Cumin seeds are versatile and used in many cuisines worldwide. They have an earthy flavor and can be used in savory dishes, soups, and even sweet recipes. Cumin is often paired with other spices and is a key ingredient in Garam Masala.
Cumin seeds are a wonderfully versatile spice that can be used in a huge range of different dishes. They are inexpensive and common throughout much of the world, and are a major component in the cuisines of Mexico, India, the Middle East, China, and much of Africa. The seeds tend to play a lesser role in European dishes, but are still used. Cumin seeds can be used to flavor almost any type of dish, but are more often used in savory preparations than sweet dishes.
The flavor of cumin seeds is rich and earthy. Cumin, especially when freshly ground, also imparts a sense of spiciness to many diners, though generally less so than pepper or ginger. Like most spices, cumin is typically purchased and stored in its whole, dried form. These seeds can then be ground before use or used whole.
Almost any savory dish can benefit from the inclusion of a little cumin, and cumin works well in harmony with many other spices. This is actually evidenced by the fact that it is part of most formulations of Garam Masala, a traditional North Indian spice base. Garam Masala contains a blend of five or more fragrant spices whose flavors blend to produce a rich aroma and taste that are often used as a base upon which other spices can be layered.
Curries, a hybrid of Indian and European preferences in food, traditionally use cumin, which is sometimes but not always part of a garam masala blend. Cumin has found its way into many other tasty Western dishes. Many chili recipes use cumin for its savory and earthy taste. Cumin seeds are also often used to complement other earthy spices such as bay leaves in the flavoring of stews.
Cumin seeds can also be used in other savory preparations, including vegetable soups, where they enhance the earthy flavor typical of carrots, squash or lentils. They are also often paired with very richly flavored meats, such as lamb, where the flavor of the meat blends perfectly with that of the spices. Savory yogurt dips are often flavored with cumin as well.
Recipes that pair cumin with markedly sweet elements are less common, but not unheard of. Many chai recipes use it to add a rich, subtle flavor to an essentially sweet drink. Some sweet glazes also use cumin as a contrasting flavor note to enhance the sweetness of the glaze.
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