炒(い)りごま

A compound of 炒(い)り (roasted, from 炒(い)る 'to roast/parch') and ごま (胡麻(ごま), sesame). Sold in small bags at any Japanese supermarket and used as a finishing garnish or as the base for sesame dressings and sauces.

Common collocations

• 炒(い)りごまをふる: to sprinkle toasted sesame seeds
• 炒(い)りごまを擂(す)る: to grind toasted sesame seeds
• 白(しろ)炒(い)りごま: toasted white sesame
• 黒(くろ)炒(い)りごま: toasted black sesame

Related words

• すりごま: ground sesame — pre-ground toasted sesame, sold in packages
• 練(ね)りごま: sesame paste — smooth paste made from sesame seeds
• 白(しろ)ごま: white sesame seeds — the most common variety
• 黒(くろ)ごま: black sesame seeds — stronger flavor, used in sweets and as garnish
• 胡麻(ごま): sesame — the general term

Usage

炒(い)りごま is the most common form of sesame sold for home cooking. It appears in countless Japanese dishes: 胡麻(ごま)和(あ)え (sesame-dressed vegetables), きんぴら (braised root vegetables), 冷(ひ)やし中華(ちゅうか) (cold noodles), rice balls, and more.