SesameGlobal Recipes + Stories of an Ancient Seed


A clear, approachable guide to the world of sesame, from halva, tahini, and sesame oil, to togarashi, gomasio and furikake, with 80+ vegetarian-forward recipes, from the founder of popular tahini outfit Seed+Mill in New York’s historic Chelsea Market.

With its delicious nutty taste, nutritional density, and long shelf life, the sesame seed is a tiny ingredient with an enormous cultural impact and a deeply rich history.

In Sesame, Rachel Simons, co-founder of Seed + Mill, celebrates the evolution, history, and diversity of this classic ingredient. Whether it’s in the form of a seed, tahini (a ground sesame paste), sesame oil, or halva (a delicate, fudge-like candy made from sesame paste), readers will learn to incorporate sesame in 80+ traditional and modern global recipes, including Sweet & Salty Sesame Challah; Pear and Pistachio Breakfast Loaf with Sesame Streusel; Lemony Orecchiette with Sesame Pangrattato; Gomasio-Crusted Salmon Skewers; and Tahini Swirled Pavlova with Labneh, Berries & Halva Flakes.

Through vibrant photography, evocative storytelling, and contributions from a slate of noted chefs and food luminaries across the globe, including David Lebovitz, Molly Yeh, Nisha Vora, and Zoë François, Sesame is a loving culinary tribute to the sesame seed: how it has transformed dishes, how it has been translated by different culinary cultures, and how it has tied people and places together through generations.

Rachel Simons is the founder of Seed+Mill, the first store devoted to sesame products in the United States. Their high-quality tahini and halva are favorites of chefs like Zoë François, Carolina Gelen, Dan Kluger, and Ayesha Nurdjaja. Seed+Mill products are carried in over 1700 stores, including Whole Foods, Sprouts, and beloved specialty stores across the US. Seed+Mill has been featured in ForbesThe New York TimesFood52Bon Appétit, and more.

“I had high expectations for the cookbook Sesame, written by Seed + Mill’s co-founder Rachel Simons, but the book managed to exceed them. I had assumed the recipes in the book would be mostly Middle Eastern, but once I cracked it open I was delighted to find an exploration of sesame’s use around the globe, in both modern and traditional ways, driving home the incredible versatility of the nutritious seed.”—The Washington Post