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
Served this black sesame paste at a dinner with friends alongside mochi and ice cream, and everyone kept commenting on how nutty and unique it tasted. Two guests asked for the recipe before dessert was even finished, and now I’m definitely keeping a jar in the fridge all the time 🙂
J’ai déjà fait cette pâte de sésame noir environ 4 fois et elle est toujours aussi réussie, avec ce goût bien intense et légèrement torréfié. La version au miel devient un incontournable pour mes desserts, je suis ravie à chaque fois 🙂
This has become my go-to every summer, I make a jar at the start of the season and it makes homemade ice cream and mochi taste like a special treat with barely any effort. Love how quick it comes together and keeps in the fridge for whenever the craving hits 😊
Served this black sesame paste at a dinner with friends, swirled into ice cream and spread on little pancakes, and it was the first thing to disappear. Everyone kept commenting on the deep nutty flavor and a couple of guests asked me to send them the recipe before they left 😊