What Is Cumin and How Do You Use It?
What is cumin? The spice cabinet can be a confusing place for beginner home chefs with all the vials of various powders, seeds and extracts, but it doesn't have to be that way. If you want to take a dive into the spices that make up your favorite, then start here as we look at cumin.
Cumin is a common spice. In fact, it’s so popular that it ranks in the top ten spices sold in America. Explore its fascinating history and the various culinary applications of a spice that’s sure to elevate your cooking skills with minimal effort.
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What Is Cumin?
What exactly is cumin? Cumin is a spice derived from the Cuminum cyminum plant, a member of the parsley family. This delicate plant features small stalks and petite leaves, making it easy to grow indoors in small containers. After harvesting, the fruit of the plant is dried and used either as whole seeds or ground into powder.
What is cumin powder? Cumin powder is made by grinding the seeds into a fine powder. This form of the spice is the most popular, renowned for its warm, smoky flavor that enhances a variety of dishes.
Cumin comes in different varieties from around the world. Black cumin, also known as Nigella sativa or black seed, belongs to the buttercup family and is frequently used in Middle Eastern cooking. Brown cumin has larger, plumper seeds and is commonly found in Indian, North African and Mexican cuisines. White cumin, or jeera seed, is a potent spice utilized in many global dishes.
What Does Cumin Look Like?
If you're searching for cumin at your local grocery store, chances are you'll find it readily available. Cumin is most commonly available in two distinct forms, each with its own culinary applications: cumin seeds and cumin powder.
Cumin seeds resemble caraway seeds, which can lead to some confusion, so be sure to read the label carefully. The seeds are oblong-shaped and vary in color from black to brown. In contrast, cumin powder is a light chestnut brown, offering a distinct appearance that sets it apart from the seeds.
Where Is Cumin From?
What is cumin’s origin? This popular herb has a long and storied past spanning multiple continents. It is believed that cumin originated in Central Asia, Southwestern Asia or the Eastern Mediterranean and has been used as a spice for thousands of years.
Cumin seeds were even excavated from an ancient Syrian dig site by archaeologists. What’s more, did you know that a particular type of cumin was an important herb used in the mummification process of ancient rulers and that there have been reports of the spice being found in ancient Egyptian ruins? You do now!
There is also historical evidence of cumin being a popular spice in Ancient Crete that was used frequently by the Minoans. Cumin has also been used for millennia in India and was introduced to the Americas by Spanish and Portuguese colonizers. Today, cumin is grown all over the world in areas such as India, North Africa, Mexico, Chile and China.
Is Cumin a Spice or an Herb?
What’s the difference between a spice and an herb? Herbs come from the leaves, flowers or stems of a plant and can be used fresh or dried. In contrast, spices are derived from roots, seeds, fruits, barks or other non-leafy parts of plants and they are almost always dried. Since cumin originates from the fruit of the plant, it is classified as a spice. Herbs are typically milder in flavor, while spices like cumin offer a more concentrated taste.
Interested in expanding your spice knowledge? Check out this handy list of spices that will help you season your dishes like a true chef. Cumin is just the beginning when it comes to flavoring ingredients and creating deliciously balanced plates.
Is Cumin Healthy?
Cumin is not only flavorful, it also offers several health benefits. This spice has been shown to promote healthy digestion by increasing the production of digestive enzymes, which helps speed up the digestive process. Cumin has also been shown to support liver function by aiding in bile production, essential for breaking down and digesting fats.
For those suffering from IBS, cumin may help alleviate symptoms. With that being said, it’s always best to check with a health professional before incorporating any new ingredient into your diet for medicinal purposes.
One other notable benefit of cumin is its rich iron content; just one teaspoon of ground cumin provides about 17% of the recommended daily intake of iron. Iron deficiency is a widespread issue, affecting up to 20% of the global population, so it’s reassuring to know that such an iron-rich spice is so readily available!
Cumin is also packed with beneficial plant compounds, including terpenes, phenols, flavonoids and alkaloids, which act as antioxidants and help reduce harmful free radicals in the body. It has potentially positive effects on health that are still being explored, such as lowering cholesterol, fighting inflammation, promoting weight loss, assisting with diabetes management and even reducing drug dependence.
In short, there are many of benefits — proven and potential — to adding cumin to your dishes. Health benefits aside, it’s also delicious, and incorporating cumin into your diet can enhance dishes like vegan tikka masala, adding both great flavor and nutritional benefits.
What Does Cumin Taste Like?
Cumin has a distinct, earthy flavor with an edge of citrus and pairs well with many different ingredients. The rich, hearty taste adds a warm earthy flavor to dishes. Cumin powder has a lighter flavor than cumin seeds which tend to have a more pronounced and concentrated flavor. Cumin powder can taste soapy to certain people but that's often not the case. This spice adds a robust flavor to meats such as Greek chicken thighs, making the meal taste hearty and comforting.
Cumin is popular in Mexican cooking for its smoky flavor that complements fire-roasted chiles and chipotle. It is also used frequently in Indian food, in which the spice's hint of citrus brightens up rich curries and sauces. The versatile use of cumin makes learning about it worthwhile for any home chef hoping to broaden their culinary horizons.
Cooking With Cumin
Cooking with cumin is a delightful experience that can take many different turns. Popular in Mediterranean, Latin American, Asian and Indian cuisines, there are so many exciting options to explore with cumin. Want to use spices like a real chef? Discover cooking classes near you for a personal cooking experience in which an expert chef will offer top tips and insights to help you season your dishes like a pro.
Alternatively, if you prefer to learn from the comfort of your kitchen, check out online cooking classes. Classes are available from chefs around the world, allowing you to pick and choose your favorite cuisine before learning how to master it with expert guidance.
Cumin pairs well with many other spices including turmeric, thyme, cinnamon, red pepper and oregano. It’s very popular with vegetarians for making vegetable-based dishes taste heartier. It’s also commonly used in chili, butternut squash soup and even spicy hummus.
While cumin can be delicious, it is also potent and can easily become overpowering. Make sure to measure your spices carefully and taste test as you go to avoid ruining your dish. As with many spices, while it can be used to enhance the flavor or some other spices, with others, it’s likely to ruin them. For example, while cumin works great in many Indian curries and spicy Mexican dishes, it’s probably best left out when preparing creamy Italian pasta or sweet desserts!
Where To Buy Cumin
Because of its popularity, cumin is very easy to find in most parts of the world. This spice is available in all chain grocery stores located in the spice aisle. Many household brands manufacture cumin powder and cumin seeds, so it is usually very easy to find on your weekly grocery run. If you need to buy cumin in bulk, check out your local Indian grocery store for large quantities of cumin for a reasonable price.
How To Store Cumin
This spice should be kept in a cool dry place like the spice cabinet in your cupboard. This product is shelf stable for years and shouldn’t go bad anytime soon. Some may be wondering do spices expire? The answer is yes, so be sure to thoroughly check before using them in cooking. When cumin is old the taste of the spice will start to deteriorate, leaving you with a bland powder that doesn’t add much flavor.
Make sure the spice is stored in a secure container to avoid contaminants and moisture from ruining the product. If your cumin powder becomes overly clumpy or starts to exhibit a bad smell or weird color it is best to throw it out and buy a fresh container. Most powdered spices available at the grocery store include some form of preservative to keep them tasting fresher longer, but that doesn’t mean cumin powder will last forever.
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Cumin is a universal spice that people have been using for millennia to season their food. From warm comfort food like butter chicken to outside-the-box vegan tacos, cumin adds a dash of deliciousness to many meals. This versatile spice is beloved by many around the world and is an interesting way to add some zest to your everyday dishes.
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