Sesame oil or Gingelly oil is an edible oil made from seeds of the flowering sesame plant. It’s scientific name is Sesamum indicum which belongs to the Pedaliaceae family. These plants are native to India and Eastern Africa.
The different varieties of sesame oil are
- Raw, cold-pressed sesame oil: this is generally pale yellow in color.
- Toasted sesame oil: roasted sesame seeds are used to make this type of oil and hence it has a dark brown color.
- Indian sesame oil or Gingelly oil: this oil is darker in color since seeds are processed at higher temperatures.
Sesame oil has considerable health benefits. It’s nutty flavour and unsaturated fat has made it a popular cooking oil. This oil is popular in Asian cuisine, whether it is South Indian, Chinese, Japanese or Korean.