Black Sesame and Walnut Paste

Introduction

Toasted black sesame seeds and walnuts are ground into a fine powder, then simmered with water over low heat into a thick, fragrant paste with a subtle nutty aroma — a nourishing snack favored by many pregnant women. This sesame paste is simple to make and needs very little added sugar, since the black sesame and walnuts already carry plenty of natural flavor on their own. It works well as an afternoon treat or a bedtime snack, and it's a traditional tonic that many families keep on hand during pregnancy and postpartum recovery.

Nutrition Highlights

• Black sesame is rich in calcium and unsaturated fats, making it a natural food for boosting calcium during pregnancy
• Walnuts provide omega-3 fatty acids, which play a positive role in fetal brain development
• The recipe uses very little refined sugar overall, with sweetness coming mainly from the ingredients themselves and a small amount of brown sugar
• The smooth, paste-like texture is easy to digest, suiting a sensitive stomach or reduced appetite during pregnancy

Tips

• Dry-toast the black sesame and walnuts over low heat beforehand to bring out their aroma — the resulting paste will taste noticeably richer
• Adding a small amount of rice when grinding makes the cooked paste thicker and smoother
• Keep added sugar minimal — brown sugar or no sugar at all both work — to avoid unnecessary blood sugar swings during pregnancy