I tutor several Korean adults, all of whom make frequent trips to the nearest (2+ hours away) H-Mart store for Asian food items they cannot find here in Charlottesville (VA).   I’ve made it quite crystal clear that I will adore them forever if they bring me sesame leaves (quite inexpensive) each and every time they travel to H-Mart. 

*I’ve asked local stores to stock sesame leaves with no success –  not sure why they find it difficult – They stay fresh longer than many other greens…?

Anyway, I was introduced to sesame leaves while living in Korea — used with ’sahm bap’ dishes, or bulgogi.

One takes a leaf, a bit of meat, a bit of rice, a bit of this, a bit of that, then rolls the leaf around these, and either eats as is, or dips into any of varied sauces — then indulges.  Yummmmmmmmmm!  I never tire of them!

When living in Korea, I would buy these religiously, and have them breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Delicious with eggs, with rice, with meat, chopped in salads –and also in yogurt (a recent discovery — chopped sesame leaves in plain yogurt — yummmmm! 

Do you have a sesame leaves story to share?  Please post a comment!