Sesame Oil 참기름

Sesame Oil (참기름) [cham-gi-reum] is an amber colored, aromatic oil, made from pressed toasted sesame seeds that is a common ingredient in Korean cooking. It is not used as a cooking oil due to its intense nutty and buttery flavor and aroma; however, because of that, it is an excellent seasoning and flavor enhancer. Sesame Oil is widely used in Korea to make namul (vegatable side dish) because it adds a beautiful glossy finish. Similarly, the iconic dish, bibimbap, requires a big spoon of sesame oil on top to add both beauty and flavor. Koreans also mix salt, pepper and sesame oil to make a dipping sauce for grilled meat because it reduces the gamey taste of pork and lamb. Contary to popular belief, not all oils are bad for you. Sesame Oil is a rich source of vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin E, magnesium, copper, calcium, and zinc. And unlike most oils, sesame oil is high the beneficial poly-unsaturated fatty acid, Omega-6, which is known to lower blood pressure.

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