Black Sesame Sauce Recipes

BLACK SESAME SAUCE

Steps:

• Toast the sesame seeds in a small sauté pan over medium heat, tossing frequently, until the seeds become fragrant and begin to pop. Transfer them to a plate and let them cool completely. Grind in 10-second increments in a spice mill or clean coffee grinder to a very fine paste, stirring the mixture, then grinding again, and repeating this process until the paste is completely smooth and glistening from the oil that has been released. This will take 3 to 5 minutes. (If the seeds are not ground into a very smooth paste, the sauce will be gray rather than deep black.) Transfer the paste to a small bowl, add the salt, and gradually whisk in the oil, sake, mirin, and dashi until smooth.
• Dashi
• Put 3 cups water and the mushrooms in a nonreactive saucepan and bring to a simmer. Turn the heat to low, cover, and cook at a very gentle simmer for 10 minutes. Add the kombu and simmer very gently for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and add the bonito flakes. Let steep, covered, for 8 minutes. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve. Discard the solids and use the broth as you would stock.

BLACK SESAME CHICKEN WITH ROASTED RED PEPPER SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425. Spray rectangular pan, 13x9x2 inches, with cooking spray. Place melted butter in large shallow bowl.
• Make 2-inch horizontal slit in each chicken breast. Stuff 1 tablespoons cheese in each pocket. Dip each chicken breast into butter; sprinkle with sesame seed.
• Heat oil in 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat. Cook chicken in oil until brown on both sides. Place chicken in pan. Drizzle with any remaining butter.
• Bake uncovered 15 to 20 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink in center. Meanwhile, prepare Roasted Red Pepper Sauce; keep warm. Serve chicken in pool of sauce, or drizzle sauce over chicken.
• To prepare sauce: Place all ingredients except sour cream in mini food processor or blender. Cover and process until smooth. Heat mixture in 1-quart saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until hot; remove from heat. Strain if desired; stir in sour cream.