Chinese sesame paste & 3 substitute ideas (芝麻酱)

Chinese sesame paste is a popular condiment used in noodles, salad, hot-pot dipping sauce, etc. It can be substituted in three ways.

A versatile condiment

Made from toasted sesame seeds, Chinese sesame paste (芝麻酱) is a thick, brown paste, with a strong, distinctive nutty aroma. 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.

How to thin the paste 

In my recipes, I always use PURE Chinese sesame paste which has a very thick consistency (on the left of the photo above). You need to thin it with the same amount of water before adding to dishes. 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.

It’s different from Tahini

Do not confuse Chinese sesame paste with Tahini (the main component of hummus), a paste which is also made from sesame seeds. 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.

Three substitute ideas

You can find Chinese sesame paste in most Chinese/Asian shops. If not available, I have three substitute ideas for you.

• Option 1: Add ¼ part sesame oil to 1 part Tahini, then mix well.
• Option 2: Grind 1 part toasted sesame seeds in a mortar (or in a grinder), add ¼ part sesame oil and 1 part unsweetened peanut butter. Mix until well combined. (As shown in photos above)
• Option 3: Grind 1 part toasted sesame seeds into a smooth paste. Add sesame oil then mix well.

Obviously, 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 and my Chinese-inspired spaghetti salad.

For storage, it’s recommended to keep opened Chinese sesame paste in the fridge and consume within 3 months.

3 substitutes for Chinese sesame paste

Chinese sesame paste is a popular condiment used in noodles, salad, dipping sauce, etc. This recipe shows you how to substitute in three ways. 

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Course: Condiment

Cuisine: Chinese

Keyword: Sauces

Prep: 5 minutes

Total: 5 minutes

Ingredients

For substitute 1

• ▢ ¼ part sesame oil, see note
• ▢ 1 part Tahini

For substitute 2

• ▢ 1 part toasted sesame seeds
• ▢ ¼ part sesame oil, see note
• ▢ 1 part peanut butter, unsweetened

For substitute 3

• ▢ 1 part toasted sesame seeds.
• ▢ ⅛ part sesame oil, see note

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Instructions

Substitute 1

• Add sesame oil to Tahini, then mix to combine.

Substitute 2

• Grind toasted sesame seeds into a paste in a mortar (or in a grinder).
• Add sesame oil and peanut butter. Mix until well combined.

Substitute 3

• Grind toasted sesame seeds to a smooth paste in a mortar (or in a grinder).
• Add sesame oil then mix well.

NOTES

Please be aware that there are two types of sesame oil. On my blog, sesame oil always refers to Toasted Sesame Oil (or Pure Sesame Oil/麻油/香油) which is made from toasted sesame seeds. It has a brownish-orange colour and a distinctive nutty aroma. 

The other type of sesame oil is made from raw, pressed sesame seeds. It has a light golden colour and doesn't have a strong smell. Usually it's labeled as "Sesame seed oil".

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Author: Wei Guo