Open Sesame

Rachel Belle is the creator & host of Your Last Meal, a James Beard Award finalist for Best Podcast, and a national Edward R Murrow award winning news radio feature reporter. She hosts the PBS event series “Food For Thought” and her food writing has been published in Lucky Peach, Eater, and more. She loves campfire cooking and petting every single cat she sees. Her relatives claim to have invented both the tube top and the bagel dog.Author Residence: Seattle, Washington

“What a fun, colorful, delicious ode to the best ingredient on the planet! I love that this book takes your mouth on a trip around the world with sesame seeds as the vehicle, showcasing them in some very delightful and fresh ways. Those sesame-crusted waffles are calling my name!”—Molly Yeh, New York Times bestselling author and Food Network host“From appetizers to entrees to dessert; breakfast, lunch, and dinner; sweet and savory; crunchy and creamy—I LOVE SESAME. But I was still not prepared for the vast array of mind-blowingly delicious concoctions in this book. I already had a lot of sesame in my life, but Rachel Belle makes it clear that I need more!” —Dan Pashman, host of The Sporkful podcast and author of Anything’s Pastable“After reading Rachel’s delectable book, I think everyone should try each imaginative recipe—from her silky hummus to the chonky tahini-laced granola. My new favorite edible verb is ‘schnitzel’d’ as Rachel does with earthy oyster mushrooms. The Rustic Sesame Lavash Crackers will become a staple on my mezzo trays as well as Cold Sesame Soba on meatless Mondays. Yum!”—Tom Douglas, chef and restaurateur “Rachel Belle brings her knack for storytelling through food—which we’ve come to know and love on her podcast Your Last Meal—to page after page of this delightful cookbook. Open Sesame shows us how something as small and humble as the sesame seed can unite our taste buds across cultures and cuisines. Once again, Rachel reminds us of the power of food to bring us all together, deliciously.”—Stephanie Butnick, co-host of the Unorthodox podcast "Beautifully and profusely illustrated throughout with full color, full page photos of finished dishes, "Open Sesame: 45 Sweet & Savory Recipes for Tahini & All Things Sesame" is an extraordinary and very special pick for personal, family, professional, and community library Middle East and Kosher cookbook collections." —Midwest Book Review"Get creative with the 45 recipes, each with a unique sesame twist — in this stylish, palate-pleasing Middle Eastern cookbook with global inspirations. Like a little black dress, tahini can seamlessly transition from day to night, from savory to sweet." —Out SFL

• ContentsForeword by Isaac MizrahiIntroductionMorning MealsCongee with Sesame Soy Mushrooms and Jammy Korean Marinated Eggs (mayak gyeran)Roasted Strawberry Toast with Goat Cheese and TahiniAleppo Spiced Tahini Yogurt with Burst Tomatoes and Sesame Fried EggTropical Tahini Pineapple SmoothieChonky Tahini Maple Granola with Pistachios and CoconutSesame Crusted Waffles with Tahini and Maple Party SnacksFurikake Chex MixFalafel-Spiced Tahini Deviled Eggs with Crispy ChickpeasPita Chip Nachos with Tahini Feta Queso & Chicken ShawarmaEthereally Creamy Israeli-Style HummusGolden Hummus(or Hot Pink Hummus! Page )Rustic Sesame Lavash CrackersTahini, Sour Cream & Caramelized Onion DipOnigiri with Homemade Furikake Mains and SidesEverything Including the Bagel SaladBeet Salad with Garlicky Tahini & Mint GremolataRoasted Kabocha Squash with Tangy Miso Tahini Drizzle Crushed Potatoes with Tahini Feta Queso and Olive TapenadeGingery Sesame Chicken Soup with Rice NoodlesRainbow Farro Bowls with Herby Tahini SauceCozy Kitchari with Cilantro-Tahini SauceVietnamese Fresh Rolls with Tahini Hoisin Dipping SauceCold Sesame Soba with Summer VegBeef Arayes with Garlicky Tahini SauceChallah Chicken Schnitzel “Shabbat Sandwiches”Pasta with Sesame Chicken Mince and Creamy Lime-Basil SauceSteak Tacos with Charred Corn-Sesame RelishGingery Chicken Meatballs with Sesame Chile Crisp GlazeWeeknight Poke BowlsCrispy Sesame Schnitzel’d Mushrooms Sweet ThingsChocolate Miso Whoopie Pies with Tahini CreamTahini Frangipane Apricot GaletteTender Tahini Almond Cake with Strawberries and CreamNo-Bake Berry Tahini Layer BarsTahini Banoffee Pie Black Sesame ShoothieCrisp Sesame BrittleSuper Sesame Sundaes with Sesame Brittle, Chocolate Tahini Magic Shell and Tahini Whipped Cream AcknowledgmentsIndex