Toasted Sesame Oil

In Chinese cooking, some oils are used to add flavor when finishing the dish, such as toasted sesame oil and Sichuan peppercorn oil. These oils are not meant for high temperature cooking, instead they are used as a condiment to add flavor. When added to the dish in the wok, they are added at the end of cooking, or just after the heat is turned off, and mixed in by tossing the food. When used with noodles, they are added to the noodles after cooking and draining, but before adding the noodles to the finished stir-fry. Using sesame oil versus toasted sesame oil is a matter of taste. Sesame oil is light in color. Toasted sesame oil is darker in color, and the toasting brings out the nutty flavor in the oil.

Using toasted sesame oil in Chinese cooking

Click here for a full list of our recipes that use toasted sesame oil.

Flavoring noodles

When cooking noodle dishes, like Shrimp Lo Mein, add the toasted sesame oil to the cooked, rinsed, and drained noodles. Add the seasoned noodles at the finishing stage of the stir-fry, tossing to combine.

Final flavoring of stir-fried dishes

Add sesame oil to finish dishes like Beef Tenderloin with Green Peppers, Hot Pepper Chicken (Làzǐ jī, 辣子鸡 ), or Cilantro Stir-fried Potatoes. Thicken the broth, then add the sesame oil, and other ingredients like cilantro, stirring quickly to combine.

Flavoring a marinade

Add sesame oil to the marinade for General Tso’s Chicken with Broccoli. The sesame oil soaks into the raw meat before cooking. These meats are either slippery coated or velveted before the stir-fry stage.

Making an aromatic sauce

Make a sauce containing aromatics, such as garlic, ginger, or chili powder, by pouring hot oil over the aromatics to stimulate their aroma. Stir the oil and aromatics to combine. Then add the sesame oil for flavor, such as for Sichuan Mouth-watering Chicken (口水鸡 Kǒushuǐ Jī).

Buying toasted sesame oil

Most grocery stores and natural food stores carry sesame oil and toasted sesame oil. Be sure to read the label! Some brands list “blended” sesame oil as their ingredient. This means you aren’t getting sesame oil, but a cheaper ingredient mixed with the sesame oil.

Kikkoman sells a pure sesame oil. There are also organic and non-GMO brands available in many natural food stores. Just be sure to check the label.

Our friends at The Mala Market have a traditionally-made roasted sesame oil that uses a 600-year-old process free from the chemical-based processing of many modern products.

Nutritional aspects of toasted sesame oil

The roasting process, especially at high heat in commercial products, can break down the nutrients in sesame oil. The Mala Market claims their producer roasts their oil at lower temperatures, preserving these nutrients.

According to WebMD:

Sesame oil is believed to have some important health benefits, like providing heart-healthy fats, combating inflammation, and protecting skin from sun damage. More research is needed to fully understand the benefits (and the potential risks) that sesame oil offers….

…Sesame oil also contains omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, both of which are polyunsaturated fats. They’re both essential fatty acids that help prevent several diseases, including heart disease and cancer. They also help improve immune function….Sesame oil is full of antioxidants. Along with vitamin E and phytosterols, it contains lignans, sesamol, and sesaminol. These compounds help fight free radicals in your body, which may reduce your risk of developing chronic diseases. 

https://www.webmd.com/diet/sesame-oil-good-for-you

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