Love tahini! Wish these arcs lasted longer to take advantage of the rest of the recipes. Great idea for a specialized book.

Open Sesame is a well written, attractively presented, niche collection of recipes featuring sweet and savory twists on sesame by Rachel Belle. Released 12th Nov 2024 by Sasquatch Books, it's 176 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats.

The book has a friendly, funky, retro graphic vibe which suits the slightly offbeat focus, to put sesame in the limelight. It's full of tasty recipes which, if they aren't instant classics, will definitely be a hit with brunch loving foodies. Sesame is surprisingly versatile, and although the collection does a good job of representing the cuisines where sesame (and tahini) feature large, it's by no means exclusive to the middle and far eastern countries. The author has developed and included some unexpectedly adventurous recipes which will either delight or perplex readers (or a bit of both?) such as Basil-lime pasta with sesame chicken bolognese (interesting!).

The recipes utilize ingredients which will mostly be readily available in any well stocked grocery store in North America - however some feature ingredients (tahini) which will require specialist retailers, probably online; not prohibitively rare, but requiring some planning for readers who live outside NYC or LA. They're arranged in the book thematically: morning meals, party snacks, mains & meals, and sweets.

Each recipe includes a description/intro, yields, ingredients in a bullet list header, and step-by-step prep directions. Ingredient measures are given in imperial (American) units only. There is no nutritional info provided.

It's got a bouncy, fun, young, foodie vibe, and the author is very open and chatty (in a good way). It's a small collection, but every one of the recipes, even the simpler ones, definitely have some *pow* factor. It will be an instant hit with foodies who love to brunch with friends, do potlucks, and who also gather with friends to do dinner or informal party nights.

The photography is very good, and each of the recipes is accompanied by one or more color photos. Serving suggestions are attractive and appropriate and the food is professionally styled.

Four stars. Really fun collection. It would make an excellent gift for a foodie friend, or for the home cook's library, as well as public or school library acquisition.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

I am so thankful to Sasquatch Books, Rachel Belle, and Netgalley for granting me advanced access to this galley before publication day. I really enjoyed the dialogue and plot of this book and can’t wait to chat this one up with my friends!

Book Review: Open Sesame: 45 Sweet & Savory Recipes for Tahini & All Things Sesame by Rachel Belle

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

If you're looking to spice up your kitchen game, look no further than Open Sesame by Rachel Belle! Seriously, this book is a total gem. It’s packed with 45 creative recipes that elevate tahini from a simple condiment to the star of the show. Rachel takes this creamy, nutty ingredient and shows you how versatile it really is—think of tahini as the little black dress of the culinary world. It can go from a hearty savory dish to a decadent dessert without missing a beat!

One of the best things about this cookbook is its global flair. Each recipe has a unique sesame twist that adds a little something extra to your everyday meals. I was particularly blown away by the Ginger Sesame Chicken Soup and the Sesame-Crusted Waffles with Tahini and Maple. My family couldn’t get enough of them! The recipes are straightforward and easy to follow, making it a breeze to whip up something delicious without feeling overwhelmed.

Rachel also sprinkles in helpful tips and suggestions throughout the book, which I found super useful. Plus, the photography? Pure drool-worthy eye candy! The whole book is not just a cookbook but an aesthetically pleasing addition to your kitchen library.

Whether you're a seasoned chef or just getting started, Open Sesame is a fun and creative resource for making everything from breakfast to snacks, main dishes, sides, and even sweet treats. With standout recipes like Falafel-Spiced Tahini Deviled Eggs with Crispy Chickpeas and Chocolate Miso Whoopie Pies with Tahini Cream, you’re bound to impress your friends and family.

So if you want to sprinkle some sesame sparkle into your life (and your meals), grab this book! It’s perfect for any foodie looking to explore new flavors while keeping things allergy-friendly and nutritious. Trust me, you won't regret it!

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

I love sesame, so I was excited to get the chance to read this cookbook. So many creative ways of using sesame, definitely one I plan on adding to my personal collection.

Some really creative ways to use sesame here! Thanks for the ARC for review. Fun cookbook. I am really intrigued to try some of these recipes.

This book is a love letter to sesame and tahini, an ingredient I associate with hummus, and little else. This book was a deep dive into the myriad ways to use tahini in recipes, and divided into logical recipe sections. I can't wait to try some of these recipes!

Thank you Netgalley and Sasquatch Books for the ARC!

This book contains recipes using tahini, which I never know how to use other than in hummus. Great ideas. Many of the recipes I would cook.

Open Sesame: 45 Sweet & Savory Recipes for Tahini & All Things Sesame by Rachel Belle

This cookbook kicks off with an inspiring foreword by the iconic designer Isaac Mizrahi. Rachel Belle offers 39 diverse recipes, showcasing dishes from various cultures that highlight the versatility of tahini and sesame. The recipes cover everything from breakfast, including a delicious smoothie, to desserts and candy like brittle. This book is a great choice for anyone looking to incorporate tahini and sesame into their everyday cooking in creative new ways.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

She had me at "no tahini left behind". As a victim of forgotten giant bottles of tahini in the back of the kitchen, I was excited for the recipes in "open sesame"

The desserts were the best in my option- I'll definitely be making some sweets this weekend :)

I love sesame, I love tahini, I love this cookbook.

Recipes are easy to follow, enticing to make, approachable, and formatted well.

Open Sesame by Rachel Belle is a fun, creative, and helpful kitchen resource. What you can expect – recipes (sweet and savory) for morning meals, snacks, main dishes and sides, and sweet things. My take - I enjoy hummus, possibly even more than the average person, but after reading this book, I can appreciate I am not even at the armature level. There are so many things I did not realize. I know the ingredients, but the origin, quality, and technique have been lost on me. Tahini is crucial for that perfect taste that is sought out in a fresh handmade hummus. What I did not know is all the other versatile uses of tahini and sesame seeds. I never would have thought of the combinations presented, yet they work to create a delicious experience. The recipes are simple and easy to follow, just make sure you get good ingredients. Tips and suggestions are offered for best choices. The pictures provided are not only aesthetically pleasing with all the colors and arrangements, but they are also helpful guides to know what to aim for when a recipe is brand new to the maker.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.

This was worth reading not only because of the delish-sounding sesame-based recipes (including seeds and oil), but because oft he advice on how to store and use tahini. What do you mean, I’ve been going at this the wrong way my whole life? Eye-opening.

Logically divided onto morning meals, party snacks, mains and sides and sweet things, this is a beautifully presented cook book. The very odd thing is that this isn't really about cooking with sesame, it's about cooking with tahini, but, despite the only ingredient of tahini being sesame, the cook is instructed on the best brands to buy.This has been really bugging me, since tahini has exactly one ingredient. The other thing is (and this is personal) the recipes didn't vibe with me. There wasn't even a desert or biscuit that made me say "yes, I'll cook that". None of them appealed. But then neither did going out and buying a jar of tahini.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-Arc in exchange for an honest review.

There is always a part eaten jar of tahini in our fridge. This book shows that it is not just for hummus !

This book has some interesting recipes. Well written with great pictures. Who knew you could use Sesame for breakfast foods? The recipes were descriptive. My mother inlaw enjoyed trying some of the recipes and I enjoyed eating them.

This is the book that opened my eyes and palate to the wonders and diverse uses of tahini (sesame seed butter). I've made hummus for decades yet Rachel Belle showed me new and interesting uses and combinations for it. And the plethora of recipes beyond "the usual suspects" for tahini range from breakfast through dinner and dessert and from soup to nuts (or, in this case, seeds). Rachel also gives her favorite brands of tahini and explains why they are her favorite, something I appr ciat d greatly. Not only is there something for everybody in these pages but also more than expected or anticipated. I see much tahini in our futures!

I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book.

Love, love, love! Anyone who encourages people to eat more tahini is a good person in my book. Would highly recommend and will be buying when it get published.

I really enjoyed looking through this recipe book and the vibrant photos with recipes!! I wish there was more variety to it, but I can definitely see some that i am personally interested in trying. Not an essential cookbook, but definitely a fun one to own.

The introduction of this is so badly written. It feels like an adult trying to sound younger or what they imagine will be appealing to a younger/teenage audience. It just sounded like I was reading a text to speech from a Wannabe influencer. Unbearable.