Made from ground black sesame seeds and sesame oil or honey, black sesame paste (Kuro Neri Goma) is used as a flavoring in Japanese cuisine and other Asian cooking.
Learn how to make it at home today!
In Japan and across East and Southeast Asia, black sesame seeds are widely used in cooking, baking, and desserts. For example, spread Japanese fluffy pancakes with it.
Black sesame seeds are used whole, ground into powder, and as a paste. It’s one of my favorite ingredients for pastries and sweets.
When summer arrives, I make a jar of homemade black sesame paste and keep it in the fridge, so I can whip up black sesame ice cream, mochi, and other treats at a moment’s notice.
What does black sesame paste taste like?
To make black sesame paste, unhulled sesame seeds are ground into a thick purée before being sweetened with honey.
With its glossy black color and uniquely nutty flavor, black sesame paste can completely transform a dessert.
I’d also describe the flavor as slightly earthy with a mildly bitter note.
You can find many popular Japanese sweets and pastries such as macarons, Japanese pudding, chiffon cake, mochi, bread, and ice cream flavored with black sesame.
Black sesame paste (黒練りごま) is usually sold in a small jar in Japanese (or Chinese) grocery stores, but you can easily make it at home as I’ll show you in this article.
How to make black sesame paste — only 2 ingredients!
It’s so easy to make homemade black sesame paste! You’ll only need black sesame seeds and honey (for sweets) or sesame oil (for savory dishes).
Using a food processor makes the process very quick.
As you grind, the sesame seeds will start releasing natural oil, so there’s no need to add any liquid if you’re using a high-end machine.
If you use a small blender, you may need to add a little honey or sesame oil to help it reach a paste-like texture. Let the blender rest between bursts before turning it back on.
Once you’ve made the paste, you can keep it in the fridge for 1 month.
Ingredients
For the sweet version
- 20 tablespoons black sesame seeds
- 6 tablespoons honey
For the savory version
- 20 tablespoons black sesame seeds
- 6 tablespoons sesame oil
Instructions
- Blend everything on high until smooth.20 tablespoons black sesame seeds, 6 tablespoons honey, 20 tablespoons black sesame seeds, 6 tablespoons sesame oil
