Homemade Black Sesame Paste (Kuro Neri Goma)

Steps

1. Gather all the ingredients. Please note: I used ½ cup (60 g) of black sesame seeds in the step-by-step photos; however, I noticed it was much easier to make a paste when I used 1 cup in a 3-cup food processor. If you use less, or use a bigger food processor, the blades will spin without engaging the sesame seeds and you won‘t be able to make a paste. Therefore, I updated the ingredient list with 1 cup of sesame seeds [revised March 2023].

2. In a non-greased pan, toast 1 cup toasted black sesame seeds to enhance the aroma.

3. Put the toasted sesame seeds in the food processor and start processing. You can also grind the black sesame seeds by mortar and pestle (but it will take some time).

4. It will take some time for the sesame seeds to release their oil, so be patient.

5. Scrape the sesame seeds from the sides as needed and run again. Depending on the machine, you may need to take a break to avoid overheating the motor.

6. [Optional] Add ½ tsp honey or ½ tsp toasted sesame oil, but only if your food processor is struggling. Sesame seeds themselves contain oil that naturally releases during toasting and grinding, so it’s usually enough to create a thick sesame paste. However, if your food processor is struggling to crush and grind, you can drizzle a little bit of sesame oil onto the seeds to add volume, help bind them, and thin out the paste.

7. The sesame seeds will start to look pastier. Continue processing.

8. Once the sesame seeds are ground, liquidy, and pasty, transfer to a sterilized mason jar.

9. You can use the black sesame paste to make sweets like Black Sesame Ice Cream. This Kuro Neri Goma is also a key ingredient in savory dishes like Black Sesame Dan Dan Noodles.

10. You can store the homemade sesame paste in the refrigerator for up to 1 month and in the freezer for half a year. Bring the paste back to room temperature before using it.