell, most likely you are allergic to this product. However, it should be noted that the reaction to this culture is rare.
There is a contradictory opinion among doctors regarding the use of sesame seeds by pregnant women. On the one hand, it is believed that a large amount of calcium in the product has a positive effect on the fetus, on the other hand, the seeds have an effect on hormonal levels and can lead to uterine contractions and miscarriage.
Sesame recipes
Sesame is used in cooking either as a seasoning, in which case grains are used - thermally processed and not, or as an oil made from seeds and used as a dressing for salads, cereals, etc. However, oil is still more often used for medicinal and cosmetic purposes, and grains - in cooking.
Sesame seeds are one of the most ancient spices. In Ancient Egypt, flour was made from them, in Babylon, grains were added to pies, in Rome they made a spicy paste from sesame seeds and cumin. A useful seasoning is still relevant today. It is added literally everywhere in soups, meat and fish dishes, pastries, salads, sauces. In our country, sesame is mainly used to see on buns, and many also love kozinaki and halva made from these seeds. However, using sesame seeds in everyday recipes is a great opportunity to make dishes not only healthier, but also tastier. So we recommend that all housewives use this seasoning more often. Here are some interesting recipes with her:
- Pumpkin soup with sesame seeds … In a saucepan, fry a little garlic (2 cloves), add grated carrots (1 piece), finely chopped onions (1 head) and celery (half a small stalk). Pass for 5-7 minutes. Add diced pumpkin (400 grams), simmer all together for a couple of minutes. Pour in water or broth so that the liquid slightly covers the vegetables, and cook until the pumpkin is cooked for 20-30 minutes. Cool the soup a little, add salt and pepper, beat with a blender. Pour it into bowls, sprinkle each serving with sesame seeds on top. Eating such a soup is great with herbs and croutons.
- Turkey with teriyaki sauce and sesame seeds … Cut the turkey fillet (500 grams) into large cubes, fry over high heat until golden brown. Reduce heat, add to the meat onions (1 head), cut into half rings, and bell pepper (1 piece), cut into thin strips. Simmer for a couple of minutes and add chopped garlic (2 cloves) and teriyaki sauce (100 grams) - it is sold in any major supermarket, in a pinch, you can replace it with soy sauce. Simmer for another 20 minutes. Add honey (1 teaspoon) and sesame seeds (2 tablespoons), mix thoroughly, turn off the heat. This dish is best served with rice.
- Trout in sesame … Remove the trout fillet (500 grams) from the skin, cut into large cubes and place in a bowl. Add sesame seeds (40 grams), then soy sauce (30 ml). Mix thoroughly, let stand for 5-10 minutes. Preheat a skillet, fry the fish in vegetable oil until golden brown and turn off the heat. Cut the zucchini (600 grams) into small cubes, fry in vegetable oil for 5-7 minutes, add the zest (1 teaspoon) and lemon juice (20 ml), as well as salt and pepper, cook for another 1-2 minutes. Add green onions (50 grams), pour in cream (100 ml), simmer for 2-3 minutes, turn off the heat. Wait 5-7 minutes - the sauce thickens slightly. Now take the plates, put the zucchini on them, and on top the salmon cubes in sesame seeds.
- Vegetable salad with soy sesame dressing … Cut the cucumbers (2 pieces) and carrots (1 piece) with a vegetable peeler - you should get long, thin slices. Prepare the dressing: pour soy sauce (50 ml), vegetable oil (50 ml) into a saucepan, add honey (1 teaspoon) and heat the mixture until the latter dissolves. Remove from heat, add ground paprika and ginger (pinch each), minced garlic (1-2 cloves), lemon juice (1 tablespoon). Transfer the prepared vegetables to a bowl, pour over the dressing. After half an hour, you can eat the salad.
- Sesame Kozinaki … Mix sugar (3 cups), water (0.5 cups), lemon juice (1 tablespoon). Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Then cover the pot with a lid and cook for 3-4 minutes. Remove the lid and boil the syrup until it is called a “soft ball,” when the bubbles on its surface begin to get larger and slower to burst. Add sesame seeds (1, 5 cups), stir. Now stirring constantly, cook the mixture until the sugar begins to brown and the characteristic caramel smell appears. It should take about 20 minutes. Remove mixture from heat, add oil (2 tablespoons), vanilla (1 teaspoon), salt (1 teaspoon) and baking soda (1.5 teaspoon). Mix everything thoroughly, pour the mixture into the mold, let it harden at room temperature. After hardening, break the kozinaki into pieces and eat.
- Tahini or tahini … Dry the sesame seeds (100 grams) in the oven for 8-10 minutes - it should turn slightly golden. Pour the seeds into a blender and beat until thick sour cream, gradually adding oil (about 30-40 ml) - sesame, nut, olive, or at worst vegetable. The resulting sauce can be spread on bread or flat cakes, or can be used as a dressing and additive to various dishes.
As you can see, the range of application of sesame is really great - first, second courses, desserts, sauces. The seasoning is in perfect harmony with a variety of foods and spices. Just find the perfect recipe for your taste and let the healthiest seeds become a permanent part of your diet.
Interesting Sesame Facts
Sesame in Western Europe is called "sesame", and the phrase "Sesame, open" is directly related to this product. Sesame pods open with a rather loud crack at the slightest touch, and therefore the author of the fairy tale about Ali Baba, who used the spell "Sesame, open" in order to get inside the cave with treasures, wanted to create an allusion with easily swinging plant pods. In the Russian translation, the phrase sounds "Sim-sim, open up", and this is also the correct interpretation, since sesame is called "sim-sim" in Arab countries.
Sesame producers have noticed an interesting psychological aspect. Buyers are willing to pay more for a package of seeds of the same color, mistakenly believing that if the seeds do not differ in color, the product is of better quality. In reality, the sesame crop of one variety contains seeds of different colors, and it does not affect the quality in any way. However, using the discovered phenomenon, manufacturers began to use machine color sorting of seeds and were able to raise the price of the product.
In Antiquity, sesame was treated very respectfully, from it, as we have already said, they tried to make an elixir of immortality, but the product was also considered the food of the gods. There was a myth according to which, before the creation of the world, the gods drank nectar from sesame seeds. Thanks to antioxidants, sesame oil can store useful substances and not deteriorate for 9 years.
Watch a video about sesame:
Sesame is a healthy product and a delicious seasoning. You don't often see him in Russian kitchens, and it's a pity. The spice makes the taste of the dish richer, and its appearance more attractive and appetizing. And the benefits increase significantly! So, the next time you look into the supermarket, do not forget to grab a bag of sesame seeds from the shelf.
