The Sesame plant or Ngaa as it is known here is another plant which has popped up…I am loving this year as I am constantly being surprised at what plants and fruits are appearing Down on the Farm...next year I will know and can plan a little it will also help as I will know what and where so we can transplant and not build and destroy.
It is a beautiful and quite delicate looking plant with pretty white flowers.
Of course, I now wanted to know what uses this plant had if any apart from producing seeds which are used mainly in desserts in Thailand. Here on the farm they are dried and used for just that really and to make that lovely sesame biscuit.
The oil from the seeds is not really used in Thai cuisine like it is in Chinese cookery.
The sesame seed is one of the most ancient seeds on earth there have been remains of Sesame seeds found and dated as far back as 3500BC. It was also widely traded in parts of Mesopotamia and the Indian sub continent around 2000BC. Always highly valued in Eastern, African and Mediterranean culture it has been used for thousands of years in cooking to flavour foods. Sesame oil has one of the highest oil contents of any seed and a rich nutty flavour. Across the continent’s world-wide sesame oil, tahini and the seeds are widely used.
It is a good source of vitamins and minerals that boost nutrient absorption, it is beneficial to the human metabolism and the bodies fat burning ability.
Sesame oil is a strong antihypertensive and can also help normalize blood pressure levels.
Sesame butter or Tahini is a pretty calorific dense food with 89 calories plus 8 gm of fat per tablespoon BUT the majority of that fat comes from healthy unsaturated fat as Omega 3 oils which help lower inflammation thus lower the risk of heart attacks. However, as always I advise moderation.
How to make your very own Tahini paste/butter..it is so quick and easy and the cost of a packet of sesame seeds is virtually pennies against the cost of a store-bought jar of tahini and no nasties…
Let’s Cook!
Into the kitchen, a quick toasting of the Sesame Seeds, then into the mini blender, 3 tbsp Olive oil, and a quick whizz, scrape down the sides, another tbsp Olive oil and another scrape, a bit more oil and a quick whizz and viola your Tahini Paste is made.
How easy is that?
Sesame seeds come in white or black, the white seeds having the highest iron content thus are used in food or as oil.
Black seeds are stronger, more flavorful and have 60% more calcium than white seeds and are used in medicines.
There has been some exciting news on a breakthrough in the research conducted at the Thailand Excellence Center for Tissue Engineering and Stem Cells at the Chiang Mai University where it was discovered that “Sesamin” extracted from black sesame seeds contains properties that hinder cancer cell growth as well as stimulate antibodies in the human body to fight cancer.
Dr. Prachya stated that patents for the medical breakthrough have been filed and received for the research both in Thailand and internationally.
This is great news.
As I have said before I am always being amazed by the extraordinary benefits that so many plants and seeds are being proved to provide… so much better in many cases than prescribed medicines and supplements although if you are already on prescribed medicines PLEASE speak to your doctor and discuss what alternatives you are looking at taking and remember with plants and seeds …No one size fits all…. All of our bodies are different and react differently…..But ask! Talk to your doctor, do your own research from reputable research bodies.
More news from down on the farm..we have 3 more turkey babies ..2 female and one male and a baby chook who thinks it is a turkey…Yes, it does and any attempts to put it back with the chooks results in it crying and making turkey noises…So we have left it with the turkeys…
The bananas are ripe for picking very soon.
That’s all for now DOWN ON THE FARM…I hope you enjoy these posts of our life and adventures in rural Thailand if you do please share or reblog.
I have also left some links below for previous posts just in case you missed them.
https://blondieaka.wordpress.com/2017/07/22/down-on-the-farm-introducing-our-new-turkey-babies/
https://blondieaka.wordpress.com/2017/04/18/down-on-the-farm-making-charcoal/
https://blondieaka.wordpress.com/2017/04/16/down-on-the-farm-thai-potatoes/
https://blondieaka.wordpress.com/2017/04/04/down-on-the-farm-jambulan-plum/
https://blondieaka.wordpress.com/2017/04/03/down-on-the-farm-snake-gourd-raita/
Until next time stay safe, have fun, laugh a lot as laughter as you should know by now is the best medicine known to man…..
Retired? No one told me! 
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I enjoyed reading this post. It was interesting to learn about the health benefits of sesame seed oil.
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Thank you, Ivy, I am so pleased you enjoyed the post 🙂
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As always amazing! Somehow I’ve missed a couple of your recent posts I need to get better about checking my subsciptions!!!!
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It’s hard to keep up Scott isn’t I know that 🙂
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Fascinating… love sesame seeds, tahini and halva (a Turkish dessert) and of course the oil in Chinese cooking but never seen the plant before. It’s very pretty.
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Isn’t it Paul…I hadn’t seen it until it started popping up it pretty head Down on the farm …I get quite excited now and can’t wait to see what peeks out next..;)
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It must be able to be able to grow it. We are 600 ft up in Wales and while we get away with a lot of exotics I think something used to warmth would certainly hang its head…in despair!
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Yes, it probably would but maybe in a greenhouse ?
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I wish I could grow sesame here. I like using roasted sesame seeds in cooking chicken and pork, even when I’m not doing it Asian style. Sesame seeds are expensive, though. They aren’t as expensive as tahini, so I’ve been making my own tahini. Still, it would be great if I could grow my own. Alas, it is like other things; there are things that grow well there that don’t grow here and other things that grow like crazy here but won’t grow there.
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I know the feeling Rex I would love to grow Parsnips but it isnt cold enough and cooking apples as well…but I guess it is something we have to live with isn’t it.
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Thanks for sharing a post on sesame seeds that play an important role in Indian cuisine!
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You are welcome Megala..A nice fragrant chicken curry would go down very well at the moment..Have you got any nice recipes with sesame seeds?
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We make sweets & savories using sesame seeds but I have posted traditional recipes for sesame rice & sesame chutney only. Hope you may like them! https://megalaskitchen.com/2017/05/06/blackgram-rice/ & https://megalaskitchen.com/2017/08/01/chitrannam/
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Thank you ..I will check them out 🙂
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Once again your information has enlarged the size of my brain! 🙂 I never considered the actual plant producing this wonderful oil.
Your posts are always so much fun. They provide quality info. while doing so in an entertaining lay back manner. I’ll bet you’re really enjoying your exotic (but down to earth) retirement!
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I am indeed Dr.J and just love how much there is to learn and marvel at…The world is an amazing place and I learn something new every day. Thank you so much for your kind comments and yes I am just enjoying life :0 Have a lovely day 🙂
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Reblogged this on Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life and commented:
Time to go down to the farm in Thailand with Carol Taylor with the low down on Sesame seeds and their health benefits.. break out the homemade tahini… recipe included. Also if you missed Carol and I are collaborating on a weekly foodie post – https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2017/08/16/smorgasbord-health-cook-from-scratch-with-sally-and-carol-banana-nutrient-boost-no-packaging-required/
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Thank you Sally xxx
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I had no idea the seeds in a small jar in my spice cabinet came from a plant as lush-looking as this. Thanks for the education here, Carol!
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You are welcome Marian and neither did I until they popped up a couple of weeks ago…lol I am learning so much and Tahini is so easy to make it is unreal…I will never buy it again I have been making it for the last 2 years or so…Thank you for reading my post Have a lovely evening/day 🙂 Not sure what your time is in relation to mine…lol
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You are probably way ahead of the eastern time zone where I live.
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