‘Open Sesame’
and
this nutritious and uniquely flavoured oil will be revealed to you. Sesame
oil is of vegetable origin. The sesame seeds pop open
when ripe almost as if they have been ordered to by Ali Baba’s command.
The oil is obtained from the
seeds by pressing.
THERE ARE TWO TYPES
OF SESAME OIL
One uses roasted seeds to
produce dark oil with an extremely strong flavour. This version of the oil is
widely used to give added flavour to Chinese and Asian dishes. A few drops will give a
strong flavour of sesame. This oil is hot pressed.
The other version is cold
pressed and uses unroasted seeds to make a well flavoured, but much
lighter oil.
a) It is important to note
that the amber coloured aromatic oil made from pressed and roasted sesame
seeds, while a popular ingredient in Chinese cuisine, is not for use as
cooking oil as the flavour is too intense and it burns easily.
It can be used in marinades,
salad dressings or in the final stages of cooking. Recipes often call for a few
drops of this oil to be drizzled on a dish before serving.
b) The non-roasted sesame
oil, sometimes found in supermarkets, is not a good substitute for use in
Oriental cooking. The lighter oil is found in
Indian cooking, while Asian countries prefer the darker variety.
The lighter oil is excellent
for everything from salad dressing to sautéing. It has a high smoke point
of about 420ºF (215ºC).
STORAGE
Sesame oil will keep for
several months if stored in a cool dry place. If stored correctly it is
not likely to go rancid.
HEALTH PROPERTIES
Sesame oil is found in
holistic preparations for everything from treating infections to
stimulating brain activity.
It is low in saturated fats
and may lower blood pressure. It is rich in mono- and
polyunsaturated fats. Like olive oil, sesame oil
is considered good for lowering bad cholesterol levels.
It is rich in vitamins A, B
and E, as well as the minerals iron, calcium, magnesium and others.
It contains linoleic acid,
which has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects.
It also contains
lecithin and this may explain why it benefits the brain and nervous
system.
Sesame oil contains two
unique chemicals, sesamol and sesamin. They are very powerful
antioxidants.
White seeds produce the most
oil, but in India they say the best oil for healing is extracted from
black sesame seeds. (See glossary of
definitions.)
Used regularly, sesame oil
is considered excellent for reducing stress and tension, nourishing the
nervous system and preventing nervous disorders, relieving fatigue and
insomnia and promoting strength and vitality.
So remember to ‘Open
Sesame’ and enjoy the benefits of this highly nutritious and flavourful
oil.
