topic Mexican dishes (chicken) - using cumin? in Kitchen

Mexican dishes (chicken) - using cumin?

topazzz — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 17:15:36 GMT

Not long ago I ate at a Mexican restaurant and ordered a chicken burrito. The sauce used was a mole sauce and it was very good so I asked the waiter what types of spices were in it. He told me the typical ones and then also said cumin. To most who cook, I'm sure this is no surprise (or maybe it is), but I have never used that spice in anything. I would like to venture a bit more into trying this spice. I have been searching recipes and info online, but am curious if anyone here has any more info they can enlighten me with on cumin.

I am planning to attempt a baked chicken tonight with chili powder and cumin (also with cilantro), but I'm wanting to try something either in the slow cooker or even stove top. Something easy, yet tasty. Any thoughts on this?

Thanks much!

Re: Mexican dishes (chicken) - using cumin?

Poodlepet2 — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 17:27:57 GMT

I don't think you will regret trying cumin. For years I would literally dump chilli powder into whatever I was making in pursuit of what I thought was an intense chilli taste. Needless to say, I did not achieve what I was looking for until I finally tried cumin! It is not spicy in terms of heat, but it does indeed have a wonderful smoky flavor. To start off, use half of what your recipe calls for-maybe even a quarter: you can always add more, but you can't take away. I love it, and now that I've discovered how to use it, I don't spend money on mixes anymore.

Poodlepet

Re: Mexican dishes (chicken) - using cumin?

wingnut — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 17:31:00 GMT

I LOVE cumin. I always add cumin to chili and vegetable soup and sprinkle it on popcorn. Be sure to add it to hamburger when making tacos. I'm sure others will have more (and better) ideas but this is how I use it.

Re: Mexican dishes (chicken) - using cumin?

Have6cats — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 17:31:49 GMT

LOVE Cumin..it's the spice that makes chili taste like chili!

Those 3 (chili powder, cumin and cilantro) will will a delicious trio.

I would pre-brown the chicken in a deep-sided skillet or chef's pan and after the 2nd flip, toss in a can of diced stewed toms and some thin-sliced poblanos (check for heat first, they vary ) or bell peppers (red/yellow)... top with sliced tomatillos, finish with a sprinkle of jack of queso cheese on top , cover a cook/simmer till tender. Serve over rice.

HTH

Re: Mexican dishes (chicken) - using cumin?

tiamaria — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 17:41:12 GMT

I love the taste of cumin and use it in every Mexican dish I make. The smell on the other hand is unbearable. Why does it have to smell like someone that has not bathed in a week??

Re: Mexican dishes (chicken) - using cumin?

glmama — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 17:41:49 GMT

I use cumin in lots of stuff--including mexican dishes, stews, rices, lots of soups, etc.

Re: Mexican dishes (chicken) - using cumin?

VaBelle35 — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 17:43:03 GMT

I love cumin, it is one of the Penzey spices that I buy by the bag because I use it so much in so many recipes.

It's a staple of mine.

I also suggest you buy a good one to try. I always used McCormick until I tried Penzeys. The Penzey's cumin is so moist you have to dig it out of the bottle, it isn't dry like a powder.

Re: Mexican dishes (chicken) - using cumin?

beckyb1012 — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 18:32:31 GMT

I love Cumin and all the red pepper, chili powders ect... Right now I am hooked on putting Cayenne on everything including egg white omelets and all my veg. Why taste bland when you get a big KICK out of something?

Re: Mexican dishes (chicken) - using cumin?

RespectLife — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 18:36:38 GMT

On 2/21/2014 VaBelle35 said:
I love cumin, it is one of the Penzey spices that I buy by the bag because I use it so much in so many recipes.

It's a staple of mine.

I also suggest you buy a good one to try. I always used McCormick until I tried Penzeys. The Penzey's cumin is so moist you have to dig it out of the bottle, it isn't dry like a powder.

Oh I totally agree! Cumin from Penzey's or The Spice House is NOTHING compared to store brands. It is fantastic!

When I got my first cumin purchase from The Spice House, I was going to add it to what I had left from the store brand. The scent and the flavor was so incredible...I dumped what was left in the jar. Didn't want to contaminate it! LOL

Cumin has become one of my favorite go-to spices this year! Love it! I used it all the time and not only for mexican/spanish dishes.

Re: Mexican dishes (chicken) - using cumin?

ivey — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 18:39:53 GMT

Take your favorite King Ranch chicken recipe and add just a little cumin. Good taste.

Also, it's a necessity in chili, imo.

Re: Mexican dishes (chicken) - using cumin?

Fressa — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 18:42:44 GMT

I really like using cumin. I use it in all my Mexican cooking along with chili powder. It gives a bit of a smoky undertone but not overdone. Rachel Ray uses cumin quite a bit in her cooking. I'm one to experiment with spices and herbs because we watch our salt and pepper intake. I find it to be that ""added something"" when you don't know what something needs. It's pretty forgiving.

Re: Mexican dishes (chicken) - using cumin?

DiAnne — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 18:57:20 GMT

I use cumin constantly. It is probably my most used dry spice closely followed by smoked paprika. I have used it for years to season taco meat. I use it in soups. It is in most Mexican food. It is also used a lot in Indian food.

Re: Mexican dishes (chicken) - using cumin?

mima — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 19:24:58 GMT

I love Cumin too! Love it in chili (must have) and tacos. It is delicious in chicken dishes too such as chicken frijitas, etc.

Buy it, you'll like it (I think).

Re: Mexican dishes (chicken) - using cumin?

MsLomo — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 19:34:40 GMT

Cumin is in this outstanding Rachael Ray recipe. Google "Why-the-Chicken-Crossed-the-Road Santa Fe-Tastic Tortilla Soup." It fulfills your requests of stovetop, easy, and tasty. I make a batch and freeze in individual containers. I garnish with avocado and crushed tortilla chips. You can also add chopped sweet onion and shredded cheddar cheese. Hope you love this as much as I do.

Re: Mexican dishes (chicken) - using cumin?

Foggy morning — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 19:41:37 GMT

Cumin is my favorite spice. I find it especially good in chicken salad (to be used in sandwiches) and chicken or turkey soups. Of course, anything Mexican.

Re: Mexican dishes (chicken) - using cumin?

Poodlepet2 — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 19:55:54 GMT

Di, after I discovered cumin, my DD introduced me to Smoked Paprika: I'm not as crazy about it as she is-she puts tons of it in everything including mac and cheese-but that is another wonderful spice worth experimenting with!

Poodlepet

Re: Mexican dishes (chicken) - using cumin?

chickenbutt — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 19:56:53 GMT

Cumin is lovely. I always have ground and whole seeds on hand. When using the whole seeds in a recipe it's very nice to gently toast them first. It really accents the wonderful fragrance of the cumin and brings another layer of flavor to the dish.

Re: Mexican dishes (chicken) - using cumin?

beach-mom — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 20:08:54 GMT

AHH - "Comino"! One of our favorite spices! We lived in Texas, and I learned to put cumin and cilantro in everything. Here's a recipe for Cumin Chicken from the Pace 40th anniversary cookbook:

Cumin Chicken - Makes 4 servings

2 whole chicken breasts, split

2 tsp. ground cumin

1/2 tsp. crushed oregano

1/2 tsp. garlic salt

2 Tbsp. vegetable oil

1/2 c. Pace picante sauce

1/4 c. water

1 tsp. instant chicken bouillon

Remove skin from chicken. Combine 1 tsp. cumin, oregano, and garlic salt, and mix well. Rub into chicken. Lightly brown chicken in oil in a large skillet. Drain. Combine remaining cumin, picante sauce, water, and bouillon and mix well. Pour over chicken. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer about 30 min. until chicken is tender. Remove chicken and keep warm. Cook and stir sauce over medium-high heat until liquid is reduced and sauce is slightly thickened. Drizzle sauce over chicken.

Re: Mexican dishes (chicken) - using cumin?

VaBelle35 — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 20:19:26 GMT

I just ordered all of the varieties of paptrika from Penzeys. I was coming across recipes that needed different ones. Who knew there were so many types?

I have hot, smoked, Hungarian and sweet.

All good and all pretty colors

Re: Mexican dishes (chicken) - using cumin?

jackthebear — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 20:26:26 GMT

http://www.pinterest.com/search/recipes/?q=cumin