What's For Dinner: Shrimp Dumplings And Ice Cream Sandwiches

Sesame seeds add crunch and flavor to this menu

Not feeling inspired by your usual dishes? Here's what's for dinner.

They may look small and unassuming, but sesame seeds have something to say. They're breaking free from their day job as a bagel accessory and showing off their bold, nutty flavor in wontons and even ice cream sandwiches. Say "open sesame" to your mouth and dig into this menu powered by a sesame trifecta of seeds, paste and oil.

① Main Course: Spinach-and-Shrimp Wontons with Spicy Soy Dipping Sauce

When it comes to sesame oil, toasted trumps untoasted any day of the week. Both the dipping sauce and seafood filling feature the umami-packed ingredient, rounding out the Asian flavors of this dish.

② Side Dish: Collard Greens with Benne Seeds

Don't be confused by the name—benne is simply sesame's moniker below the Mason-Dixon Line. Toasted sesame seeds add a fragrant crunch to this equally Southern side dish, and an extra drizzle of sesame oil gives it a sweet finish.

③ Dessert: Black Sesame Ice Cream Sandwiches

A freshly baked brownie practically begs to be paired with ice cream, so it's only natural that we gave these brownie-like cookies a frozen fix. The impatient (or thrifty) can stir the sesame paste into store-bought vanilla to sidestep freezing time.