Super Food - Gomasio

For Weekend Cook and Tell: Superfoods, I made Gomasio, which is a Japanese condiment made from sesame seeds and sea salt. Sesame seeds are one of the super foods, and are an excellent source of many beneficial minerals, amino acids, and a good source of dietary fiber. Sesame seeds add a nutty flavor to foods and are also used to make tahini.

I learned to make and use Gomasio some years ago, when I cooked in a cafe whose focus was on Macrobiotics. Gomasio is made by toasting the sesame seeds, adding sea salt, then grinding them with a wooden pestle in a special serrated, glazed clay bowl called a Suribachi. The aroma that wafts up while grinding the seeds is heavenly.

Gomasio is delicious with salads, steamed vegetables, stir-fry, and all kinds of grains. I love brown rice (a super food) which has been drizzled with Tamari soy sauce (another super food) then topped with a generous sprinkling of Gomasio.

Gomasio
1/2 cup sesame seeds
1-2 teaspoons sea salt

Place the sesame seeds in a dry skillet (preferably stainless) and roast slowly over low heat, stirring often with a wooden spoon, until the seeds turn golden brown, give off a nutty fragrance, and begin to pop, about 20 minutes.

Once toasted, remove the seeds from the pan immediately to prevent burning, and place in the suribachi. Add sea salt and grind slowly with even, gentle pressure, in a circular motion until each seed is about half crushed. Store in a glass jar.

Children love Gomasio!