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Ajwain seed

Ajwain seed is the small ridged fruit used as a pungent spice, commonly toasted or added whole, crushed or ground to breads and savoury dishes.

Ajwain seed — illustrative ingredient image

About Ajwain seed

Ajwain seed is the small, ridged fruit commonly used as a spice, from the ajwain plant. It is used in South Asian cooking, often toasted or added to breads, savoury snacks, and legume dishes. The seeds are typically used whole, though they may be crushed or ground for more even distribution.

The small fruits are grey-green to brown and have a strong, aromatic flavour often likened to thyme, with pungent, slightly bitter notes. Whole seeds retain their distinct texture, while ground ajwain disperses through a dish. The term “seed” is conventional culinary usage for this spice.

Ingredient type
whole food

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Where ajwain seed appears

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Name examples awaiting language review. Confirm the specific food or product.

Local names for ajwain seed

Names and romanised forms to recognise on menus and labels.

English

ajwain

Available names only. Languages may be spoken in other countries; a name alone does not identify every ingredient in a dish.

Ajwain seed nutrition & diet

Ajwain seed nutritional value

Reference: Omum

Per 100 g of 100 g edible portion in the named official reference form.

Calories
357.3kcal
Protein
15.9g
Carbs
24.5g
Fat
21.1g

Official national food-composition reference. The displayed food form is part of the estimate; cultivar, recipe, brand, processing and preparation can change values.

Whole and ground ajwain differ in particle size and may be measured or used differently; comparisons should also distinguish the spice from ajwain oil or extracts.

Dietary compatibility

  • Vegan
    Not established
  • Vegetarian
    Not established
  • Pescatarian
    Not established
  • Keto
    Not established
  • Paleo
    Not established
  • Low-carb
    Not established
  • Halal
    Not established
  • Kosher
    Not established
What these diet assessments mean
Vegan · Not established
The available profile does not establish the full composition or processing for this dietary pattern.
Vegetarian · Not established
The available profile does not establish the full composition or processing for this dietary pattern.
Pescatarian · Not established
The available profile does not establish the full composition or processing for this dietary pattern.
Keto · Not established
A defined serving and sourced carbohydrate data are needed before assessing this dietary pattern.
Paleo · Not established
The ingredient form and processing have not been assessed against this dietary pattern.
Low-carb · Not established
A defined serving and sourced carbohydrate data are needed before assessing this dietary pattern.
Halal · Not established
Sourcing, processing and any applicable certification have not been verified. A food name alone does not establish halal status.
Kosher · Not established
Sourcing, processing and any applicable certification have not been verified. A food name alone does not establish kosher status.

For the plain ingredient · Awaiting review. Diet compatibility is not allergy suitability or halal/kosher certification. Keto and low-carb depend on the portion.

Reviewed ingredient entryIngredient reference · Preparations vary

AI-generated illustration for visual context. It does not identify a particular product or establish allergen content.

Sources & review

Nutrition reference: Indian Food Composition Tables 2017 — G029 ↗. Values are scaled from 100 g of the recorded edible form. Individual portions have no assumed fixed weight.

Expanded overview, name examples and nutrition notes are database drafts awaiting editorial review. Numeric nutrition values, where shown, have their own source and food-form reference.

The ingredient description and dish connections come from the draft catalogue and may change after review.

Last recorded verification: .