Black Sesame Soup (Zhi Ma Hu)
A thick, nutty and silky black sesame soup, lightly sweet and served piping hot on a cold day.
- Time40 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £0.63 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
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Method
- 1
Soak the rice in cold water for 30 minutes, then drain.
30 min - 2
Toast the sesame seeds in a dry frying pan over a medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring, until they smell nutty. Do not let them burn or the soup will taste bitter.
4 min - 3
Blend the sesame, rice and 500 ml of the water on high for 2 to 3 minutes, until as smooth as you can get it.
- 4
Pour the mixture into a pan through a sieve, pressing out the liquid. Add the rest of the water.
- 5
Heat gently, stirring constantly, until it thickens and simmers. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes. Add the sugar and stir until dissolved.
10 min - 6
Serve hot in small bowls. Add a splash of hot water if it is too thick.
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.
