Black sesame paste

Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes

Ingredients (serves 5):
250g black sesame seeds
750ml water
100g caster sugar
250ml UHT milk
3 tsp corn flour stirred into 50ml water

Method:
1. Pick and wash black sesame seeds and drip dry (or spread on a clean tea towel).
2. Heat a wok and dry roast the sesame seeds on medium heat, shaking the pan occasionally. Transfer to a plate as soon as seeds become fragrant. Leave to cool.
3. Put sesame seeds and water into a blender and blend into a smooth paste. You can strain it if you want an even smoother texture.
4. Pour the blended paste into a pot and add sugar and milk.
5. Bring to a boil. To thicken, mix in the corn flour solution.
6. Serve hot.

Tips:
Black sesame seeds are sold at all grocery stores and supermarkets. Black sesame seeds are a good source of calcium - a quarter cup provides at least one third of your daily requirement. Black sesame seeds also have high amounts of protein, phosphorus, iron and magnesium. Ayurvedic physicians recommend eating at least 1 tablespoon of black sesame seeds a day to keep hair glossy and dark.

Recipe source: Lifestyle magazine (Aug 2006)