Cumin

जीरा / jeera; cumin

Flavor and role: The seed of a plant in the parsley family, with a warm, earthy, intense aroma. Whole seeds are fried in oil (tempering); ground cumin is mixed into seasonings.
Typical dishes and uses: Indian curries, chili con carne, taco seasoning, hummus, Central Asian lamb skewers, North African dishes. In this book: butter chicken, pozole and white chicken chili.
Substitutes: 1 tsp ground cumin = 1¼ tsp whole cumin. If you have none, use the same amount of ground coriander + a pinch of smoked paprika, or ½ tsp curry powder.
Storage: In an airtight container at cool room temperature, away from direct sunlight and moisture. For best aroma, use ground spices within 6 months to 1 year and whole spices within 2-3 years.
Main countries: India · Iran · Mexico
Used in this book: Butter Chicken (Murgh Makhani)Hummus Chicken Tagine with Lemon and Olives Tacos with Guacamole Beef Empanadas White Chicken Chili Pozole Rojo Ají de Gallina Aloo Gobi (Spiced Potato and Cauliflower)Aloo Keema Aloo Paratha (Potato-Stuffed Indian Flatbread)Anticuchos de Corazón Arroz con Gandules Colombian Arroz con Pollo Bandeja Paisa Birria Tacos with Consomé Bissara (Moroccan Fava Bean Soup)Campfire Skillet Nachos Chilean Cazuela Chana Masala Chapli Kebab Chatamari Chicken Karahi Chicken Tikka Masala Chili con Carne Chole Bhature Cuban Sandwich (Cubano)Cumin Lamb (Ziran Yangrou)Dal Bhat Tarkari (Nepali Lentils, Rice and Vegetable Curry)Dal Tadka (Tempered Yellow Lentils)Home-Style Döner Kebab Egg Curry (Anda Curry)Chicken Enchiladas Rojas Falafel Fatteh (Lebanese Chickpea and Yogurt Pita)Cuban Black Beans (Frijoles Negros)Ful Medames Pork Gyros Pita Hawawshi İskender Kebab Jareesh Jerusalem Mixed Grill (Me'orav Yerushalmi)Kefta Tagine Kenyan Beef Pilau Baked Kibbeh (Kibbeh bil Sanieh)Izgara köfte Koshari Lablabi Uzbek Lagman (Beef and Vegetable Noodle Stew)Lahmacun Locro Lomo Saltado (Peruvian Beef and Fries Stir-Fry)Madrouba Malawach (Yemenite Flaky Pan-Fried Bread)Mandi Manti Mastava (Uzbek Rice Soup)Mercimek Çorbası (Turkish Red Lentil Soup)Nepali Chicken Momo with Tomato Achar Mujaddara (Lentils and Rice with Crispy Onions)Pabellón Criollo Palak Paneer (Spinach with Indian Cheese)Paneer Tikka Parippu Pastel de Choclo Pernil (Puerto Rican Roast Pork Shoulder)Picadillo Uzbek Plov Pollo a la Brasa (Peruvian Roast Chicken)Rajma Chawal (Punjabi Kidney Bean Curry with Rice)Ropa Vieja Aloo Samosa Uzbek Samsa Sancocho (Colombian Chicken and Root Vegetable Soup)Seekh Kebab Sekuwa Shakshuka Shashlik Chicken Shawarma Red Chile Pork Tamales Tandoori Chicken Thukpa Cuban Yuca con Mojo Zaalouk Slow-Simmered Ají de Gallina with Toasted Pecans Dhaba-Style Aloo Gobi with Pan-Fried Florets Aloo Gobi Tortilla Española (Spanish × Indian)Crispy Aloo Gobi Bites Tray with Lemon-Coriander Yogurt Lahori Bhuna Lamb Aloo Keema Aloo Keema Quesadillas with Green Chutney Crema (Pakistani × Mexican)Dhaba-Style Aloo Paratha with Homemade White Butter and Mint Raita Aloo Paratha Egg Roll with Masala Egg and Mint Mayo Charcoal Anticuchos with Ají Amarillo Cream Gochujang-Panca Chicken Anticuchos in Lettuce Wraps (Peruvian × Korean)Anticucho Loaded Potato Wedges Al Pastor Chaufa with Charred Pineapple (Peruvian-Chinese × Mexican)Holiday Arroz con Gandules with Banana Leaf and Crispy Pegao Gandules Sofrito Risotto with Chorizo and Parmesan (Puerto Rican × Italian)Sweet Plantain Canoas with Gandules Rice and Melted Cheese Beer-Braised Arroz con Pollo with Crisp-Skinned Thighs Arroz con Pollo Stuffed Peppers with Melted Cheese Goan Coconut-Curry Seafood Rice (Portuguese × Goan)Stuffed Oven-Braised Asado Negro Charcoal baba ganoush with pine nuts and pomegranate molasses Bandeja Paisa de Lujo with Carne en Polvo and Meaty Chicharrón Bandeja Paisa Burrito with Hogao Salsa (Colombian × Mexican)Bandeja Paisa Loaded Fries with Avocado Crema Short Rib and Shank Quesabirria Tacos Birria Ramen with Soy-Marinated Egg Birria Grilled Cheese with Consomé Dip Bissara with Garlic Confit and Toasted Cumin Oil Bissara Tadka Dal with Mustard Seeds and Curry Leaves (Moroccan × Indian)Whipped Bissara Dip with Sizzling Cumin-Chili Butter Lamb Bobotie with Geelrys Durban Lamb Bunny with Fresh-Ground Masala Chile Colorado Beef Burrito Chicken Tikka Burrito with Mint Raita Crispy Rice Burrito Bowl Butter Chicken Rigatoni Chipotle-Lime Chorizo Cabbage Boil with Cotija (Mexican × Cajun)Bombay Potato Breakfast Hash with Masala Eggs (Indian × American)Carne Asada Nachos with Fire-Charred Salsa Chorizo Chili Walking Nachos Osso Buco Cazuela de Vacuno Cazuela Chicken Pot Pie with Puff-Pastry Lid Fire-Charred Pepper Chakalaka with Toasted Whole Spices Pindi Chole Chana Masala Shakshuka Chapati Chicken Quesadilla (Kenyan × Mexican)Masala Chapati Chips with Avocado Dip Peshawari Hand-Chopped Chapli Kebab Chapli Kebab Cheeseburger with Mint Mayo Chapli Kebab Flatbread Pizza with Mint Yogurt Soaked-Rice Chatamari with Timur Keema and Roasted Tomato Achar Hyderabadi Chicken Dum Biryani Chicken Biryani Burrito Biryani Chicken Rice Bowl Desi Ghee Chicken Karahi with Charcoal Smoke Chicken Karahi Tacos Karahi Chicken Cheese Naan Melt Royal Chicken Machboos with Saffron Rice, Daqoos and Crispy Onions Chicken Nanban Tacos with Jalapeño-Lime Tartare Charcoal-Skewered Chicken Tikka Masala Chicken Tikka Masala Quesadillas Guajillo-Ancho Chicken Chilaquiles with Crispy Fried Egg Texas Bowl of Red Gochujang Kimchi Chili Chili Mac and Cheese Bake Masala Chin Chin with Ajwain and Curry Leaves (Nigerian × Indian)Amritsari Chole with Paneer-Stuffed Bhature Mini Bhatura Chole Sliders with Mint-Onion Slaw Brown Butter Çılbır with Whipped Garlic Yogurt and Grilled Sourdough Çılbır Tostadas with Chipotle Butter (Turkish × Mexican)Sonoran-Style Bacon-Wrapped Completo (Chilean × Mexican)Masala Cornbread with Green Chilli, Cumin and Coriander (American x Punjabi)Overnight Mojo Roast Pork Cubano Cubano Egg Rolls with Honey Mustard Dip Restaurant-Style Cumin Lamb with a Fresh-Toasted Spice Blend Cumin Lamb Tacos with Lime Yogurt Crema (Chinese × Mexican)Crispy Cumin Lamb Rice-Paper Dumplings with Chilli Yogurt Slow-Braised Curry Goat with a Fresh-Toasted Curry Blend Curry Goat Birria-Style Tacos (Jamaican × Mexican)Thakali-Style Black Lentil Dal Bhat Set Nepali Dal Risotto with Timur Butter (Nepali x Italian)Crispy Dal Bhat Rice Cakes with Tomato-Timur Achar Dhaba-Style Double Tadka Dal with Coal Smoke Thai Red Curry Coconut Dal with Lemongrass Tadka Sizzling Tadka Lentil Hummus Lamb and Beef Dürüm Döner with Homemade Lavash Döner Pizza (Turkish × Italian)Crispy Döner Cheese Toastie with Garlic-Dill Yogurt Dip Doro Wat with Homemade Niter Kibbeh and Honey-Wine Finish Efo Riro Shakshuka with Baked Eggs (Nigerian × North African)Masala Shakshuka (Indian × Middle Eastern)Tucumán-Style Knife-Cut Beef Empanadas Crispy Tortilla Empanada Pockets with Chimichurri Three-Chile Enchiladas Gratinadas Chicken Enchilada Rice Bowl Smoked Sausage Snert Dal with Cumin Tadka Keema Escondidinho with Cassava Mash (Brazilian × Indian)Fava and Chickpea Falafel with Parsley Tarator and Sumac Onions Falafel Banh Mi with Quick Pickles and Sriracha Tahini Mayo Baked Falafel Crunch Bowl Fatteh with Slow-Cooked Chickpeas, Fried Pita and Ghee-Toasted Nuts Chana Chaat Fatteh with Tamarind and Mint Yogurt (Levantine × Indian)Mexican-style fattoush with tortilla crisps and avocado Chipotle Feijoada Chili Fesenjan Pulled Chicken Tacos with Pomegranate Salsa Overnight Black Beans with Bacon Sofrito (Frijoles Dormidos)Black Bean Makhani (Cuban × North Indian)Cuban Black Bean Smash Toast Slow-Simmered Ful with Tahini and Garlic Tasha Ful Medames Huevos Rancheros Whipped Ful & Tahini Toast with Za'atar Full English Huevos Rancheros with Chipotle Beans (British × Mexican)Garlic Naan Pull-Apart Bread Macerated Gazpacho with Garlic Croutons Mexican-Style Jalapeño-Lime Gazpacho Mexican Black Bean and Corn Gemista (Greek × Mexican)Beef Githeri with Kachumbari Githeri Chili con Carne (Kenyan × Tex-Mex)Crispy Githeri Fritters with Kachumbari Yogurt Dip Green Curry with Hand-Pounded Paste Stacked Gyros Loaf with Sumac Onions and Dill Tzatziki Gyros al Pastor Tacos with Charred Pineapple and Lime Tzatziki Sheet-Pan Gyros Nachos with Pita Chips and Whipped Feta Chicken Haleem Rice Bowl Oven-Slow Lamb Harees with Cumin Ghee Chicken Harira Tortilla Soup Harira Chickpea Toast with Lemon Yogurt Alexandrian Hawawshi with Homemade Dough and Tahini Sauce Hawawshi Cheese Quesadillas with Tahini-Lime Crema Hawawshi Puff Pinwheels with Tahini-Yogurt Dip Chipotle Hot Honey Salmon Tacos with Cucumber-Lime Salsa Hummus bil Lahme with Spiced Beef and Pine Nuts Indian Tadka Hummus with Curry-Leaf Ghee Tiffin-House Idli with Fresh-Roasted Sambar Green Chile Lamb and Potato Stew (Irish × New Mexican)Oven-Stacked Döner İskender İskender Udon İskender Sigara Börek Slow-Simmered European-Style Beef Curry Lamb Shoulder Jareesh with Garlic Tasha Mushroom and Parmesan Jareesh Risotto Jareesh Mozzarella Croquettes with Sumac Tahini Dip Jerusalem Mixed Grill with Homemade Amba and Charred Onions Jerusalem Mixed Grill Yakitori (Israeli × Japanese)Jerusalem Grill Golden Rice Bowl Saffron Joojeh Chicken Tacos with Sumac Onions (Persian × Mexican)Lamb Kabsa with Toasted Spices and Daqqus Lamb Karnıyarık with Pepper-Paste Sauce and Sumac Onions Karnıyarık Flatbread Pizza with Garlic Yogurt Drizzle Masala Kartoffelpuffer with Mint Raita (German x Indian)Lamb and Beef Kefta Tagine with Saffron, Harissa and Cumin Salt Kefta Tagine Tacos with Harissa Crema and Pickled Onion (Moroccan × Mexican)Kefta Tagine Crispy Rice Bowl with Lemon Yogurt Ghee-Seared Beef Pilau with Crispy Onions Pilau Masala Chicken and Chorizo Paella (Kenyan x Spanish)Chiang Mai Khao Soi with Hand-Made Paste Fried Kibbeh Footballs with Pine Nut Filling and Tahini Sauce Crispy Kibbeh Muffin Cups with Garlic Yogurt and Pomegranate Kik Alicha with Homemade Niter Kibbeh Coconut Kik Alicha with Mustard Seed Tadka (Ethiopian × Indian)İskender köfte Smash köfte burger Kontomire Saag Paneer (Ghanaian × Indian)Cairo Shop-Style Koshari with Shatta Khichdi-Style Koshari with Ghee Tadka Crispy Koshari Bites with Daqqa Tomato Dip Chicken Kottu with Handmade Godamba Roti Toasted Cumin Lablabi with Harissa Oil and Olive-Oil Tuna Lablabi-Spiced Pasta e Ceci with Harissa Oil Lablabi Bread Salad with Harissa-Lemon Dressing Hand-Pulled Lagman with Lamb and Chilli-Garlic Oil Lagman Ragù Pappardelle (Uzbek x Italian)Lagman Cheese Noodle Bake 24-hour cold-proved lamb lahmacun Crispy lahmacun bulgur bowl Prawn-Head Stock Curry Laksa Lobio Tacos with Walnut Salsa and Pickled Onion (Georgian × Mexican)Locro Patrio with Osso Buco and Smoked Bacon Locro Pot Pies with a Puff-Pastry Lid Pisco-Flambéed Tenderloin Lomo Saltado with Double-Fried Potatoes Lomo Saltado Burrito with Ají Amarillo Crema Lomo Saltado Loaded Fries with Huancaína Sauce Chorizo and Jalapeño Queso Mac Spiced Samneh Malawach with Jammy Eggs and Fresh Zhug Slow-Roasted Lamb Mandi with Lamb-Juice Basmati Smoky Mandi Chicken Tacos with Daqqus Salsa (Mexican × Yemeni)Smoky Mandi Chicken Rice Bowl Hand-Cut Lamb and Squash Manti with Chilli Brown Butter Crispy-Skirt Cumin Manti Gyoza (Uzbek × Japanese)Manti Puff Rolls Crispy Dosa Chaat Bowl Slow-Braised Beef Shin Massaman with Whole Spices Qovurma Mastava with Bone-In Lamb and Garlic Suzma Mastava Risotto with Cumin Beef and Dill Yogurt (Uzbek × Italian)Mastava Rice Fritters with Garlic-Dill Yogurt Kofta Meatloaf with Pomegranate Glaze and Tahini Yogurt (Levantine × American)Menemen Breakfast Tacos Lokanta-Style Velvet Lentil Soup with Croutons Lentil Soup Shakshuka with Garlic Yogurt & Chili Butter Chilli Con Carne Cheese Pie with Jalapeño (Mexican × New Zealand)Misir Wat with Homemade Niter Kibbeh Mole Chicken Bánh Mì with Pickled Carrot and Daikon (Mexican × Vietnamese)Juicy Pork Jhol Momo Momo Smash Tacos with Achar Mayo Kefta-Stuffed Msemen with Ghee Layers Spiced Mujaddara with Extra-Crispy Onions and Cucumber-Mint Yogurt Mujaddara Lentil Tacos with Crispy Onions and Lime Crema Warm Mujaddara Salad Bowl with Roasted Squash, Feta and Pomegranate Dressing Lamb and Leek Mutabbaq with Freshly Toasted Spices and Spicy Tomato Salsa Chicken Fajita Mutabbaq with Pico de Gallo (Mexican × Saudi)Nalli Nihari with Homemade Spice Blend Pabellón Criollo a Caballo with Seared, Braised Flank Pabellón Burritos with Chipotle Mechada and Sweet Plantain Pabellón Sweet Plantain Boats with Melted Cheese Seared Paneer Palak with Garlic Tadka Palak Paneer Green Shakshuka Palak Paneer Cheese Melt Toast Slow-Braised Beef Panang (Phanaeng Neua) with Toasted Spices Paneer Tikka Tacos with Mango Salsa (Indian × Mexican)Paneer Tikka Loaded Fries with Mint Chutney Mayo Roasted Curry Powder Parippu with Crispy Shallots Chorizo-Chipotle Pasta e Fagioli with Black Beans (Italian × Mexican)Pastel de Choclo with Knife-Cut Beef Pino and White-Wine Chicken Keema Pastel de Choclo (Indian-Spiced Beef under a Sweet Corn Crust)Pastel de Choclo Muffins with a Pino Centre Pastelón with Alcaparrado Picadillo and Cheddar Custard Keema Pastitsio with Garam Masala Béchamel Garlic-Lime Brined Patacones with Guacamole and Slow Hogao Patacón Smash Sandwich with Garlic Chicken and Pink Sauce Mumbai Tawa Butter Pav Bhaji Peri-Peri Chicken Tacos 24-Hour Mojo Pernil with Pan Jus Pernil Bánh Mì (Puerto Rican × Vietnamese)Pernil Garlic Fried Rice with a Fried Egg and Mojo Drizzle Philly Cheesesteak Quesadillas with Chipotle Crema Picadillo a Caballo with Maduros Cuban Picadillo Cottage Pie with Cheddar Mash (Cuban × British)Picadillo Smash Tacos Tashkent Wedding Plov (To'y Oshi)Spanish Chorizo and Chicken Plov Crispy Plov Rice Balls with Cheese Charcoal-Smoked Spatchcock Pollo a la Brasa with Twice-Cooked Fries Pollo a la Brasa Shawarma Wraps (Peruvian × Levantine)Pollo a la Brasa Quinoa Bowl with Ají Verde Dressing Porotos Granados with Pilco and Merkén Oil Pozole Rojo Especial (Bone-In Broth and Chile de Árbol Salsa)Pozole Quesatacos with Red Consommé Dip Crispy-Edge Pulled Pork with Beer-Braise Glaze Dhaba-Style Rajma Masala with Ghee Jeera Rice Creole Rajma Red Beans and Rice (Louisiana × Punjabi)Ratatouille Shakshuka Red-Red Shakshuka with Crispy Plantain (Ghanaian x North African)Padang-style dry rendang Roast Lamb, Pumpkin and Feta Café Bowl Tandoori-Spiced Roast Turkey Thighs with Cranberry-Mint Chutney (Indian × American)Oven-Braised Ropa Vieja with Maduros Chino-Cubano Ropa Vieja Lo Mein Ropa Vieja Loaded Tostones Masala Rösti with Mint-Yoghurt Chutney Sabich with Haminados Eggs and Zhug Sabich Deviled Eggs Halwai-Style Punjabi Samosas with Two Chutneys Samosa Toastie Tandir-Style Hand-Chopped Lamb Samsa Cumin Lamb Samsa Pinwheels with Garlic-Dill Yogurt Dip Sancocho Trifásico (Beef, Pork and Chicken) with Hogao Sancocho Croquettes with Coriander Ají Dip Chicken Satay Tacos with Acar Pickles Charcoal Lamb Seekh Kebab with Fresh Mint Chutney Seekh Kebab Banh Mi (Pakistani × Vietnamese)Baked Seekh Kebab Scotch Eggs with Mint Yogurt Charcoal Dharan Sekuwa with Sesame-Radish Achar Sekuwa Pork Burger with Timur-Radish Slaw (Nepali × American)Chicken Sekuwa Crispy Chiura Bowl with Cucumber-Sesame Achar Charred Pepper and Merguez Shakshuka, Oven-Baked Harissa Shakshuka Fried Rice with Crispy Egg Overnight Lamb Shashlik with Achichuk Salad Tandoori Chicken Shashlik with Mint Chutney (Uzbek × North Indian)Shashlik Lamb Rice Bowl with Dill Yogurt and Pickled Onions Tower-Roast Chicken Shawarma with Toum Chicken Shawarma Tacos Keema Shepherd's Pie with Bombay Mash Charcoal Shish Tawook with Sumac Onions Shish Tawook Quesadillas with Toum Crema and Pickled Onions (Lebanese × Mexican)Chipotle-Lime Shrimp and Corn Grits (Mexican × Southern)Charcoal Lamb Leg Sosaties with Apricot Glaze and Mint Yogurt Al Pastor Sosatie Tacos: Chipotle-Apricot Pork Skewers with Pineapple (South African x Mexican)Masala Buttermilk Fried Chicken with Mint Raita Saag Feta Phyllo Samosas Sri Lankan Black Chicken Curry with Toasted Coconut Saag Aloo Stamppot with Tadka and Paneer Saag Stoemp with Masala Fried Eggs (Belgian × Indian)Mexican Street-Corn Tabbouleh Crispy Tabbouleh Fritters with Garlic Yogurt Tacos al Pastor Crispy Smash Tacos Ancho-Guajillo Braised Pork Tamales Baked Tamal Cups with Red Chile Chicken Charcoal-Smoked Tandoori Chicken with Mint Chutney Tandoori Chicken Tray Pizza with Mint Raita Drizzle Beef Thukpa with Hand-Pulled Noodles and Timur Chilli Oil Coconut-Lemongrass Chicken Thukpa (Nepali × Thai)Cold Thukpa Noodle Salad with Timur-Sesame Dressing Chicken Tinga Loaded Sweet Potatoes Masala Toad-in-the-Hole with Curry Onion Gravy (British × Indian)Baked Beef Yalancı Mantı with Brown Chili Butter Sukuma Saag Paneer with Ugali Jalapeño Cheddar Varenyky with Pico de Gallo and Lime Crema (Ukrainian × Mexican)Charred Poblano White Chicken Chili with Seared Thighs Thai Coconut Lemongrass White Chicken Chili White Chicken Chili Baked Taquitos with Lime Crema Crisp-Seared Yuca with Garlic Confit Mojo Curry Leaf Mojo Yuca (Cuban × Keralan)Crispy Smashed Yuca with Mojo Aioli Yukgaejang Birria Tacos (Mexican × Korean)Smoky Fire-Charred Zaalouk with Preserved Lemon Zaalouk Pasta alla Norma Zaalouk Puff Pastry Tart with Feta and Honey

Updated 2026-10-10