How to Cook With Sesame Oil

Sesame oil is produced from sesame seeds. It has historically and traditionally been a cooking oil used in many Asian and Indian cultures. Various varieties exist, and the oil has grown vastly in popularity in the United States because of the health benefits. The oil contains polysaturated fats that help lower cholesterol and blood pressure. There are two types of sesame oil--light and dark. The dark has a stronger flavor and color. Sesame oil is used more as a finishing oil in stir-fries than as a cooking oil, and the following step-by-step guide will help you successfully utilize the oil in your cooking.

Things You'll Need

• Recipe for a dish that calls for sesame oil or a stir fry Light or dark sesame oil

Instructions

1. Find a recipe that uses sesame oil (see Resources). Most of these recipes are Asian dishes and will have you mixing the sesame oil with other ingredients to distribute various flavors.

2. Mix the sesame oil in a bowl with the other ingredients that the recipe calls for. For example, try the Korean barbecue dish Bulgogi from The Perfect Pantry website (see Resources).

3. Add the soy mixture with sesame oil into your main dish and stir. For this particular recipe, it's okay that the sesame oil is cooked during the whole duration of the barbecue because it is mixed with other sauces and won't end up overpowering the flavor of the dish.

4. Cook using a frying pan or skillet and make sure to not overcook the sesame oil mixture. You'll know the oil is overcooked in any dish when there's a burnt smell coming from the oil and it will start to look thick and scorched.

5. Add fresh basil to the stir-fried dish when it closed to being finished cooking. Basil complements the flavor of the sesame oil and is often used.

Tips & Warnings

• Use darker oils more as finishing oils to add flavor or for flavoring salads. Use lighter oils more for stir-frying.

References

• Sesame Oil

Resources

• Recipes Including Sesame Oil
• Bulgogi Recipe