use cumin
One spice that cooks may initially shy away from is cumin, given its bitter and pungent smell and taste. Yet fans of Mexican, Tex-Mex, Thai, BBQ, and Mediterranean cooking often find the spice irreplaceable. Read on for tips on use cumin in your home cooking.
Instructions
Use Cumin Spice
1. Know that cumin comes in two forms: powder and seed. Cumin powder offers more convenience as the seeds may need toasting to bring out the flavor in some dishes.
2. Start with 1/4 teaspoon of cumin per pound of beef, chicken or lamb, noting that it is not uncommon to use more in some dishes. For slow cooked foods, let food simmer several minutes prior to adjusting the amount to allow the flavor to develop.
3. Use cumin to make your favorite Mexican dish taste more authentic and flavorful. A few dashes of cumin invigorates bland taco and burrito seasoning mixes. Try combining cumin with other seasonings to make your own mix, including , garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt and pepper or cayenne. Cumin and cilantro partners well for enchiladas, fajitas and Mexican sauces.
4. Add cumin to your chili to bring out its sweet, beefy flavor. Use cumin when you add chili powder for best results. For spicy chili use 1/2 teaspoon cumin per every 2 teaspoons of chili powder as a baseline. If your chili turns bitter add a little sugar or honey to the batch.
5. Give your bean or lentil dishes a new flare with cumin. For just a hint of flavor try a small amount, or about 1/8 teaspoon. In soup or broth, start with 1/4 teaspoon cumin per four to five cups liquid.
6. Make easy Mexican rice by combining 2 cups of cooked white rice with 1/4 to 1/3 cup chunky salsa and cumin--optionally add additional seasonings such as cilantro and garlic powder. Here you can use cumin to taste or simmer the spice briefly with the salsa.
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