From hearty North Indian parathas and chole to comforting South Indian tomato rice and idli with podi, sesame oil brings a distinctive nutty aroma and character to the Indian kitchen. Bharat Botanics Sesame Oil beautifully complements aromatic spices, tempering ingredients and everyday vegetables, making it a versatile choice for traditional recipes across regional cuisines.
1. Stuffed Paratha
Ingredients
For the Dough
- 2 cups whole wheat flour
- ½ tsp salt
- Water, as required
- Oil, as required
For the Potato Stuffing
- 4 medium potatoes, boiled and mashed
- 1–2 green chillies, finely chopped
- ½ tsp cumin seeds
- ½ tsp coriander powder
- ½ tsp red chilli powder
- ½ tsp amchur powder
- ½ tsp garam masala
- 1 tbsp fresh coriander, chopped
- Salt to taste
For Cooking
- Bharat Botanics Sesame Oil, as required
Method
- Combine wheat flour and salt in a bowl.
- Gradually add water and knead into a soft dough.
- Cover and rest for 15–20 minutes.
- Combine mashed potatoes with green chillies, cumin, spices, coriander and salt.
- Divide the dough and filling into equal portions.
- Roll one dough portion into a small disc.
- Place the potato filling in the centre and seal the edges.
- Gently roll into a paratha.
- Heat a tawa and place the paratha on it.
- Cook both sides, applying Bharat Botanics Sesame Oil as required.
- Cook until golden brown and lightly crisp.
Serving Suggestion: Serve hot with curd, pickle or chutney.
Bharat Botanics Tip: Sesame oil lends a subtle nutty aroma that pairs beautifully with the spiced potato filling.
2. Chole (Chickpea Curry)
Ingredients
- 1½ cups dried chickpeas
- 3 tbsp Bharat Botanics Sesame Oil
- 1 large onion, finely chopped
- 2 medium tomatoes, pureed
- 1 tsp ginger-garlic paste
- 1 green chilli, chopped
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- ½ tsp turmeric powder
- 1½ tsp coriander powder
- 1 tsp cumin powder
- 1–1½ tsp chole masala
- ½ tsp red chilli powder
- ½ tsp amchur powder
- Salt to taste
- Approximately 2 cups water
- Fresh coriander for garnish
Method
- Soak chickpeas in plenty of water for 8 hours or overnight.
- Drain and pressure-cook with fresh water and a little salt until tender.
- Heat Bharat Botanics Sesame Oil in a heavy-bottomed pan.
- Add cumin seeds and let them crackle.
- Add onion and sauté until golden.
- Add ginger-garlic paste and green chilli. Cook for another minute.
- Add tomato puree.
- Add turmeric, coriander powder, cumin powder, chilli powder and salt.
- Cook until the masala thickens and the oil begins to separate.
- Add chole masala and amchur powder.
- Add cooked chickpeas along with some of their cooking liquid.
- Simmer for 15–20 minutes so the flavours develop.
- Lightly mash a few chickpeas to naturally thicken the gravy.
- Garnish with fresh coriander.
Serving Suggestion: Serve with bhatura, puri, roti, naan or rice.
Bharat Botanics Tip: The mild nuttiness of sesame oil adds another layer of flavour while allowing the aromatic spice blend to remain prominent.
3. Tomato Rice
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked basmati or short-grain rice
- 2 tbsp Bharat Botanics Sesame Oil
- 1 tsp mustard seeds
- 1 tsp urad dal
- 1 tsp chana dal
- 8–10 curry leaves
- 1–2 green chillies, slit
- 1–2 dry red chillies
- 1 pinch hing
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 3 medium ripe tomatoes, finely chopped
- ½ tsp turmeric powder
- 1 tsp red chilli powder
- 1 tsp coriander powder
- ½ tsp garam masala
- Salt to taste
- Fresh coriander for garnish
Method
- Cook the rice until fluffy and allow it to cool.
- Heat Bharat Botanics Sesame Oil in a wide pan.
- Add mustard seeds and let them crackle.
- Add urad dal and chana dal. Sauté until golden.
- Add curry leaves, green chillies, dry red chillies and hing.
- Add chopped onion and sauté until translucent.
- Add tomatoes and cook until soft and pulpy.
- Add turmeric, chilli powder, coriander powder and salt.
- Cook the tomato mixture until thick and aromatic.
- Add the cooked rice and gently mix.
- Sprinkle garam masala and adjust seasoning.
- Cook for another 2–3 minutes.
- Garnish with coriander.
Bharat Botanics Tip: Sesame oil complements the classic mustard-curry leaf tempering and adds a gentle nutty note to tangy tomato rice.
4. Paneer Bhurji
Ingredients
- 250 g paneer, crumbled
- 2 tbsp Bharat Botanics Sesame Oil
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 2 medium tomatoes, finely chopped
- 1 green chilli, finely chopped
- 1 tsp ginger, grated
- ½ tsp cumin seeds
- ½ tsp turmeric powder
- ½ tsp red chilli powder
- ½ tsp coriander powder
- ½ tsp garam masala
- Salt to taste
- 1 tbsp fresh coriander
- 1 tbsp chopped capsicum (optional)
Method
- Heat Bharat Botanics Sesame Oil in a pan.
- Add cumin seeds.
- Add onion and sauté until translucent.
- Add ginger and green chilli. Sauté briefly.
- Add capsicum, if using, and cook for 2 minutes.
- Add tomatoes, turmeric, chilli powder, coriander powder and salt.
- Cook until the tomatoes soften and the mixture becomes aromatic.
- Add crumbled paneer.
- Gently mix and cook for 3–4 minutes.
- Add garam masala and fresh coriander.
- Remove from heat while the paneer remains soft and moist.
Serving Suggestion: Serve hot with roti, paratha, toast or as a filling for a sandwich or wrap.
Bharat Botanics Tip: Sesame oil adds a subtle nutty aroma to this quick and comforting paneer preparation.
5. Idli with Podi & Sesame Oil
Ingredients
For Idli
- 2 cups idli rice
- 1 cup urad dal
- ½ tsp fenugreek seeds
- Salt to taste
- Water, as required
For Serving
- ½ cup milagai podi / idli podi
- Bharat Botanics Sesame Oil, as required
Method
Prepare the Idli Batter
- Wash and soak idli rice and urad dal separately for 4–6 hours.
- Soak fenugreek seeds along with the urad dal.
- Drain and grind the rice and urad dal separately into smooth, slightly thick batters.
- Mix them together.
- Cover and allow the batter to ferment overnight or until doubled in volume.
- Add salt and gently mix.
- Grease idli moulds lightly and pour in the batter.
- Steam for approximately 10–12 minutes.
- Allow the idlis to rest for a couple of minutes before removing them from the moulds.
Make the Podi Mixture
- Place 2–3 tbsp milagai podi in a small bowl.
- Add Bharat Botanics Sesame Oil gradually.
- Mix until you get a thick, spoonable podi-oil mixture.
Serving
Place hot, soft idlis on a plate and serve with a generous spoonful of sesame-oil podi.
Bharat Botanics Tip: This classic South Indian pairing lets sesame oil take centre stage, bringing its characteristic nutty aroma to the spicy podi.
