Seeds, sesame meal, partially defatted

Sesame meal is what's left after most of the oil has been pressed from sesame seeds, leaving a dense, slightly gritty meal with a toasty, nutty flavor similar to tahini but drier and more concentrated. It's used as a protein-rich flour substitute in baking, stirred into granola bars and energy bites, blended into batters, or mixed into smoothies rather than eaten on its own, since its dry, dense texture isn't especially pleasant straight from the bag. Bakers sometimes swap it in for a portion of regular flour in bread or crackers to add a nutty depth and a denser crumb.

Keep sesame meal in an airtight container in a cool spot, or refrigerated, since the oil that remains in the meal can turn rancid over time and dull its toasted flavor. At 567 calories per 100g it's calorie-dense, but an ounce (28g) is a compact way to add roughly 17g of protein per 100g to a recipe, and the meal is notably rich in minerals, supplying 82% of the Daily Value for magnesium and 81% for iron per 100g, alongside 12% for calcium. With just 39mg of sodium per 100g, it's a low-sodium way to boost the protein and mineral content of baked goods or smoothies without adding much salt.