Martin Yan - SESAME OIL

"The more you understand the ingredients, the better cook you will become."
-Martin Yan

These are common ingredients found in local cuisine. You can find these ingredients readily available in your local supermarket.

SESAME OIL

Chinese and Japanese-style sesame oil is a dark, amber oil pressed from toasted sesame seeds. Don't confuse this sesame oil with the clear, cold-pressed sesame oil sold in many health food stores. Unlike other oils are used for cooking, sesame oil, is used in small amounts solely as a flavoring agent.

Sesame oil adds a wonderful aroma and nutty taste to a variety of marinades and salad dressings. It is often added during the last minute of cooking soups, braised, and stir-fried dishes to preserve its aroma. For a quick and tasty snack, add a few drops of sesame oil to a bowl of pasta and toss with slivers of carrots and green onions.

The better quality sesame oils are found in Asian markets and are labeled as 100 percent pure. Many companies blend sesame oil with soybean oil to dilute its nutty flavor. Store sesame oil in a cool, dry place for up to several months.