DIY Sesame Sticks Recipe (2024)

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A one-bowl recipe with endless possibilities.

By

Molly Sheridan

DIY Sesame Sticks Recipe (1)

Molly Sheridan

Molly Sheridan began chronicling her cooking adventures on Wonderland Kitchen in 2011. Her writing has appeared in publications such as TimeOut and The Washington Post.

Learn about Serious Eats'Editorial Process

Updated June 06, 2023

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DIY Sesame Sticks Recipe (2)

Why It Works

  • The ingredients can be tossed into a bowl and mixed until a dough comes together. No fancy equipment required.
  • With homemade sesame sticks, you can customize the finished product by controlling the type and amount of fats and seasonings used.

In DIY attempts to mimic packaged goods, it often comes down to the shape of things. Cookie cutter defines mass production. When a homemade version of this sort of food is even a bit off visually, it can ruin the illusion—no matter how good it is, the look may beat out the taste in the rush to judgment.

Maybe it's just me, but that's where I sometimes find myself getting frustrated in the kitchen. I feel an imaginary Tim Gunn peering over my shoulder, his exasperated voice urging me to pull it together, make it work, and get it in the oven already, even though my efforts have only produced a cheap imitation. And that's where I stood with these sesame sticks. Thosetraditional snakes of seed-flecked doughconfounded me. Could I use a dough thin enough to push through a wide pastry tip and still get the taste I wanted? I could not. Could I use the dough I preferred for taste and just cut it into small rectangles? I could, but something was missing. It felt more like eating very small crackers than the customary bulk-bin treat.

So I picked up a small piece of dough and rolled it briskly between my palms a couple times.Et, voila!A small snake of a sesame stick. That said, by the end of rolling the batch, I was seriously questioning this added-labor decision just to get the visual. Next time, I might just roll the dough out a little thicker, cut the strips narrow, and call that shape...well, close enough for homemade.

Requiring no fancy equipment, this recipe couldn't be easier—just toss the ingredients into a bowl and stir up the dough. In this way, the cook also controls the type and amount of fats and seasonings that end up in the finished product, so you can really have some fun with it. Still, in my house, sesame sticks are an occasional snacking treat, not a weekly staple, and simply pulling down the bar on the bulk bin of Cajun Hot Sticks—even if I have no idea how long they have been sitting in there—will remain a tempting option.

October 2012

This recipe was cross-tested in 2023 and updated to guarantee best results. Instead of baking the sesame sticks, we now recommend frying them for crisper, lighter sesame sticks that more closely resemble the store-bought version.

Recipe Details

DIY Sesame Sticks Recipe

Prep5 mins

Cook20 mins

Active45 mins

Resting Time45 mins

Total70 mins

Serves12 servings

Makes3 cups

Ingredients

  • 1 cup whole wheat flour (about 5 ounces; 142g)

  • 1/2 cup toasted sesame seeds (about 2 ounces; 57g)

  • 1/4 cup fine cracked wheat (about 1.5 ounces; 43g)

  • 1/4 teaspoon turmeric

  • 1/4 teaspoon beet rootpowder (optional)

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder,or to taste

  • 2 1/2 teaspoons Diamond Crystal kosher salt

  • 1/4 cup (60ml) sesame oil (plain, not toasted finishing oil)

  • 1/4 cup (60ml) plus 2 tablespoons water

  • Canola oil, for frying

Directions

  1. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, sesame seeds, cracked wheat, turmeric, beet powder (if using), garlic powder, and salt until thoroughly combined.

    DIY Sesame Sticks Recipe (3)

  2. In a small bowl, whisk together oil and water. Stir wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Combine thoroughly, kneading any remaining bits into the dough by hand.

  3. Divide dough in half and wrap each in plastic, flattening into 3/4-inch-thick disks. Refrigerate for 30 minutes to allow dough to firm up before rolling.

  4. Pour canola oil to a depth of 1 1/2 inches in a large pot or a large deep-sided skillet; heat oil over medium to 350°F (177°C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with paper towels; set aside. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/8-inch thickness and, using a knife or pizza wheel, cut into small rectangles (approximately 1/4-inch by 3/4-inch). Alternatively, roll and cut dough to your desired shape, reworking the scraps until all the dough is used. (Uniformity is more important than size to assure even cooking.) Leave the pieces as they are or roll each one quickly between your palms to form thin rods.

    DIY Sesame Sticks Recipe (4)

  5. Working in 3 batches, carefully add shaped dough to hot oil and fry, stirring occasionally, until deeply golden brown, about 90 seconds. Using a slotted spoon or spider, transfer fried sesame sticks to prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining dough, allowing the hot oil to return to 350°F in between batches. Let cool completely, about 15 minutes. Store in an airtight container.

    DIY Sesame Sticks Recipe (5)

Special Equipment

Whisk, large pot or large deep-sided skillet, thermometer, rimmed baking sheet, slotted spoon

I used beet powder because it is an ingredient listed in most commercial versions of the sticks. However, it seems to be more for color than for taste, so you may eliminate it if desired.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
122Calories
8g Fat
11g Carbs
3g Protein

×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 12
Amount per serving
Calories122
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 8g11%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Cholesterol 0mg0%
Sodium 442mg19%
Total Carbohydrate 11g4%
Dietary Fiber 2g8%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 3g
Vitamin C 0mg0%
Calcium 52mg4%
Iron 1mg7%
Potassium 74mg2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

DIY Sesame Sticks Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Are sesame sticks fried or baked? ›

Working in 3 batches, carefully add shaped dough to hot oil and fry, stirring occasionally, until deeply golden brown, about 90 seconds. Using a slotted spoon or spider, transfer fried sesame sticks to prepared baking sheet.

What are the ingredients in Cajun sesame sticks? ›

Ingredients: Unbleached Wheat Flour, Expeller Pressed Vegetable Oil (Sunflower and/or Canola Oil), Sesame Seeds, Salt, Red Pepper, Tomato Powder, Beet Powder, Jalapeno Pepper, Onion Powder, Turmeric, Manufactured on shared equipment with products containing milk.

Are sesame sticks a healthy snack? ›

Sesame sticks are an excellent source of calcium, with 48 percent of the daily value in 1 oz. They also contain small amounts of other nutrients, such as potassium, vitamin B-6 and zinc. Watch out for the sodium found in this snack; 1 oz. contains 18 percent of the daily value.

Are sesame sticks anti inflammatory? ›

Sesame seeds are a potent source of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds. These tiny seeds contain powerful antioxidants like sesamin and sesamol, which help protect cells from oxidative stress and damage caused by free radicals.

Are sesame sticks good for type 2 diabetes? ›

May Aid Blood Sugar Control

Sesame seeds are low in carbs while high in protein and healthy fats — all of which may support blood sugar control ( 3 , 40 ). Additionally, these seeds contain pinoresinol, a compound that may help regulate blood sugar by inhibiting the action of the digestive enzyme maltase ( 41 , 42 ).

Is it OK to eat sesame seeds everyday? ›

If sesame seeds are not consumed in the limit, they might cause blood glucose levels to drop below normal. Excessive consumption of sesame seeds can drop blood pressure to dangerously low levels. Fibre from sesame seeds can form a layer over the appendix, causing bloating and pain.

Are sesame sticks better than potato chips? ›

Sesame sticks -have averaged, the same have the same calorie content as potato chips, about 153 per ounce. Limiting how many you have each day will ensure you don't swap out one bad habit for another. They are high in fat, and only a little over 1.8 percent is saturated. The rest is the healthy fats.

Are sesame sticks Chinese? ›

snack, were made as the Spring Festival is. approaching.

Can I use peanut butter instead of sesame paste? ›

Substitutions for Sesame Paste

If you don't have any issues with peanut allergies, peanut butter is also a decent substitute.

Where did sesame sticks originate? ›

Sesame sticks, in Greek called “Pasteli”, is a Greek traditional snack based on sesame seeds and honey, both ingredients are natural products with nutritional value. Sesame sticks are sweet, rejuvenating, rich in vitamin E, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, iron.

What vitamins are in sesame sticks? ›

Snacks, sesame sticks, wheat-based, unsalted
Amount Per Serving
Saturated Fat 2g9%
Monounsaturated Fat 3g0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 5g0%
Calcium 4% Iron 1% Magnesium 3% Phosphorus 3% Potassium 1% Zinc 3% Vitamin A 0% Vitamin C 0% Thiamin (B1) 3% Riboflavin (B2) 1% Niacin (B3) 3% Vitamin B6 1% Folic Acid (B9) 2% Vitamin B12 0%
7 more rows

Why do sesame sticks taste so good? ›

Sesame seeds are one of the oldest oilseed crops known, first harvested over 3,000 years ago. With one of the highest oil contents of any seed, these tiny nutrient powerhouses boast a rich, mild, nutty flavor.

Can a dog eat sesame sticks? ›

Sesame sticks are not toxic to dogs at all though if she ingested a larger amount (10-15 sticks) then this could cause an upset stomach due to the fat content and the fact that she is not used to eating this food item. Overall, sesame seeds are actually nutritious to dogs when fed in smaller quantities.

Are sesame sticks high in carbs? ›

Sprouts Sesame Sticks (1 serving) contains 14g total carbs, 13g net carbs, 11g fat, 3g protein, and 170 calories.

What in sesame causes allergy? ›

When someone has a sesame allergy, the body's immune system, which normally fights infections, overreacts to proteins in the sesame. If the person eats something that contains sesame, the body thinks these proteins are harmful invaders and responds by working very hard to fight off the invader.

Are sesame sticks high in histamine? ›

Sesame seeds do not contain high amounts of histamine, but their consumption may indirectly affect histamine levels in some individuals. Certain factors, such as stress, hormonal imbalances, and poor gut health, can impact histamine metabolism and tolerance.

Are sesame sticks considered nuts? ›

Although sesame seeds are classified as seeds and not nuts, the proteins in sesame seeds may resemble proteins in certain nuts and may trigger an allergic reaction in children who have a nut allergy.

References

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