Gomasio (Sesame Salt)
It makes EVERYTHING taste better
A good friend had a model working with her. This lovely gal would bring my friend healthy treats and kitchen experiments. One of these creations was a crumbly mixture of ground sesame seeds and sea salt, which we called “Hanna’s Potion.” There was a year that we sprinkled it on almost everything. It wasn’t just that we wanted to be more like Hanna, but this mixture makes pretty much everything taste amazing.
Its actual name is gomasio (or gomashio), which, translates to “sesame salt.” The natural oils in the ground sesame seeds coat the small amounts of salt, amplifying the salty sesame flavours. Although gomasio tastes super savoury, this blend is quite low in salt, so it is ok for people on lower-sodium diets. Thanks to the nutrients found in sesame seeds, gomasio is more mineral-rich than using just sea salt. In Japanese macrobiotic diets, it is used to help balance the body.
Have I mentioned that it’s delicious? Gomasio can be used as a potion to make anything you cook–including the delicious veggies available at this time of year–more savoury. Here are a few of my favourite ways to use it:
Rice & rice bowls, soba noodles: It’s as good on plain rice as your rice/soba bowl creation.
Salads and slaws: This mixture adds incredible flavour and texture to your salads.
Steamed or roasted veggies: Sprinkle some on steamed broccoli, spinach, sweet potatoes, etc.
Tomatoes! My new favourite thing is a dash of gomasio on a tomato sandwich. You could also sprinkle some onto a tomato salad.
Corn: Why not try it on popcorn, or corn on the cob?
Most other recipes on Platypus! Some of note: Spring Veggies with Polenta, Rainbow Veggie Noodle Bowl, Kale and White Bean Salad, or Dream Cauliflower.
While you can buy gomasio ready-made, it’s much better to make it at home. It takes less than ten minutes, and the resulting “potion” is much fresher and better tasting than those store-bought varieties. Here’s the recipe.
Gomasio Recipe
1 cup sesame seeds (you can use white or black sesame seeds, or a mix of both)
1 tsp sea salt
Toast the sesame seeds in a hot pan for five minutes or so, stirring frequently until toasted. Remove from the pan.
Add the seeds and sea salt to a mortar and pestle, blender or small food processor. Pulse (or mix) until most of the seeds are broken up (but make sure some are left intact!). Transfer to a jar and let the mixture cool completely.
Now you have the most delicious condiment ever! For optimal freshness, store in the fridge. Your homemade gomasio will keep fresh for a few weeks.