What Is It?

Cumin is the dried seed of the Cuminum cyminum plant, a member of the parsley family. The seeds as well as cumin powder are used extensively in Indian, Middle eastern, African, and Mexican cuisines. In this post, I am highlighting some of the excellent health benefits and culinary uses of cumin.

Where To Find It?

Cumin is a very common spice and you can find it everywhere from local grocery store spice shelves to ethnic food stores. Look for larger bags of cumin seeds in Indian or Mexican stores. Skip the cumin powder and take the 10 minutes to grind your own. Trust me – freshly ground cumin powder makes a huge difference.

Health Benefits

Cumin provides many health benefits:

• Cumin aids in digestion.
• Naturally rich in iron, a teaspoon of cumin provides about 20% of daily iron requirements.
• Cumin is a potent antioxidant and can stabilize free radicals to help inflammation.
• It helps reduce blood sugar by stimulating insulin production.
• Studies have shown that cumin supplements have improved blood cholesterol.

Read more about the potential health benefits of cumin in this Healthline article.

Culinary Uses

Mediterranean and South Asian cuisines use cumin extensively. Indian food uses cumin abundantly in everything from curries to raita and rice. Mexican influenced recipes frequently call for cumin as well. Here is a nice introduction to cumin from The Kitchn. All you need is cumin seeds. You can then use it in multiple ways.

• Dry roast some cumin seeds on low heat till you get the earthy aroma. Do not burn it! Once cooled, grind it into powder in a spice mill or dedicated coffee grinder. You can then store it for months in an airtight container. The difference from store bought cumin powder is insane!
• Cumin Tea – Boil cumin seeds in water and let simmer for about 20 minutes. Once cooked this can be drunk as is with a touch of honey and lemon or mixed into your basic lemonade recipe for a quick digestive.
• Cumin is very common in Indian ‘tadka’ or tempering. It serves to bring out the flavors from the spices in hot oil and added to dishes for enhanced flavors and health benefits.
• All Tex-Mex/Mexican spice blends use cumin for its earthy flavor. Add cumin generously to your favorite taco or enchilada recipe. A sprinkle of fresh cumin powder will transform your favorite guacamole recipe!
• Mix in a tsp of cumin powder along with some salt, sugar and paprika into plain yogurt. Add grated cucumber or chopped tomato along with mint or cilantro for an easy raita.

Now that you know the health benefits and culinary uses of cumin, be sure to find ways to incorporate this lovely, earthy spice into your recipes!