Baba’s Sesame Espresso Martini (up) Recipe
Make Baba’s Sesame Espresso Martini (up) Recipe in just 20m. Get the full recipe with step-by-step instructions at pekinthechef.com.
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Ingredients
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Cocktail
Garnish & Syrup
Method
Garnish & Syrup
- 1
Make sesame syrup
In a small saucepan, combine 0.25 cup water and 0.25 cup granulated sugar. Warm over medium heat, stirring until the sugar fully dissolves. Once dissolved, remove from heat and stir in 1 tablespoon of toasted white sesame seeds (use portion from the toasted seeds listed under Ingredients), slightly crushing them with the back of a spoon to release oil. Let the mixture steep for 10 minutes. Strain the syrup through a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth into a clean jar, pressing on the seeds to extract flavor. Stir in 0.25 teaspoon toasted sesame oil. Cool to room temperature before use. This yields approximately 4–5 oz syrup; use 0.5 oz per cocktail and refrigerate the remainder up to 2 weeks.
- 2
Toast sesame seeds
Place the remaining 1 teaspoon white sesame seeds and 0.5 teaspoon black sesame seeds in a small dry skillet over medium-low heat. Shake the pan or stir constantly for 1–2 minutes until seeds are fragrant and lightly browned. Transfer seeds to a plate to cool so they do not continue to cook. Set aside for garnish and rim preparation.
Cocktail
- 3
- 4
Prepare espresso
Brew a fresh single shot (about 1 oz) of espresso. Allow it to cool slightly (1–2 minutes) so it is still warm but not scalding; slightly warm espresso helps create a better foam when shaken. If you do not have an espresso machine, use a strong double shot from a Moka pot or 1 oz very strong cold-brew concentrate.
- 5
Build and shake
Fill a cocktail shaker with the measured ice (about 1 cup). Add 2 oz vodka, 1 oz freshly brewed espresso, 0.75 oz coffee liqueur, and 0.5 oz prepared sesame syrup. Seal the shaker and shake vigorously for 12–18 seconds to chill thoroughly and produce a rich crema (shake longer if using warm espresso).
- 6
Fine-strain
Remove the chilled glass from the freezer. Double-strain the cocktail into the chilled coupe or martini glass using both the shaker strainer and a fine mesh strainer to remove any tiny ice shards and to ensure a silky texture.
- 7
Finish and garnish
Very lightly drop 2 drops of toasted sesame oil onto the surface of the drink and gently let it spread (optional — use sparingly as it is potent). Sprinkle the finely ground espresso or finely ground coffee (about 1 tsp) in a small pattern across the foam for aroma and visual contrast. Finish with a small pinch of the toasted sesame seeds over one side of the glass for texture and a nutty aroma. Serve immediately.
