However, ‘Chinese sesame paste’ seems to be the name adopted internationally, and it is therefore what I will be using in this article. The recipes in both countries are identical, and both are referred to simply as ‘sesame paste’. Slightly bitter – there is a slight bitterness that you don’t get from other substitutesĭespite the name, ‘Chinese sesame paste’ is also widely used in Taiwanese cooking* (in fact Taiwan is where I was first introduced myself).Thick and rich – it coats the mouth in a good way (a bit like a good quality peanut butter).Nutty and aromatic – in a similar way to sesame oil.In a nutshell, Chinese sesame paste tastes: Some versions are made with pure sesame, others are blended with up to 50% peanut.
Ingredient notes – which oil to use, which seeds to get and where to buy themĬhinese sesame paste (or 芝麻酱 / zhi ma jiang in Mandarin), is a rich, nutty and aromatic paste made from heavily roasted and ground white sesame seeds blended with oil.
#Sesame paste how to
Cooking notes – detailed instructions on how to make Chinese sesame paste, and how to personalise to your preference.Or, if you would like to know more, this article will guide you through: You can jump straight to the Chinese sesame paste recipe using the button below. I found there was no way to recreate the flavour of the dish without making my own zhi ma jiang. The Chinese sesame paste recipe I am sharing today was inspired by an incredible bowl of Taiwanese cold noodles I ate in Taitung, South-East Taiwan. The result is store-cupboard dinners with real attitude!įor example, you could whip up an authentic Taiwanese cold noodles dish in literally 10 minutes, start to finish! It’s easy! – Making zhi ma jiang only takes 15 minutes, can be done in a large batches, and keeps in a refrigerated jar for at least 1 month.It’s difficult to buy – if you don’t live near a great Asian grocery store, following this Chinese sesame paste recipe is probably easier than trying to buy a good jar of zhi ma jiang.This makes all the difference when you are trying to make authentic recreations of some incredible Chinese/Taiwanese dishes. It’s flavour can’t be replicated – peanut butter and tahini don’t come close to the unique flavour of zhi ma jiang (especially when homemade).Why do I think it is worth you making this Chinese sesame paste recipe at home? It is used as an ingredient predominantly in Chinese and Taiwanese cuisine, including in iconic dishes such as Taiwanese cold noodles (liang mian, 涼麵) and Sichuan dan dan noodles (dan dan mian, 担担面).
Chinese sesame paste, or zhi ma jiang (芝麻酱) is a rich, nutty and aromatic paste made from heavily roasted and ground white sesame seeds.