[Carmencita] Cumin

Intense and exotic spices

[Carmencita] Cumin

From commonly used garlic and green onions to somewhat unfamiliar cumin and thyme, spices are essential ingredients on our dining tables. Even with the same meat, the flavor can vary greatly depending on how spices are used, and the resulting dish captures both taste and aroma with the unique flavor and scent of the spices. And sometimes, we want to create an exotic dish with spices. This is where cumin comes in handy. It's a spice that tends to be polarizing due to its very stimulating and intense aroma. If you like lamb, be sure to buy some cumin. The 'ziran' given when you go for lamb skewers is actually cumin.

Cumin adds a unique flavor to your dishes.

1. Recommended dishes: Lamb, sausage, curry, chicken dishes, stews, couscous, chutney, salsa

Just as we sprinkle pepper everywhere today, ancient Romans used cumin in a similar way. Although it's rarely used in Korea, it's a very important spice in India, the Middle East, China, Turkey, Greece, and other regions. Perhaps that's why the first impression one gets from the scent of cumin is exotic. It has a strong aroma and a slightly spicy taste, making it a good match for meats like lamb, chicken, and sausage.

Try using cumin when making lamb steak. Adding it to meat stews and couscous can enhance both the exotic taste and aroma. Cumin is also an ingredient in chutneys, Indian sauces made with fruits or vegetables and spices. A small amount added to fresh tomato salsa goes well with meat and nachos. Adding finely ground cumin to curry will deepen its flavor even further.