Sesame seed

Used in 3 recipes on RecipeWiki.

Tiny and oil-rich, sesame seeds have a mild nuttiness when raw that turns deep and toasty once heated. They are pressed onto Hand-Rolled Bagels before baking, where the oven toasts them, and scattered over Smashed Cucumber Salad for crunch. In Mole Poblano they are toasted and ground into the sauce, with more sprinkled over the finished dish. Toast them in a dry pan over medium heat, shaking often, until golden and fragrant; they scorch quickly and turn bitter. Because of their oil, they go rancid if kept too long in a warm cupboard, so buy small amounts or keep them in the fridge. Sesame is a common allergen, worth flagging to guests.