Sesame Oil (Nallennai / Gingelly): Uses in Tamil Cooking

Nallennai, gingelly oil and sesame oil are three names for the same thing: oil pressed from sesame seeds. In Tamil homes it is the oil you pour over idli podi, the oil that finishes a pot of vatha kuzhambu, and the oil warmed for the Deepavali morning oil bath. This guide covers how Chettyz makes its sesame oil, the dishes it suits best, and how to store it.

What is nallennai?

Nallennai is the Tamil name for sesame oil. The word means "good oil", and gingelly is the older English name used across South India. Chettyz nallennai is chekku, cold pressed oil: it is extracted only by mechanical pressing, with no chemical solvents. It is not refined, and nothing is added to it.

It is not the same as the dark, toasted sesame oil used in East Asian cooking, which is usually made from roasted seeds and used a few drops at a time. Nallennai is an everyday cooking oil.

How does Chettyz make its sesame oil?

Three simple steps, done at our unit in Dharmapuri:

• Black sesame seeds. We start with black sesame seeds sourced from our farmers.
• Sun-drying. The seeds are dried in the sun before pressing.
• Cold pressing. The seeds are cold pressed for their natural taste and aroma. Cold pressing avoids the high heat used in some other extraction methods.

The oil is prepared fresh and bottled in 500 ml, 1 litre and 5 litre packs. To learn more about the press, read What is chekku oil?

How do I use sesame oil with idli podi?

Put a spoon or two of podi on your plate, make a small well in the middle and pour in a little nallennai. Mix with your finger or a spoon until it becomes a thick dip, and add more oil if you like it thinner. Serve with idli, dosa or uthappam. The same mix stirred into hot rice makes a quick podi sadam. See how to use idli podi for more ideas, or browse our podis.

Which Tamil dishes are cooked in nallennai?

• Kuzhambu. Vatha kuzhambu, puli kuzhambu and kara kuzhambu are traditionally cooked in sesame oil, and many cooks add a spoon on top just before serving.
• Ennai kathirikai. Stuffed brinjal curry, as the name says, uses plenty of oil.
• Tempering. Mustard seeds, urad dal, chillies and curry leaves for thogayal, chutney or poriyal.
• Home pickles. Mango and lemon pickles are traditionally made with nallennai.
• Dosa. A few drops around the edge of the dosa on the tawa.

Sesame oil has a rich flavour, so it changes the taste of a dish when you use it in place of another oil. For deep frying, many families use kadalai ennai, and for avial, thengai ennai. Our guide which oil for which Tamil dish explains the choices.

What is the Deepavali oil bath?

Ennai kuliyal, the oil bath, is how many Tamil families begin Deepavali morning. Elders warm a little nallennai and apply it to the hair and body, then everyone washes it off with a bath powder such as kuppaimeni before wearing new clothes. Some families also keep the custom on Saturdays. Our Diwali combo brings together sesame oil, kuppaimeni bath powder and cotton towels for the morning, with groundnut oil and nattu sakkarai for the sweets.

Does this oil contain sesame?

Yes. It is made only from sesame seeds, so choose another oil if anyone at home needs to avoid sesame.

How should I store nallennai?

Keep the bottle tightly closed in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight and stove heat. Do not let water get into the bottle, and use a clean, dry container if you refill a smaller one. The oil is prepared fresh with nothing added, so check the best-before date on the pack and buy a size you will use comfortably.

Where can I buy Chettyz sesame oil?

Order it on chettyz.com or Amazon.in, or find it at departmental stores. On chettyz.com, shipping is free on orders above ₹499. Chettyz is a brand of Sasi's Home Foods, Dharmapuri, started in 2017 and chosen by 2,400+ happy customers. Read our story.

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