Air Fryer Salmon and Vegetables
Air-fried salmon with green beans, tomatoes and soy glaze.
What counts as sesame in a recipe
This label covers recipes that intentionally include sesame in any of its common forms. That includes whole seeds (white, golden or black), toasted sesame seeds, tahini (sesame paste), and sesame oil. Each behaves differently: seeds add crunch and a nutty finish, tahini adds creaminess and a gentle bitterness, and sesame oil is usually used for aroma rather than as the main cooking fat.
Because sesame can be used in small amounts, it is sometimes treated as a garnish or optional flourish. For avoidance, though, small amounts still matter, so it is worth scanning both the main ingredient list and any finishing steps.
Top picks in Sesame
Chinese Chicken Stir Fry
Quick chicken stir fry with vegetables and savoury soy sauce.
Gochujang Roasted Chicken Traybake
Gochujang chicken traybake with sweet potato, broccoli and sesame
Thai Peanut Rice Noodle Bowl with Cucumber and Carrot
Rice noodles in chilli peanut sauce with crunchy veg
Chaufa (Peruvian Fried Rice)
Peruvian fried rice with chicken, egg, soy sauce and sesame oil
Air Fryer Teriyaki Salmon
Air-fried salmon glazed with soy, mirin and brown sugar.
How to judge whether sesame is easy to replace
When sesame seeds are sprinkled on top, you can often replace the visual and textural effect with another seed or a crunchy topping that suits the dish. Toasting matters here: toasted seeds taste rounder and more pronounced than raw.
Tahini is a different problem. It thickens sauces and dressings, helps emulsify, and brings a distinctive sesame flavour. Replacing it usually means choosing another creamy element and adjusting acidity, salt and sweetness to rebalance. Sesame oil is typically added at the end, so it is easier to omit, but you may want another aromatic note, such as a different finishing oil, to avoid the dish tasting flat.
All recipes in Sesame
Date and Tahini Smoothie Bowl
Date and tahini smoothie bowl with banana and yoghurt
Lamb Kofta Platter with Tahini Lemon Sauce and Salad
Lamb kofta platter with tahini lemon sauce and salad
Moroccan-Style Cauliflower Couscous Bowl with Chickpeas and Tahini
Cauliflower couscous bowl with chickpeas, courgette and tahini dressing
Moroccan Couscous Bowl with Roasted Vegetables and Chickpeas
Couscous bowl with roasted vegetables, chickpeas and lemon tahini dressing
Sellou (Moroccan Sesame and Almond Sweet)
No-bake Moroccan sweet with almonds, sesame, honey and butter
Thai Mango Sticky Rice Dessert Platter
Thai mango sticky rice platter with coconut sauce
Tofu Bulgogi Bowl
Tofu bulgogi bowl with rice, sautéed vegetables and sesame
Modern Kimchi Fried Rice Bowl
Kimchi fried rice topped with a fried egg and sesame
Dwaeji Galbi (Korean Pork Ribs)
Korean pork ribs marinated with soy, garlic and pear
Holiday Jeon (Assorted Korean Pancakes)
Assorted Korean pan-fried pancakes with a soy vinegar dipping sauce
Dak Kalguksu (Korean Chicken Knife-Cut Noodle Soup)
Clear chicken soup with knife-cut noodles and courgette
Gyeran Jjim (Korean Steamed Egg Custard)
Korean steamed egg custard with spring onions and sesame oil
Sesame avoidance: label language and cross-contact
If you are avoiding sesame for allergy reasons, treat this label as a browsing aid, not a guarantee. Check packaged ingredients for sesame and for statements about shared equipment. Sesame can appear in spice blends, sauces and prepared dressings, and it is easy to miss when it is listed as tahini or sesame oil.
In the kitchen, pay attention to shared toasters, baking trays and seed containers, where stray seeds can linger and transfer.
Where to look next
Ingredient browsing is useful when you want to replace sesame’s specific role, such as swapping tahini for another creamy base or choosing a different crunchy topping. Diet categories can help when sesame avoidance sits alongside other needs, but careful label reading remains essential for sauces, oils and blends.
Congee (Rice Porridge with Ginger and Spring Onion)
Creamy jasmine rice congee with ginger and spring onion
Warm Milk with Honey and Cinnamon
Warm milk sweetened with honey and finished with cinnamon
Dulce De Leche (Caramelised Milk Spread)
Thick caramelised milk spread made from milk and sugar
Vietnamese Avocado Smoothie
Vietnamese avocado smoothie with condensed milk and ice
Vegetarian
Nordic Yule Log Cake (Chocolate Swiss Roll)
Cocoa Swiss roll filled with whipped cream and buttercream
Vegetarian
Stoemp Bowl with Roasted Carrots and Parsnips
Leek mash topped with roasted carrots and parsnips
Pescatarian
Baked Salmon with Aji Amarillo and Honey Glaze
Baked salmon with aji amarillo, honey and lime glaze
High protein
Frango de Churrasco Caseiro (Portuguese Grilled Chicken)
Portuguese grilled chicken marinated with piri-piri, garlic and lemon
Frequently asked questions
Is tahini the same as sesame?
Tahini is made from sesame seeds, so it counts as sesame. It is often used in sauces and dressings where it adds creaminess and a characteristic flavour.
Is sesame oil always used for frying?
Not always. Many recipes use sesame oil as a finishing oil for aroma, added at the end. Some use it in cooking, but it is often too strongly flavoured to be the only frying oil.
Can I just leave sesame seeds off the top?
If sesame is only a garnish, leaving it off mainly changes crunch and appearance. For allergy avoidance, also consider cross-contact from shared trays, utensils and serving surfaces.
What can replace sesame seeds as a topping?
Depending on what you can eat, other seeds or crunchy toppings can provide a similar texture. Choose something that suits the dish’s flavour profile.
What can replace tahini in a dressing?
You usually need another creamy element to provide body and help emulsify. The flavour will change, so expect to adjust lemon, vinegar, salt or sweetener to rebalance.
Where does sesame commonly hide on labels?
Look for sesame, tahini, sesame paste and sesame oil. Sesame can also be present in spice blends, sauces and prepared dressings, so check those labels carefully.
Treat sesame as more than a garnish
With sesame, the smallest ingredients can be the easiest to overlook. Check for seeds, tahini and sesame oil, then decide whether you are replacing crunch, creaminess or aroma. That one decision usually points you towards the most workable substitute.
