Grinding Sesame in a Suribachi

Grind warm, toasted sesame in a ridged bowl. Stop when half the seeds break.

Grinding Sesame in a Suribachi
Difficulty: 1
Heat: none

Key Points

Toast first. Grind while warm. Stop at half-broken.

Common Failures

Grinding cold, raw seeds gives little smell. Grinding too long makes a sticky paste.

Do this

Put warm toasted sesame in the bowl. Hold the pestle upright. Press and turn in small circles until half the seeds break.

Why it works

The grooves inside the bowl hold the seeds still. The pestle cracks them instead of pushing them around. The oil and smell come out fast.

When to skip it

Skip it when sesame is only a garnish on top. Whole seeds give crunch and look neat.