Seriously Useful! Easy Sesame Sauce Base

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   Put all the ingredients in a frying pan and mix well.

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   You can do use 3 tablespoons each of all the ingredients if you like, but we love sesame seeds in our family so I add 5 tablespoons.

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   You can use konbu seaweed or bonito flake based dashi stock granules, or even use umami seasoning instead.

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   Adding just a little of any of these will increase the mix's umami, but omit it if you prefer.

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   Start cooking the mixture over medium heat.

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   When it starts to bubble, lower the heat a bit.

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   Keep stirring so that it doesn't burn.

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   When the moisture has cooked off to almost nothing, turn the heat down very low.

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   Soy sauce burns very easily, so if it starts to smell even a bit nutty, take the pan off the heat immediately.

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    If the pan is still making popping and sizzling sounds, keep cooking.

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    If it feels moist when you touch it, it needs a bit more cooking... Take the pan off the heat occasionally, and keep stirring to dry out the mixture.

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    When the mixture is dry, turn the heat off.

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    If you leave the frying pan on the burner it may keep cooking and get burned, so take the pan off the heat until it cools down.

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    Keep stirring the mixture around for a little while longer.

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    I think 1 to 2 minutes should do it.

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    Leave it to cool down without covering.

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    When the mixture has cooled down, mix the sugar in.

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    If you add the sugar when the pan is still hot it will melt, so be sure to let the pan and mixture cool first!

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    When the sugar is evenly distributed, transfer the mixture to a container with a lid or a jar etc.

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    You could also use the self-closing bag the sesame seeds came in.

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    The mixture can be stored at room temperature, but if you store it in the refrigerator it's less liable to get moist from the humidity.

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    Shake it up well before use.

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    Addendum: If you want to grind whole sesame seeds yourself, just grind them half way.

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    There's no need to divide the ground and whole toasted sesame seeds in this case.

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    You can also change the amount of soy sauce and sugar to taste!

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    Reference recipe: Spinach goma-ae (spinash tossed with sesame)

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    Reference recipe: Shira-ae (vegetables with tofu and sesame) can be made with this base mix too.

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    Bell pepper with sesame.

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    Eggplant and shiitake mushrooms with sesame.

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    Although this looks almost the same, this is a namul base.

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    Make an easy sesame salad dressing using this base mix.

* Per serving · 4 servings · Values may vary.