Til
Sesame seed, one of the oldest oil crops, toasted for sweets, spice mixes and ritual offerings.
Also: sesame, gingelly, ellu, tahini seed
Til is sesame, the seed of Sesamum indicum, among the earliest plants grown for oil. White, black and brown seeds all appear in cooking. Toasted sesame tastes nutty and rich and goes into Indian laddus and chikki, Japanese gomashio, Middle Eastern tahini and halva, and Chinese sesame paste. Black til has a stronger taste and a special place in Hindu ritual, where it is offered in ancestor rites and on Makar Sankranti. Gingelly oil, cold-pressed from the seed, is used in southern Indian kitchens. Seeds are rich in oil and turn rancid, so store them cool and toast just before use.