Do you want to enjoy some of the health benefits of using nigella seeds in your cooking? These tiny black seeds are being touted as a new wonder food, but not many people seem to know how to use them properly.
If you want to enjoy all the health benefits of these tiny seeds, then here are 7 easy and delicious ways to use nigella seed in your cooking.
What are Nigella Seeds?
These tiny back seeds come from the Nigella sativa plant, which is native to the Mediterranean region. They’re sometimes called kalonji or are mistaken for black cumin seeds.
They have a slightly peppery taste that’s somewhere between the taste of onions and oregano.
This black seed variety has a number of health benefits and can help with:
- Decreasing inflammation
- Protecting the liver
- High cholesterol management
- Fighting infection
- Regulating blood sugar
- High blood pressure reduction
7 Ways to Eat More Nigella Seed
If you want to enjoy the antioxidant and immunity supporting effects of nigella seeds, then you can add them to lots of different dishes. You can eat the seeds raw or toast them in a dry skillet to be used whole or ground up.
Here’s how to use nigella seeds in your cooking:
1. Baked Goods
If you like to make your own bread or other baked goods, then you can toast and crush the seeds and add them to your mix. These seeds are particularly good sprinkled on naan bread before cooking and add a delicious, savoury taste to anything you cook.
2. Smoothies
Smoothies are a popular way to increase your nutritional intake, and now you can make them even healthier by adding some black seed to your blender.
3. Curry
Who doesn’t like a herby-oniony taste in curry? The humble nigella seed blends perfectly with almost any curry, but it’s particularly good in Middle Eastern versions.
4. Vegetable Stir Fry
This one couldn’t be simpler. Stir fry any vegetables you like, add some soy sauce and sherry mix, and then sprinkle your toasted nigella seeds over the top. Delicious.
5. Salads
Kalonji seeds taste a bit like onion, so they go well as part of a salad dressing over a simple tomato salad. Just remember not to put as much onion in your salad to compensate for the taste!
6. Root Vegetables
The taste of the nigella seed goes really well with root vegetables. They give a spicy kick to dishes that would otherwise be boring, so try adding them to potato or butternut squash dishes.
7. Spice Mixes
You can also combine nigella seeds with other spices to use in your cooking. One common spice that uses nigella seed is a Bengal spice called paanch-poran. This spice is used in a variety of Bengali dishes and includes:
- Cumin seeds
- Mustard seeds
- Fennel seeds
- Fenugreek
- Nigella seeds
The Takeaway
Using more nigella seed in your cooking doesn’t have to be complicated. Keep it simple, experiment and work out what your taste buds enjoy eating. That’s the best way to ensure that you keep using this black seed variety in your meals!