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Gomashio

The Quirky Foodster Team

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About 1/2 cup
Servings

Ingredients

  • Toasted sesame seed (typically black, white, or a mix) ground coarsely with salt, generally in a ratio of about 10-14 parts sesame to 1 part salt

Method

  1. Toast the sesame seed until fragrant, then grind coarsely together with salt — the sesame should remain partially whole/textured rather than becoming a fine powder or paste.
  2. Essential — the sesame must be well-toasted to develop its full nutty aroma before grinding with salt.

Origin: Japan.

Use: A table condiment sprinkled over rice and vegetables, and significant within macrobiotic dietary traditions specifically as a mineral-rich, whole-food seasoning.

Classic Dishes: Sprinkled over rice, vegetables, and onigiri.

Storage: Keeps 2-3 months sealed and dark, given the sesame’s oil content.

Variations: The sesame-to-salt ratio varies by tradition and health-focus (macrobiotic versions sometimes use a notably higher sesame-to-salt ratio than more purely culinary versions).

Substitutions: Toasted sesame seed with a lighter hand of salt added separately.