Kitchen

[topazzz]

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!

[Poodlepet2]

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

[wingnut]

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.

[Have6cats]

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

[tiamaria]

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??

[glmama]

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

[VaBelle35]

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.

[beckyb1012]

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?

[RespectLife]

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.

[ivey]

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

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