Black Sesame Brownies

>> Wednesday, April 20, 2011


Obsession: Black sesame.

Confession #1: Not a big fan of chocolate (except dark bitter ones).

Confession #2: Craves comfort food on cooler days. Please come back soon summer.


Confession #3: Get emotional when watching home renovation T.V shows as if I'm the owners of the house. I'm just kidding...hmmm really.

Conclusion: Black sesame brownie seems like a pretty swell idea.

Not convinced? 

Here is why I like black sesame...

- Keeps my hair black and shiny (although I may be too young to be graying)
- Are full of healthy goodness - calcium and magnesium amongst others.
- Will likely to never go out of fashion (little black dress, black cats, black Fridays)
- Tastes good...have you tried black sesame ice-cream?



And...how about black sesame paste

You can get these thick puree of roasted black sesame seed in a jar from good Asian/Japanese stores (I bought mine on my last trip to Japan - it seems smoother). I usually use it as a spread on my toast in the morning when I need a break from peanut butter.

Check out the comparisons...are you a crunchy or smooth type of person?


Anyways, this brownie is moist, slightly buttery and dense (but more cake-y than fudge-y). The sesame flavour is incredibly strong and having a slice or two is likely to make you fall in love with black sesame (if you don't already). Instead of salt in most chocolate brownie recipes to heighten the flavour, this recipe calls for soy sauce instead. Surprise much? This is definitely a very much Asian inspired type of brownie :)

You're of course welcome to use your favourite brownie recipe too but just substitute the chocolate for the sesame paste!


Black Sesame Brownies
Inspired from an old Japanese cookbook
Makes a square tin (or loaf tin)
  • 80g unsalted butter (room temperature)
  • 40g sugar (I used 25g - check whether your sesame paste is already sweetened or not)
  • 2 egg yolks
  • 40g black sesame paste
  • 1/4 tsp soy sauce
  • 1 egg white
  • 10g caster sugar
  • 50g flour (All purpose)
  • 1/4 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tbsp black sesame (to sprinkle on top)

1. In a bowl, cream the butter with an electric mixer on low, until it lightens in colour and texture then add the sugar (40g) and carefully combine.

2. Add in the yolk one by one, making sure to fully blend into the mixture before each addition.

3. Add the black sesame paste and soy sauce into the mixture.

4. In a clean bowl, beat the egg white with the remaining sugar (10g) with a hand mixer until the egg white is fluffy and does not fall when you tip the bowl upside down.

5. Combine and sift the flour with the baking powder. Add half the meringue/whipped egg white into the black sesame mixture as well as half the flour mixture. Use a rubber spatula to fold and combine.


6. Further beat the meringue until stiff and finer in texture, then add into the black sesame mixture along with the remaining flour and baking powder. Fold and combine.


7. Add the mixture into a brownie tin, and sprinkle the black sesame seeds on the batter. Bake for 15 minutes at 150C.


8. After it cools down a bit, slice and serve!


Somehow I failed to notice that my previous post was the 100th (HUNDREDTH!) post - which makes this the 101th post!

Yay! Glad I started this blog and glad that it's still here!

Thanks for coming to visit...definitely wouldn't have been the same without you! So thanks again - wish I could share this brownie with you too :D

47 comments:

Jean April 20, 2011 at 6:15 PM  

wow my mother will be crazy about this dessert! she's a big fan of black sesame, anything-black sesame, she goes gaga over them

Susana April 20, 2011 at 7:05 PM  

This looks great, Viv! And it's not something I've seen throughout my food blog obsession! I've tried making black sesame macarons, but it was tricky adding such an oily ingredient to the egg white batter. This looks like a better way to savour the taste of black sesame. I'll definitely try this recipe next time I get my hands on an oven :)

Happy 101th to your blog, looking forward to more!

Susana

Ana Rita Marreiros April 20, 2011 at 7:11 PM  

Those look amazing!!!Never tasted black sesame but i'm curious!

Kisses,
Rita

CaThY April 20, 2011 at 8:28 PM  

I'm sure they taste great! ;)

Raji April 20, 2011 at 8:31 PM  

Congrats on completing 100 posts!! this is such an interesting recipe...looks wonderful.

grub April 20, 2011 at 8:34 PM  

i always see new and innvative food on your blog! congratulations for surpassing 100 posts!

Von April 20, 2011 at 8:39 PM  

I love black sesame too! I've never thought of having black sesame brownies before though- it sounds interesting and so delicious! I might have to try it myself ;)

OohLookBel April 20, 2011 at 9:45 PM  

I lurve black sesame - have you tried that instant dessert soup? Very warming in winter. And does it really make your hair blacker?? I love this recipe, too, the soy sauce would give that lovely sense of umami.

Min {Honest Vanilla} April 20, 2011 at 10:48 PM  

This is just awesome! I love it! Love the colour, love black sesame, love that it makes my hair black, love the little black seeds on top, might just love it more than chocolate brownies now! Bookmarked ;)

Karen April 20, 2011 at 11:23 PM  

This is such a cool twist on traditional brownies! I would have never thought to use black sesame paste instead of chocolate. I'm really intrigued by this recipe!

La Bella Cooks April 21, 2011 at 2:42 AM  

Your photos are always amazing. This recipe sounds so interesting and I would love to try black sesame seeds or even the paste in a recipe. You are so creative.

MelissaDaams April 21, 2011 at 3:43 AM  

i've never ever heard of black sesame... until now.

Aleida April 21, 2011 at 5:15 AM  

Black sesame brownies? I can't even imagine what these would taste like. I've never had black sesame anything.

Erika Beth, the Messy Chef April 21, 2011 at 6:55 AM  

Wow. I'm not sure about these. I mean, they look great...but black sesame? Well, if it's good for me... ;)

Anh April 21, 2011 at 8:34 AM  

how pretty! I am sold on this idea. Hopefully I can find a jar of sesame paste somewhere..

Lisa @ Tarte du Jour April 21, 2011 at 9:19 AM  

Black sesame brownies, nice to meet you! You look marvelous! You are so photogenic as well.

Anonymous,  April 21, 2011 at 9:56 AM  

Yumyumyum! And yay for 101th post!

Hey do you know if black sesame powder can replace paste? And if not, can I turn black sesame powder _into_ paste? I have a large bag sitting in my pantry...

hy.

Anonymous,  April 21, 2011 at 10:14 AM  

Very creative...have to say I`m an enormous chocolate fan, but this piques my interest...and I`m all for the benefits of black sesame. Sounds like a healthy alternative! Thanks for sharing!

susan April 21, 2011 at 11:52 AM  

They look good! I must admit I haven't tried anything with a black sesame flavour to it, but it does sound interesting. Congrats on your 100th post too!

Alayna April 21, 2011 at 12:28 PM  

Oh...wow. Black sesame is one of my favorite flavors ever, and I'm with you in that I'm not thrilled by chocolate. I cannot wait to hit up my local Japanese market and hunt down black sesame paste now!

Viv April 21, 2011 at 1:16 PM  

Jean: Hope she gets to try black sesame brownie soon :)

susi: Hiiii Susi! Thanks for visiting! Wow uve tried black sesame macarons...i didn't know you bake too! I can imagine it must be hard to incorporate that...i've seen ppl adding dye to the macarons and adding a few specks of sesame on top.

Ana Rita: Thanks girl.

Cathy: hehe, yes they tasted yummy!

Raji: Thanks - altho doesnt feel like that long ago that i started this.

grub: Thanks :)) And vice versa too!

Von: I hope you do...do let me know how it goes!

OhhLookBel: no i havent seen those instant dessert soup before...must keep an eye out on it! I've heard so many testimonies from ppl about it turning their greying hair black! initally i was skeptical about it!

Min: Haha, it'll prob never overtake the classic choc brownie but it's def a nice twist to it! :)

Karen: Yeah me too, until I saw this recipe and knew i had to make it!

Bridgett: Thanks :)) Hopu u get to try soem black sesame soon! Nah, I'm not creative...just love choosing creative recipes to work with!

cutekittypunk - hahaha really? glad todays the day you've heard about them :)

Aleida: They taste like a very strong concentration of black sesame lol. Terrible description but I hpe u do get to try some soon. I grew up with it so it is not so much of an acquired taste for me.

Erika: hahaha, must've been so strange for you if you are not a huge fan of black sesame! but yes, as long as its healthy u gotta give it a go!

Anh: Hope u find a jar soon - it's not easy though! I couldn't find one in Melbourne thats for sure! Let me know if you do!

Lisa: Black sesame says thank you!

hy: hmmmmm i've only made black sesame paste in glutinous rice balls before! think i used sugar and sesame powder and bit of butter with peanuts hehe. but i think the ones in the jar are different unless u've a really fine food processor? ohh check out this blog post which uses sesame meal in the brownie too! it looks so delicious and fudgy as well :) - http://blog.lemonpi.net/?p=2579 or u can just use up your sesame powder in cupcakes too...haha.

Charissa: Thanks for visiting! Def a healthy alternative...or just something different to try :)

susan: yeah, it's not very common unless you're in Asia really. Thanks :)

Alayna: Haha glad I met a food twin! It's not everyday i hear that someone is also not a choc lover! Hope you do find the sesame paste :)

j3ss kitch3n April 21, 2011 at 1:39 PM  

this is so unique viv! must be delicious and fragrant!

chopinandmysaucepan April 21, 2011 at 1:52 PM  

Love the colour! Looks so classy rich

Anonymous,  April 21, 2011 at 2:47 PM  

I can always count on you for a unique, delectable twist on an original. I have this bookmarked! I can envision substituting the flour with some mochi flour.... Congratulations on your 100th post and I look forward to many, many more, Viv.

Kasey April 21, 2011 at 3:12 PM  

I'm fairly new to black sesame seeds, but I'm intrigued! How unique...Must try.

Jeannie April 21, 2011 at 3:25 PM  

It looks so gorgeous! Love the taste of sesames too doesnt matter black or white:D yum!

hanushi April 21, 2011 at 6:01 PM  

I have never seen such a smooth black sesame paste... I know, you are a great fan of black sesame... :)

deb@bearheadsoup April 21, 2011 at 6:47 PM  

I love black sesame! The brownies look great. I'm going to make some. I found some black sesame paste today...holiday project i think. Thanks for the recipe!!

CarinE April 21, 2011 at 9:42 PM  

Black sesame is one of my favorite flavor of ice cream. This black sesame brownies looks delicious!

Joanne April 21, 2011 at 10:13 PM  

Do you want to hear something super sad? I've never had black sesames. Isn't that too tragic for words? Need to change that. These look amazing! Congrats on the 100 posts!

Cooking Gallery April 22, 2011 at 3:41 AM  

I think I would love this...! I enjoy black sesame ice cream so I can imagine that these brownies must be delicious too :).

pigpigscorner April 22, 2011 at 10:33 PM  

Sesame and soy sauce brownies?? Oh, I am so trying this!

Anonymous,  April 23, 2011 at 9:51 AM  

This is so weirdly fantastic. Love it!

Janine April 24, 2011 at 12:30 AM  

Wow this looks like an awesome savory/sweet kind of brownie! And the white spoons in the photo look amazing! First time here and I like your photography style a lot :D Will be stalking you more often ;p

Aizi April 24, 2011 at 7:11 PM  

OMG, looks totally scrumptious, will be trying this one out! thanx for posting! love your blog!

Xiaolu @ 6 Bittersweets April 25, 2011 at 9:14 AM  

Congrats on ur 101th post! And OMG I LOVE YOU. I'm obsessed with black sesame too and made a cupcake with it a while back. I HAVE to try this sometime.

Torviewtoronto April 25, 2011 at 1:11 PM  

delicious looking brownies haven't had like this but looks good

Yi @ Yi Reservation April 25, 2011 at 1:19 PM  

Oh WOW! This is a really creative way of making brownies. Black sesame is one of my favorites in Asian desserts. Thanks for sharing.

I (or Alice) will try to make it soon. :)

Maria April 29, 2011 at 1:33 PM  

Yum! I adore black sesame, this sounds like such an interesting dish!

Lori April 30, 2011 at 11:34 PM  

Congrats on your 100th post as well as your 101st! These are just way too interesting to pass up. I have really come to enjoy black sesame recently. I have no doubt these are delicious. I'm pretty sure all your recipes have gone on my to-make list. I need to get busy!

Michelle May 31, 2011 at 1:46 PM  

these look awesome. i love black sesame, will give it a try soon. (:

Shu Han July 30, 2011 at 11:22 PM  

Black sesame is my favourite favourite flavour. It's my weakness, if you say black sesame anything I go nuts. Black sesame paste is my favourite chinese dessert soup, and now you have it in the form of brownies? Too delicious!

Aizi November 21, 2011 at 11:05 PM  

ooooh! why didn t i see this one before? will definitely be trying this out... but must find black sesame paste first. altho would you mind if i tweaked a bit and used tahini instead? ;-)

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Richard C. Lambert March 12, 2016 at 7:49 PM  

usually use it as a spread on my toast in the morning when I need a break from peanut butter.healthy tea perth

Unknown July 31, 2016 at 4:55 AM  

Lovely recipe! And for all those American readers out there, this works great doubled in an 8"x8"x2" pan for 25min at 302 degrees F, even using a US teaspoon to measure :-)

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