Sesame - Rachel Simons (Pre-Order)

Available for pre-order, with copies available as of April 29, and signed copies available as of May 11.

Rachel Simons, co-founder of cult-favorite artisanal tahini brand Seed + Mill, debuts her first cookbook: Sesame: Global Recipes & Stories of an Ancient Seed (Ten Speed Press), an approachable collection of 80+ recipes celebrating the sesame seed. With its delicious nutty taste, nutritional density, and long shelf life, the sesame seed is a tiny ingredient with an enormous cultural impact and a deeply rich history.

Sesame honors the evolution, history, and diversity of the humble seed. Whether it’s in its original seed-form, tahini (a ground sesame paste), sesame oil, or halva (a delicate, fudge-like candy made from sesame paste), sesame shines in both traditional and modern global recipes. In addition to Simons’ own favorites, the book is filled with contributions from a slate of noted chefs and food luminaries including David Lebovitz, Molly Yeh, Nisha Vora, Zoë François, and more.

“My journey with sesame began when I started Seed + Mill, but it’s always been about more than just making tahini,” says Simons. “In Sesame, I wanted to explore how this tiny seed can transform both familiar and unexpected dishes. It’s a seed that connects cultures, flavors, and traditions, and I’m excited to share the ways sesame has inspired me.”

Through her own recipes, Simons weaves a story of her travels, her heritage, and her deep connection to the many people and places that use sesame in their cooking—from the Middle East to Asia, the Mediterranean to Africa. Sesame is a loving culinary tribute to the sesame seed: how it has transformed dishes, how it has been translated by different regional customs, and how it has tied people and places together through generations.