I tend to harvest herbs from my tiny gardens all summer long and dry a little each week. Herbs love to be snipped and this 'snipping' makes them grow better. I am all about 'condiments' and today I want to share a couple of DIY healthy condiments, which have become my rituals, to add flavour and nutritive power to your meals. I know we are all busy --so DIY healthy condiments are easy to make, take very little time and store well, too! The 1st one is the classic gomasio -- the 2nd takes a spin with flowers in your garden!!
THESE ideas make super GIFTS to share!
Are you a salty or a sweet lover? It's funny how we are so often either one or the other. My personal preference is savoury salty foods.. Don't tell anyone but I have been known to admit that my favourite food is the less than healthy potato chip. Yes. Plain salty crispy crunchy and not so good for me-- potato chip.. (some call them crisps!) I am fond of making all kinds of veggies into crispy slightly salty 'chip alternatives'.
I don't know about you but sometimes, when there's just SO much going on, it becomes a challenge to eat in a healthy way. During these sorts of weeks, which are more numerous than I wish -- in my quest for balance-- I turn to some of my favourite 'health-boosting condiments'.
When there IS time, I prepare these little gems, and when I'm flying about without time to prepare a gourmet feast, I make something simple and ADD one of these to boost the nutrient 'quotient'. Sometimes, all that there is time for, may be a plate of steamed or stir-fried veggies.. These DIY healthy condiments really kick up the flavour AND nutrient value!
I hope you enjoy these 2 GOMASIO ideas ~ DIY HEALTHY CONDIMENTS are worth making!
Gomasio or “gomashio” is a seasoning blend commonly sprinkled on simple rice dishes in Japan. Gomasio translates as “salt and pepper”. Traditional gomasio is made with black sesame seeds and white sea salt! We can add it to veggies, egg dishes, meat and poultry etc.
Here's a version that's been a favourite of my family for years:
Sesame Gomasio is one of my fave delicious DIY healthy condiments
Sesame Gomasio
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 5 tablespoon or ⅓ cup sesame seeds
Instructions
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Heat a frying pan over moderate heat. (Cast iron if possible)
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Add 1 teaspoon of sea salt.
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Remove from the heat.
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Pour the warmed salt into a mortar and pestle. Grind until it is fine
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Using the same pan, add the sesame seeds.
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Move the pan in a gentle swirling motion and with moderate heat until the seeds crack a little
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Remove from the heat.
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Pour the sesame seeds into the mortar and pestle.
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Grind until half (50 percent) of the sesame seeds are cracked and ground.
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Pour the salt in and mix thoroughly
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Next toss all ingredients together until well mixed and grind in a food processor.
When I'm feeling energetic, I use my 'suribachi' (Japanese grinding bowl), or a mortar & pestle
Here's my suribachi:
I have several grinders to make this all very easy. Here's one I use via Amazon.
Here's the cool thing about this. You can change this up to suit your needs, your family's tastes and any food sensitivities! This week, I made this recipe with all these organic ingredients:
SESAME seeds
HEMP seeds
FLAX seeds (golden)
FLAX seeds (brown)
CHIA seeds (black)
Add Dill seed to some of the above and you have created a digestive aid!! Read more about dill here.
HERB Gomasio
Substitute out what you don't want from the recipe above and add in some of the following, including dried florals:
Borage flowers
Calendula Flowers
Caraway Seeds
Chamomile flowers
Chili flakes
Cumin Seeds
Dried Nettle Leaf
Dandelion leaf
Dulse (sea vegetable)
Fennel Seeds
Flax seeds
Dried Oregano
Lavender flowers
Roses
Add any of these above with a combination of sesame seeds + your favourite salt.
Actually -- you can use any herb or spice you can grind to make healthy condiments !
Experiment with your favorite flavours or nutritive combinations.
Use in place of table salt to season your meals!
Especially tasty with soup, veggies, rice, salad, on wraps or sandwiches, atop pizza or tossed with popcorn.
Do YOU have a special blend that you have created or found in your world? Please share!!
It's so easy to leave a comment, below!!!
Check out this eBook ~ packed with easy ideas for you + your family! There are 3 Ebooks on my home page.
HERE
Green blessings and best wishes for abundant health
Carol xo
Christina
So many tasty ideas in here! I definitely need to use sesame seeds more often!!
Anne
I love making my own condiments. Thank you for sharing these,I will be giving some of them a try soon!
Lindsey Dietz
Your suribachi is really beautiful. And I don't know if I've ever had gomasio, but I don't think I have!
ChihYu Smith
Love how simple this recipe is. Beautiful spices will add so much flavor to any dish!
Anna
Oh my goodness, I LOVE trying new spice mixes, and these are just great! And that's so neat that it's actually supportive of the liver as well. Thanks for adding these exciting new combinations to my repertoire!!
Carol Little
You are most welcome Anna, and I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!!
Yang
How interesting to add milk thistle in the blend! Being Asian myself, my kids love a sprinkle of seasoning on their rice. You inspired me with the creative ideas.
Emily @ Recipes to Nourish
I have never made gomasio before but I have heard great things about it from people who love it. I really like the extra substitutions or add-ins that you offer too.
heather
oh, cool! I love the idea of heating the salt and other seasonings first to bring out the flavors!
Kari - Get Inspired Everyday!
All 3 of these look fantastic! I like using calendula in my diy's, but I'm intrigued to try it in your seasoning mix!
Renee Kohley
Ooo I've never heard of gomasio, but I would be all over that! I can't wait to try it!
Kathryn
I love these ideas. I've been reading about milk thistle and its anti-inflammatory properties. I'd love to try it in a gomasio.
Jean
These all sound like such great flavors, and so easy to make too!I need to start making my own spices like this.
linda spiker
I have never heard the word 'gomasio' before and I love it! These sound fabulous and I love that the sesame version allows you to save on salt!
Megan Stevens
Wow, gomasios are so exciting when presented in this way, to aid digestion even! Really cool, Carol.
Carol Little
Thanks Megan. I agree. Love these ideas so sharing. Have another one coming up..
Megan Stevens
I really like that milk thistle variation!
Carol Little
I hope you'll try it Megan. Our livers always appreciate a little love!!
Nancy Andres
Thanks for your blog, Healthy Condiments for You: 3 Easy to Make Recipes that appeared on http://naturalfamilytoday.com/natural-family-friday/natural-family-friday-11714-2/. Your photos are great too. 'm going to try this out when I'm not swamped with work. If you get a chance, please c heck out my blog post-Calcium Rich Food for Health & Happiness there too. Be well. Love well. Lead a colorful life! Nancy Andres