Made from toasted sesame seeds, Chinese sesame paste (芝麻酱) is a thick, brown paste, with a strong, distinctive nutty aroma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s widely used in Chinese cuisine, for noodles, salad, hot-pot dipping sauce, steamed twisted buns or simply as a spread like peanut butter. Normally it’s sold in glass jars, with a layer of oil on top to preserve its freshness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to thin the paste <\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
In my recipes, I always use PURE Chinese sesame paste which has a very thick consistency (on the left of the photo above<\/em>). You need to thin it with the same amount of water before adding to dishes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Use the back of a spoon to swirl gently. It takes a bit of time to completely combine the paste and the water. It should be smooth and semi-runny in the end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It’s different from Tahini<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Do not confuse Chinese sesame paste with Tahini<\/a> (the main component of hummus), a paste which is also made from sesame seeds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The former is made from toasted whole sesame seeds, whereas the latter is made with raw, hulled sesame seeds (sometimes lightly toasted). Thus, they have very different tastes and texture.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Three substitute ideas<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
You can find Chinese sesame paste in most Chinese\/Asian shops. If not available, I have three substitute ideas for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Option 1<\/strong>: Add 1\/4 part sesame oil to 1 part Tahini, then mix well.<\/li>
Option 2<\/strong>: Grind 1 part toasted sesame seeds in a mortar (or in a grinder), add 1\/4 part sesame oil and 1 part unsweetened peanut butter. Mix until well combined. (As shown in photos above<\/em>)<\/li>
Option 3<\/strong>: Grind 1 part toasted sesame seeds into a smooth paste. Add sesame oil then mix well.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\nObviously, substitutes are unlikely to provide exactly the same flavour and texture. But I find those three options are great for certain dishes, such as the famous Sichuan street food Dan Dan noodles<\/a> and the iconic breakfast of Wuhan Hot Dry Noodles<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For storage<\/strong>, it’s recommended to keep opened Chinese sesame paste in the fridge and consume within 3 months.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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Three substitute ideas<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nYou can find Chinese sesame paste in most Chinese\/Asian shops. If not available, I have three substitute ideas for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n