Protein content
A 1 oz serving of sesame seeds contains 5 g of protein - a moderate source of protein, about 10% of the 50 g Daily Value.
Share of this food's calories that come from protein - it is more of an energy food than a protein food.
| Serving | 1 oz (28 g) |
|---|---|
| Protein per serving | 5 g |
| Protein per 100 g | 17.7 g |
| Calories per serving | 160 kcal |
| Protein density | 12% of calories |
| Share of 50 g Daily Value | 10% |
| Protein quality | Incomplete protein |
| Category | Seeds |
| Food type | Whole food |
| USDA record | FoodData Central #170150 |
A typical 1 oz serving of sesame seeds contains 5 grams of protein (17.7 g per 100 g), which makes it a moderate source of protein. That covers roughly 10% of the 50 g reference Daily Value, so it adds toward your protein total for the day.
Around 12% of the calories in sesame seeds come from protein, so it is more of an energy food than a protein food. It contributes to a day's protein total, but the bulk of what it delivers is energy rather than amino acids - treat it as a contributor alongside a denser source, not as the protein in a meal.
Among the 27 seeds in the database, sesame seeds ranks 19th by protein per serving, and 496th out of all 796 foods on the site. Set against safflower seeds, another seed entry in the database, a serving carries about 0.5 g more protein (safflower seeds has 4.5 g per 1 oz).
It is an incomplete protein on its own; pairing it with other plant foods across the day covers the full range of essential amino acids. The serving above is measured by weight at 28 g. The per-100 g figure lets you compare it directly against any other food here, whatever its serving.
Source: USDA FoodData Central #170150 - "Seeds, sesame seeds, whole, dried" (SR Legacy, published 4/1/2019). Values are the published reference figures for that record, not lab measurements for a specific brand or batch.
Quick answers
Sesame seeds has 17.7 g of protein per 100 g. A typical 1 oz serving (28 g) provides 5 g.
No. Sesame seeds is an incomplete protein on its own; pairing it with other protein sources across the day covers the full range of essential amino acids.
A 1 oz serving of sesame seeds contains 5 g of protein, about 10% of the 50 g reference Daily Value.
Sesame seeds is a moderate source of protein, and about 12% of its calories come from protein, which makes it more of an energy food than a protein food. Set against safflower seeds, another seed entry in the database, a serving carries about 0.5 g more protein (safflower seeds has 4.5 g per 1 oz).
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