Open Sesame - by Rachel Belle (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Get creative with these 45 recipes--each with a unique sesame twist--in this stylish, palate-pleasing Middle Eastern cookbook with global inspirations.

Like a little black dress, tahini can seamlessly transition from day to night, from savory to sweet. Reimagine how tahini can fit into your everyday repertoire with all the style and whimsy from the host of the James Beard Award-nominated Your Last Meal podcast Rachel Belle.

This creamy, nutty ingredient is more than just a cult condiment du jour:

• It's an allergy-friendly nut substitute!
• Replaces dairy in vegan dishes!
• Full of heart-healthy fats, plant-based protein, and chock-full of essential vitamins!
• Adds a roasty-toasty, elevated flavor to many desserts!

Sprinkle some sesame sparkle into your life with recipes that Isaac Mizrahi calls "slightly insane" but "irresistible," including:

• Everything-Including-the-Bagel Salad
• Falafel-Spiced Tahini Deviled Eggs with Crispy Chickpeas
• Chocolate Miso Whoopie Pies with Tahini Cream
• and, of course, Ethereally Creamy Israeli-Style Hummus (now available in traditional, golden, and hot pink!)

This inventive cookbook puts a global twist on a Middle Eastern staple--with a robust (and surprising) dessert section to please even the most jaded tahiniphile.

Review Quotes

"What a fun, colorful, delicious ode to the best ingredient on the planet! I love that this book takes your mouth on a trip around the world with sesame seeds as the vehicle, showcasing them in some very delightful and fresh ways. Those sesame-crusted waffles are calling my name!"
--Molly Yeh, New York Times bestselling author and Food Network host

"From appetizers to entrees to dessert; breakfast, lunch, and dinner; sweet and savory; crunchy and creamy--I LOVE SESAME. But I was still not prepared for the vast array of mind-blowingly delicious concoctions in this book. I already had a lot of sesame in my life, but Rachel Belle makes it clear that I need more!"
--Dan Pashman, host of The Sporkful podcast and author of Anything's Pastable

"After reading Rachel's delectable book, I think everyone should try each imaginative recipe--from her silky hummus to the chonky tahini-laced granola. My new favorite edible verb is 'schnitzel'd' as Rachel does with earthy oyster mushrooms. The Rustic Sesame Lavash Crackers will become a staple on my mezzo trays as well as Cold Sesame Soba on meatless Mondays. Yum!"
--Tom Douglas, chef and restaurateur

"Rachel Belle brings her knack for storytelling through food--which we've come to know and love on her podcast Your Last Meal--to page after page of this delightful cookbook. Open Sesame shows us how something as small and humble as the sesame seed can unite our taste buds across cultures and cuisines. Once again, Rachel reminds us of the power of food to bring us all together, deliciously."
--Stephanie Butnick, co-host of the Unorthodox podcast

"Beautifully and profusely illustrated throughout with full color, full page photos of finished dishes, "Open Sesame: 45 Sweet & Savory Recipes for Tahini & All Things Sesame" is an extraordinary and very special pick for personal, family, professional, and community library Middle East and Kosher cookbook collections."
--Midwest Book Review

About the Author

Rachel Belle is the creator and host of Your Last Meal podcast, a James Beard Award finalist, and host of The Nosh with Rachel Belle, a food-themed TV show on Seattle's Cascade PBS. She spent twenty years as a broadcast journalist, winning the national Edward R Murrow Award for news radio feature reporting; was named Seattle's Best FM Radio Personality by Seattle Weekly; and did a bunch of food writing for many publications that no longer exist (loved you, Lucky Peach!) Rachel is an enthusiastic home cook and cookbook recipe tester who especially loves cooking in campervans and over campfires. She doesn't believe in blueberry bagels and pets every single cat she sees. Her relatives claim to have invented both the tube top and the bagel dog. She lives in Seattle, Washington.