Sesame Seeds Recipes, 729 Indian Sesame Seeds Recipes

White Sesame Seeds (Til) in Indian Cuisine

White sesame seeds, known as til in India, are tiny powerhouses of flavor and nutrition that hold a significant place in Indian cooking. Unlike black sesame seeds, white til has a milder, nuttier flavor and a more delicate texture, making it incredibly versatile. These seeds are a common ingredient found in almost every Indian household pantry, prized for their ability to add a subtle crunch, rich aroma, and distinctive taste to a wide array of dishes. Their widespread use across different culinary traditions in India speaks to their versatility and appeal.

Widespread Availability and Diverse Culinary Uses

White sesame seeds are easily available throughout India, from local grocery stores to large supermarkets, year-round. Their presence is particularly prominent during winter months and festivals like Makar Sankranti, where they are central to traditional preparations. Across India, til is used in various forms:

• Northern India: Often used in chikkis (brittle), ladoos (sweet balls), and as a garnish for parathas or vegetable dishes.
• Western India (especially Maharashtra and Gujarat): Vital for tilgul ladoos during Makar Sankranti, chutneys, and theplas.
• Southern India: Incorporated into podis (spice powders), chutneys, and as a tempering agent for various curries and rice dishes.

• Eastern India: Used in some regional sweets and savory preparations.

  Recipe examples include Til Chikki, Tilgul Ladoo, Til Chutney, and as a crunchy topping for Bhaat (rice) dishes. Their ability to pair well with both sweet and savory flavors makes them indispensable.

Nutritional Benefits of White Sesame Seeds

Beyond their culinary uses, white sesame seeds are a nutritional powerhouse. They are an excellent source of healthy fats, including polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, which are beneficial for heart health. Til is also rich in protein, making it a great addition for vegetarian diets. They are packed with essential mineralslike calcium, magnesium, zinc, and iron, all crucial for bone health, immunity, and energy metabolism. The fiber content in sesame seeds aids in digestion, while their antioxidant properties help combat oxidative stress. Regular consumption of white sesame seeds can contribute to overall well-being, especially for strengthening bones and providing sustained energy.

Indian Sesame Seeds Recipes

Sesame are also known as Til in India. They are used in a variety of Indian recipes ranging from sweets to savories. The first thing that comes to my mind when I think of til is Chikki. Til Chikki is a sweet that is mostly made during Makar Sankranti, where sesame seeds are mixed with melted jaggery to form sheets, that are cut and eaten once hardened.

til chikki recipe | til gur ki chikki | 3 ingredient til ki chikki | how to make til chikki at home

In the same way you can make Til Ladu, an old but gold recipe.

til ke laddu recipe | til ke ladoo | til gud ladoo | Maharashtrian til che ladoo | tilkut

In India, sesame seeds are used as a garnish, as a topping or even in gravies of different sabzis. 

Till added to doughs to make delicious khakhras like til masala khakhra | healthy khakhra | spicy sesame wheat khakhra | how to make Gujarati masala khakhra at home | with step by step images.
masala khakhra is a nourishing snack to munch on at any time of the day.

Sesame Seeds Recipes for Snacks

Sesame seeds make a great addition to different types of snacks. Due to its versatility, it can be added at any stage whether beginning or the end. A tadka of sesame seeds and curry leaves is poured over the Gujarati classic khandvi.

Khandvi | besan khandvi recipe | Bengal gram flour khandvi | Protein rich healthy khandvi | Gujarati khandvi farsan.

along with coconut and coriander while a similar tempering is also poured over the ever tasty khaman dhokla.

Khaman Dhokla | microwave khaman dhokla recipe | instant khaman dhokla | quick Gujarati besan dhokla.

The seeds are can also be directly added to the batter of Mixed Dal Handvo, or be tossed along with stead Doodhi Muthias to coat them well. Roasted Sesame Seeds are super flavorful and full of nutty goodness which makes them an excellent garnish for a lot of dishes.

doodhi muthiya | Gujarati doodhi muthia | dudhi na muthia | steamed lauki muthia

From Chatpata aloo, which has potatoes tossed in a bunch of different spices to Crackling Spinach, which is just simple fried spinach with oil, both use roasted sesame seeds as a garnish.

International Sesame Seeds Recipes

Tahini, is a middle eastern a roasted sesame seed dip which is served as a side dish with chips as a dip or used as an ingredient to make other dips like hummus and Baba Ganoush. White sesame seeds are also widely used to decorate artisanal breads and is seen used on burger buns and bagels.

tahini paste recipe | Lebanese tahini paste | Indian style tahini paste

If you want to know more about the Uses of Sesame Seeds, then you can check out our article on that.

Benefits of Sesame Seeds, Til

Sesame Seeds (Til) : These tiny white seeds are indeed a good source of protein. Half of daily requirement of calcium is fulfilled by consuming ½ cup of sesame seeds. Sesame seeds are a storehouse of iron, folic acid and help to prevent iron deficiency  anaemia and boost your energy. The lignans, a type of polyphenol, present in seed does wonders to naturally reduce cholesterol levels. See detailed benefits of sesame seeds. 

Hope you like this collection of Recipes using Sesame seeds. Scroll down below for more.