Chinese Chicken Stir Fry
Quick chicken stir fry with vegetables and savoury soy sauce.
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
Chaufa (Peruvian Fried Rice)
Peruvian fried rice with chicken, egg, soy sauce and sesame oil
Bossam (Boiled Pork Wraps)
Boiled pork belly lettuce wraps with rice, kimchi and ssamjang
Japanese Chicken Rice Bowl with Soy, Mirin and Ginger
Chicken rice bowl with soy, mirin, ginger and spinach
Gochujang-Glazed Salmon
Baked salmon with gochujang, soy, sesame and garlic glaze
Spicy Sriracha Mayo Poke Bowl
Salmon poke bowl with sushi rice and sriracha mayo.
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
Basic Egg Fried Rice
Quick egg fried rice with jasmine rice, spring onions, light soy sauce and sesame oil
Cong You Bing (Scallion Pancakes)
Layered spring onion pancakes with sesame oil, pan-fried crisp and golden
Modern Udon Noodle Bowl with Soy and Dashi Broth
Udon noodle bowl with soy and dashi broth, mushrooms, pak choi and soft-boiled egg
Tai Chazuke (Sea Bream Rice with Tea)
Rice topped with seasoned sea bream, nori and spring onion, served with tea
Fusion Shrimp Noodle Bowl
Rice noodles and prawns with cucumber, carrots and a lime-soy sesame dressing.
Tuna and Salmon Poke Bowl
Tuna and salmon poke bowl with sushi rice, soy dressing and cucumber.
Tofu Teriyaki Poke Bowl
Teriyaki tofu with sushi rice, cucumber, edamame, sesame and nori.
Chicken Sweet Chili Poke Bowl
Sushi rice topped with sweet chilli chicken, avocado and cucumber.
Grilled Chicken Poke Bowl
A rice poke bowl topped with grilled chicken, cucumber, edamame and avocado.
Salmon Poke Bowl
Salmon poke with soy and sesame served over sushi rice.
Tahini Banana Smoothie
A creamy breakfast smoothie of banana, tahini, milk, honey and cinnamon.
Air Fryer Thai Sweet Chili Chicken
Air fryer sweet chilli chicken with garlic, lime, fish sauce and spring onion.
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.
Katsu Curry (Pork Cutlet Curry)
Crispy pork katsu with mild curry sauce over rice
Masala Quinoa Bowl (Spiced Quinoa with Chickpeas, Spinach and Yoghurt)
Masala quinoa with chickpeas, spinach, yoghurt and coriander
Jal Jeera (Spiced Cumin Drink)
Chilled jal jeera with roasted cumin, tamarind and mint
Jeyuk Bokkeum (Spicy Pork Stir-Fry)
Spicy gochujang pork stir-fry with onion
High protein
Middle Eastern Salmon Bowl with Couscous and Tahini Dressing
Salmon bowl with couscous, salad and lemon tahini dressing
Vegetarian
Parmigiana di Melanzane (Aubergine Parmigiana)
Baked aubergine layered with tomato sauce, basil and cheese
Gluten-free diet
Risotto alla Milanese (Saffron Risotto)
Creamy saffron risotto finished with butter and Parmesan
Vegan
Kounoupidi Kapama (Greek Braised Cauliflower in Tomato Sauce)
Greek braised cauliflower in tomato and cinnamon sauce
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.
