How To Cook With Cumin: Ways To Use This All-Purpose Spice In Daily Life

Next to salt, pepper, and chili flakes, cumin seed may be the most common seasoning we use. This is a seasoning from India. Has a very pleasant smell and taste and gives the dish an unusual taste. Its husky, smoky, and sweet flavor has the capacity to improve almost anything it’s paired with. It can shine on its own or fade into the background, balancing a curry or spice rub and cutting through rich flavors. Cumin is a spice that most of us associate with spicy Latin American food, but it’s also used in Dutch, Belgian - and even Austrian - cooking. Cumin is a member of the carrot family and a relative of caraway. Ground cumin can be added to pot roast recipes, as well as potato dumplings. It’s a spice well worth keeping on your shelves for a variety of dishes. We use cumin seed whole for textural contrast, coarsely crushed and finely ground. When using ground, we do recommend grinding it fresh as needed; the flavor is fleeting and preground cumin lacks the depth and aroma of fresh. Here are a few of our favorite ways to use cumin for fast, bold flavor, including 30 quick and easy recipes you'll want to put on repeat.