Sesame Oil

Sesame oil is pressed from sesame seeds and is available in both light and dark varieties. The light version, made from unroasted seeds, has a mild nutty flavor and is popular in Indian cooking. The dark version is made from toasted sesame seeds, has an amber color, is very aromatic, and has a much stronger, nutty flavor. Dark sesame oil is not a good cooking oil because it burns too easily and the flavor is overwhelming if too much is used. It is commonly used in small quantities for Oriental food preparation as a flavoring ingredient or as an addition to salad dressings and marinades. The lighter version should not be substituted for the darker variety in Oriental dishes.