Drizzle this golden smooth dip with a little extra-virgin olive oil if desired. Serve with celery and carrot sticks and toasted pita wedges. Tahini, a paste made of sesame seeds, is available in most supermarkets.
Za'atar is a Middle Eastern spice blend made from a combination of ground sesame seeds, thyme, sumac, marjoram and oregano. Exotic blends like this are becoming easier to find in most grocery stores. Serve over couscous.
Beat the spring blues with this sunny and bright orange soup. It's as flavourful as it is good for you. For a pretty presentation, sprinkle with thinly sliced green onions and drizzle with a little more sesame oil.
Authentic hummus recipes include lots of tahini and olive oil and, although those are healthy ingredients, they are still high in fat and dense in calories. Here, tahini (a sesame seed paste) is replaced with a much smaller amount of sesame oil and a drizzle of olive oil. A typical 2 tbsp (25 mL) serving of hummus has about 89 calories and 5.8 grams of fat, but this one, lightened up with calcium-rich yogurt, has only 52 calories and 2 grams of fat. Pack this dip with vegetable sticks and whole grain pita wedges for a quick and wholesome lunch.
Traditionally called Bo Ssam - these ginger-packed lettuce wraps make a light, satisfying meal. Serve with Korean-style pickled vegetables or kimchi, the intensely flavourful Ginger Green Onions Sauce and a sprinkling of toasted sesame seeds for an authentic flair.
Adapted from a recipe developed for numerous Canadian climbs on Yukon's Mount Logan, the highest peak in Canada, this nourishing bread is popular with Louise when mountaineering or hiking. Make it before your trip and, if you wish, sprinkle the loaf with whole wheat flour, wheat germ or sesame seeds before baking.
You can use 1/4 tsp (1 mL) zahtar instead of cumin. Zahtar is a spice mixture available in Middle Eastern stores. Or make your own: mix 1 tbsp (15 mL) toasted sesame seeds, 1-1/2 tsp (7 mL) each ground sumac and dried thyme, and 1/2 tsp (2 mL) ground cumin.
This hands-on lunch is ideal for your sophisticated little sushi fan. These fillings are a good place to start, then you can branch out with other tasty tidbits. Check your supermarket's fish counter for sustainable imitation crab, made from species that have not been over-fished. Pack with edamame and a mix of soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar and grated fresh ginger for dipping.
This popular Latin-style street food is traditionally served on a bun called a cemita, which is a sesame-topped egg bread. Luckily, you don't have to travel to try this tasty concoction: Here we use challah, which is similar to cemita and more readily available. Marinating in spices and lime juice gives the meat a spicy kick, which is offset by a cool guacamole spread.
Tsoureki, a traditional Greek sweet bread with dyed red eggs nestled on top, breaks the fast of Lent and symbolizes the rebirth and blood of Christ. Rich in eggs and butter, it's sprinkled with almonds or sesame seeds and flavoured with orange, vanilla, allspice or mahleb, a sweet cherry spice. These breads are often saved for wall decorations. The eggs are coloured with dye found in Greek bakeries.
