How to Roast Sesame Seeds

Toasted sesame seeds can be used in many recipes, sprinkled on top of all dishes to add flavor and crunch. Roasting raw sesame seeds is very simple and fast, just pay attention to avoid burning.

Table of Contents

Quick roast

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Roast on the stove. If you do not see dirt or small grit mixed in with the sesame seeds, you can put the sesame directly into the pan. Roast the sesame seeds over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally; Roast for two to three minutes or until the sesame seeds are brown, shiny, and sometimes crackle or pop. ^{[1] XResearch Source}

Do not add oil to the pan.
To make sesame seeds more nutty, you should try the method of roasting thoroughly for a longer period of time.

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Roast sesame seeds. Another alternative is to preheat the oven to 175ºC and flatten the sesame seeds on an unoiled baking tray. Bake until the sesame seeds are lightly browned, shaking the baking tray gently every few minutes to distribute the heat more evenly. ^{[2] XResearch Source} This usually takes about 8 to 15 minutes, depending on the thickness of the sesame seed layer.

Use a high-sided baking tray to prevent spills.
Sesame seeds can burn very quickly if the temperature is too high. You should stay in the kitchen and don’t forget to check the sesame seeds regularly.

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Cool the sesame seeds. When the sesame seeds have finished toasting using either method, place the sesame seeds in a cold baking tray and wait for the sesame seeds to cool down to room temperature. Sesame seeds placed on a metal surface will cool faster than when using a plastic or glass surface.

Roast thoroughly

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Choose shelled or unshelled raw sesame seeds. Unshelled sesame seeds have a hard, opaque shell that ranges in color from white to black. Sesame seeds have been shelled with only the kernel and are always white, almost translucent and glossy. ^{[3] XSource of Research} You can bake any type of seed, but unshelled seeds are crispier and have a slightly different taste. Unshelled sesame seeds contain more calcium but are slightly more difficult to digest unless crushed, and this way retains the nutritional value. ^{[4] XResearch Sources}

Although you can soak unshelled sesame seeds overnight, then peel them by hand, this process is labor intensive and is rarely done at home. Both types of sesame seeds are sold in markets and supermarkets.

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Wash sesame seeds. Wash the sesame seeds with a sieve with a small hole under the tap until the water is clear. If there are sesame seeds harvested right in the garden or the washing water is quite dirty, you need to stir the sesame seeds in the bowl for a few minutes, then let it stand. Remove the dirt that floats to the surface and the grit that sinks to the bottom. ^{[5] XResearch Sources}

Washing will not affect the nutrition in sesame seeds. Some people even like to soak sesame seeds overnight to let them germinate, which improves the digestion of certain nutrients. ^{[6] XResearch Source} However, germinated sesame seeds are often eaten raw rather than baked.

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Roast the sesame seeds over high heat until dry. Put the washed sesame seeds in a dry pan over high heat. Stir the sesame seeds from time to time with a wooden spoon but keep an eye on them as they are very easy to burn when roasted over high heat. This step usually takes about 10 minutes. When the sesame seeds are dry, you will feel and hear a different sound while stirring, on the pan there will be no water at this time. ^{[7] XResearch Sources}

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Turn the stove down to medium heat. Continue to stir the sesame seeds for another 7 or 8 minutes. When finished roasting, the sesame seeds will be light brown, shiny, and some seeds will crack or bounce in the pan. ^{[8] XResearch Sources}

Take a few sesame seeds with a spoon and squeeze them with two fingers. Roasted sesame seeds can be pulverized and have a more nutty flavor than raw sesame seeds.

Use roasted sesame seeds

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Sprinkle over finished dishes. Sesame seeds are a staple ingredient in many cuisines around the world, from Korean to Lebanese. You can sprinkle roasted sesame seeds over most vegetables, salads, rice or desserts.

Another option is to grind the sesame seeds with a food processor, blender, or use a pestle and mortar if you prefer a finer powder, or if you want to grind more sesame seeds when making a smoothie.
You can spice things up quickly by combining sugar, salt or black pepper with sesame seeds.

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Make tahini sauce. You just need to add another ingredient, vegetable oil. Olive oil is a popular choice due to its inherent density, but you can use sesame oil or canola oil for a richer sesame flavor. ^{[10] XSource of Research} Simply put roasted sesame seeds in a food processor and add one tablespoon of oil at a time until you have a smooth but not diluted mixture. ^{[11] XResearch Source}

Take it one step further to turn tahini into hummus.

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Use in desserts. Toasted sesame seeds add flavor to cookies and can be safely used in gluten-free recipes. In many parts of the world, roasted sesame seeds are processed with butter and sugar or honey to make confectionery like sesame.

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Use sesame seeds in another recipe. Try adding a pinch of sesame seeds to a stir-fry, add a tablespoon of sesame seeds to a stir-fry for a few minutes before finishing, or mix into a salad dressing.

Advice

Even pre-roasted sesame seeds (such as bokkeun-khae or bokkeum-khae available in Korean stores) should be lightly roasted for a few minutes to bring out the original flavor. ^{[12] XResearch Source} This is especially helpful if the sesame seeds get wet during storage.

Warning

Avoid excessive heat while roasting dry sesame seeds as they will burn.

Things you need

Pan
Sealed jars/boxes
Hopper (optional, just to make it easier to pour sesame seeds)

Steps