Before we get started, we’ll definitely say that we know it’s not common to cater your whole meal around a single spice. We are so in love with the flavour of cumin in literally any food, however, that we’re willing to do it anyways! Once we’d started searching, we just couldn’t stop saving recipes that practically made our mouths water just reading them.
Just in case you love the taste of fragrant cumin in all kinds of dishes just as much as we do, if not more, here are 15 of the best recipes and ideas we’ve come across so far!
1. Sauteed cabbage with cumin seeds and turmeric
If there was ever a way to convince your kids that cabbage is a tasty thing to eat rather than a smelly vegetable to shy away from, this is it! Food & Wine shows you how to add great flavour to shredded cabbage using cumin and turmeric.
2. Cumin chicken and pumpkin with warm chickpea salsa
If you’ve never tried how delectable cumin tastes on meat of just about any kind then we’re sorry to tell you that you’ve been missing out on something delicious, but that’s especially true when it comes to chicken. We love the way this mouth watering fall meal idea from Taste embodies fall by pairing the cumin chicken with pumpkin.
3. Roast pork and cumin sauce with vegetable fried rice
Have you always loved Chinese takeout but you’ve resolved to spend less money on buy food from restaurants in order to save dollars and make yourself cook more? Then try this delicious fried rice recipe from Blue Apron that’s topped with succulent pork sauteed in a fantastic cumin sauce! It’s almost like getting takeout but you get even more of the cumin taste you love.
4. Easy cumin lamb
See? We told you cumin tastes great on all kinds of meat, and lamb is no exception! Pinch and Swirl guides you step by step through the process of preparing this meat with cumin in a simple stir fry.
5. Crushed puy lentils with tahini and cumin
Are you actually vegetarian or vegan but you’re still excited about the idea of making something cumin based and delicious? Then replace the meat dishes we’ve talked about with puy lentils and tahini sauce in a crushed mixture that, according to Ottolenghi, tastes amazing served with pita.
6. Tandoori chicken with cumin raita
Believe it or not, cumin tastes fantastic in the side dishes you’d usually service with meat too! This fragrant cumin raita served with tandoori chicken and yogurt sauce is the perfect example of what we mean. Get the details on Taste.
7. Smashed cucumbers with cumin tahini
Did your attention perk when we started talking about tahini sauce because you love it so much? Then we think you’ll get along very well indeed with this cumin based taste on the classic sauce, featured on NY Times Cooking! They suggest serving it over subtly delicious smashed cucumbers.
8. Honey and cumin roasted carrots with ricotta
Vegetables taste fantastic when cumin is involved too! We’re particularly fond of carrots roasted in cumin, so we’re sure you can imagine how pleased we were to find this honey and cumin carrot recipe that Foodie Girl Chicago served with ricotta.
9. Green beans with garlic and cumin
Cabbage and carrots aren’t the only veggies that taste even better with cumin added! We love the way Taste prepared them with a mouthwatering combination of cumin and garlic for an irresistible taste that perfectly complements rice, meat, and other dishes.
10. Sweet potato hummus with cumin flatbread chips
With a little bit of salt, cumin makes the perfect sprinkled seasoning for crunchy snacks! These delicious pita chips, make for dipping in a scrumptious spiced sweet potato hummus by Spoon Fork Bacon, are the perfect example of what we mean.
11. Cumin spiced beef lettuce wraps
Lettuce beef wraps might actually be one of our favourite dishes in the whole world to order in restaurants, so imagine our excitement when we found this homemade version from Paleo Flourish that, of course, is made with cumin in the filling!
12. Roasted cumin cashews
Were you quite intrigued by the idea of using cumin to make yourself a delicious salty snack but you’re not quite feeling the pita and hummus idea because you’d prefer something with a bit more crunch? Then we have a feeling these flavourful roasted cumin cashews featured on Taste of Home might be a little more up your alley!
13. Cumin and paprika chicken drumsticks
Are you still thinking about how much you liked the idea of seasoning your chicken with cumin but you can’t help wondering whether you might mix it with something else for even more flavour? In that case, we think you simply must try these fantastic paprika and cumin drumsticks outlined step by step on Paleo Leap!
14. Butternut squash pilaf with cumin, cardamom, cloves, and cinnamon
Of all the things on this list, this is actually the one we’ve made already and were incredibly happy with! Vegan Richa guides you step by step through the process of making butternut squash pilaf that, along with a few other spices, has the perfect amount of cumin in it to really satisfy your craving.
15. Grilled zucchini and summer squash with yoghurt cumin sauce
Were you quite intrigued by the idea of the cumin sauce we mentioned above when we started talking about pork but you’d prefer a vegan recipe? Then try this similar idea from Gourmande in The Kitchen instead! They also teach you to make a homemade cumin sauce to drizzle over grilled zucchini and summer squash.