What is Cumin?

@anon14713-- There really isn't any substitute for cumin. There is no other spice that tastes like it.

I suggest you use cumin seasoning if a recipe calls for it. I know cumin can be expensive. A tiny bottle of cumin costs so much at my grocery store. That's why I buy it from international grocery stores instead. I got a whole bag of cumin at the Bangladeshi grocery for half the price of the tiny bottle they were selling elsewhere. It's really fresh and fragrant too.

@anon155156-- You mean like in biryani? That's the only rice dish I have had with cumin in it.

Biryani is really good and has lots of cumin in it. I think it uses other spices too, like saffron, cinnamon and whole black pepper.

Cumin is definitely very common in Southeast Asia and the Middle East as well. That makes sense since India has always been the source of spices for the region.

Cumin is nice but when people add too much of it to dishes, I can't handle it. It has a very strong flavor and can overtake all other flavors. I don't like that. I can handle a pinch or two but not anything more than that.

I only put cumin in foods with lots of ingredients so that it doesn't become the dominant flavor. It's good in stews, sauces and meatballs.

Does anyone know of any dishes that combine cumin and chicken? I don't think I have every had something like this but it seems like they would pair up nicely.

I am a big fan of making beans and rice as a quick after work meal and cumin powder really elevates the dish. That plus some chili powder, fresh garlic, and fresh jalapeno.

You can whip the whole thing up is less than 20 minutes and have a really tasty, mostly healthy meal.

@shell4life – That sounds delicious! I love the flavor and aroma of dried cumin.

It makes food have a slightly smoky flavor. It makes things taste like they might have been grilled just a little while, even if they haven't.

I make chickpea popcorn with cumin. I roll the chickpeas in olive oil and then sprinkle them with cumin and chili powder. It's a great alternative to regular popcorn.

Cumin makes steak fajitas awesome. Without it, I don't think they would taste very much like fajitas at all.

I cut some steak into thin strips and season them with a blend of cumin, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, and chili powder. I use more cumin than anything else. I shake the meat and the spices together inside a sealed container.

I cook it with bell peppers and onions in canola oil in a skillet for a few minutes. The meat cooks quickly, because it has been sliced so thin.

Just before I remove the skillet from the stove, I mix in a few drops of lime juice. This tenderizes the meat and works well with the flavor of the cumin.

I keep a bottle of dried cumin in my spice rack at all times. It is one of my favorite flavors to add to food. It tastes great with chicken and beef, and I haven't tried it yet, but I imagine it would taste good with shrimp, as well.

@anon165899 – Black beans are great with cumin! I make a chicken tortilla soup that includes both, and it is delicious.

In addition to cumin and black beans, it also includes corn, chicken, zucchini, salsa, and garlic. I always crush tortilla chips on top of the soup when I serve it. It's like eating liquid tacos!

I can really taste the cumin in the soup. Even though I don't use much in comparison to all the other ingredients, its pretty potent and it comes through in every bite.

I use Cumin when I make crock pot black eyed peas or black beans. It really brings out the flavor!

In central Asia commonly we use cumin powder and seeds with rice. it gives a very good smell and flavor to rice.

Cumin is used in Central America and Mexico also. Do research before you post a comment.

I use cumin in all my mexican dishes and american as well. I love the smell and the zing that it gives my food.

cumin is used in lebanese recipes, too.

cumin is mainly used in indian cuisine. Used in almost every indian dish from potatoes, chicken, pork, lamb, bread, rice, etc. I've never seen cumin used in any other nationalities. Not sure though. i mostly cook Indian, American, Italian, French cuisine.

Cumin isn't very Mexican. I lived there 11 years and never tasted it except in tamales. I'm talking a very wide area in Mex. But if you want to cook Mexican don't leave out the cilantro. If you want to cook Texan put cumin!

don't say she's crazy, because she didn't say it's the same, she only said it's a good substitute, meaning if you cook it with another ingredient, it would still come out good! dumbo

is cumin same with celery?

No. *Corn starch* is not a cumin substitute. It is nowhere close. Cornstarch is often used for thickening liquids, not for taste.

Is cumin the same as corn starch? Can corn starch be used in instead of cumin in Taco ingredients?

Are you crazy? Cilantro and cumin are completely different. Not the same ball park, not even the same freakin' sport...

Cilantro is a good substitute for cumin in Mexican recipes.

Is there a substitute for cumin?

It is better to buy and store cumin seeds than cumin powder, since seeds will keep their flavor better. To extract even more flavor, it is a good idea to lightly toast the seeds before use.

Cumin is rich in iron and manganese, while cumin oil fights fungi, parasites and bacteria.