Black sesame, brown butter and wattleseed cookies

MAKES 18 // PREP TIME 20 MINS // COOK 45 MINS (PLUS CHILLING)

“Black sesame adds a dramatic look to these cookies, with brown butter and wattleseed bringing a further nutty note,” says Lee.

“If you can’t find wattleseed, just leave it out.” Pictured p93.

80 gm black sesame seeds, plus extra (about 70gm) to coat

Small pinch of white sesame seeds

120 gm unsalted butter

100 gm brown sugar

60 gm caster sugar

1 egg

180 gm black sesame paste or black tahini (see note) 170 gm plain flour

2½ tsp ground wattleseed (optional; see note)

½ tsp bicarbonate of soda

1 Dry-roast black sesame seeds in a frying pan over medium heat, tossing, until fragrant

(3-4 minutes; see cook’s notes p168). Cool, then grind in a spice grinder until finely ground, but not clumping together.

2 Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium-high heat until foaming and nut brown (4-5 minutes). Strain through a very fine metal sieve (discard solids) into a bowl. Whisk in sugars to combine, then whisk in egg and then the black sesame paste. Fold in flour, wattleseed, bicarbonate of soda, ground black sesame and ½ tsp sea salt flakes. Cover and refrigerate for 3 hours to rest.

3 Preheat oven to 175°C. Line 2 large oven trays with baking paper and place white and extra black sesame seeds in a bowl. Roll dough into 18 balls (2 tbsp each), then flatten each ball slightly and coat in sesame seeds. Place on prepared trays, leaving about 4cm between each. Bake, one tray at a time, until cookies start to feel slightly firm at the edges (16-18 minutes). Cool to room temperature on trays. Cookies will keep for a week in an airtight container.

Note Black sesame paste is available from select health-food stores. Ground wattleseed is available from

The Essential Ingredient, Herbie’s Spices and outbackpride.com.au.