Recipes with cumin seeds

Thai yellow curry paste from scratch with dry-roasted cumin, coriander seeds, dried chilies, lemongrass, shallots, and garlic. Pairs best with beef and pork curries.

Spring kichadi with basmati rice, mung beans, seasonal vegetables, and a ghee-toasted spice base of cumin, mustard seeds, and turmeric. A gentle, nourishing Ayurvedic one-pot meal.

Christmas Eve couscous with a spiced vegetable stew of squash, carrots, broad beans, and zucchini, served with harissa, chickpeas, raisins, pine nuts, and yogurt. A vegetarian North African feast.

Chicken enchiladas with two from-scratch sauces: a tangy green tomatillo-spinach sauce with sour cream or a smoky red ancho chile sauce. Topped with melted Monterey Jack.

South Indian split pea and coconut curry sauce with mustard seeds, cumin, curry leaves, green chiles, and ginger. A creamy, spicy condiment for rice, dosa, or idli.

Shrimp pulao cooks basmati rice in ginger-infused shrimp stock with coconut, cardamom, cumin, and red chili. A simple South Indian one-pot seafood rice ready in 30 minutes.

Thai-style basil chicken with chicken breast chunks, bell pepper, chili pepper, garlic, and fresh basil in a quick tomato juice pan sauce spiced with cumin, cinnamon, and ginger. Lean and fast.

Swedish rye bread for the bread machine with fennel, caraway, cumin seeds, molasses, orange zest, and cracked wheat. A deeply flavored Scandinavian-style loaf with complex seed aromatics.

Build-your-own chicken tacos with a slow-caramelized garlic and onion base, serrano chiles, dual paprikas, and toasted cumin. Simmered chicken filling served with radishes, pinto beans, sour cream, and cilantro for a generous taco-night spread.

Saag vali khichri is a soothing Indian rice and mung bean porridge stirred with fresh spinach, cumin, coriander, and ghee. Nourishing comfort food with Ayurvedic roots, gentle on the stomach and big on warming spice.

Authentic Cincinnati chili with finely textured ground beef simmered in water (not browned), seasoned with chocolate, cinnamon, allspice, cloves, and chili powder. Served over spaghetti, Skyline-style.

Indian spicy curry powder: a 12-spice homemade curry blend with toasted cumin, coriander, mustard, fennel, cardamom, cloves, mace, and chilies. Big-batch pantry essential for authentic Indian cooking.

A fantastic rice dish; eat with my Chicken Masala (posted separately) or whatever takes your fancy. A lot of spices and herbs to assemble but the cooking is very easy.

Homemade curry powder toasted in the oven with fenugreek, cardamom, coriander, cumin, mustard seeds, cloves, and cinnamon, then ground with turmeric, mace, and cayenne.

Indian summer tomato salad dressed with spiced oil bloomed with cumin seeds, fennel seeds, and dried chili, finished with lime juice and fresh cilantro. A bright, aromatic side.

Potato cucumber salad with fresh mango, toasted spice blend, orange juice, ginger, lemon, and mint. A vibrant, low-fat summer salad with Moroccan-inspired warming spices and no mayo.