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Cumin

Cumin is an aromatic spice made from the dried seeds of the cumin plant and is used in savory seasoning blends and dishes.

Cumin — illustrative ingredient image

About Cumin

Cumin is a dried spice consisting of the aromatic seeds of the cumin plant, used to season savoury dishes including legume preparations, rice dishes, breads, sauces, and spice blends. The label may refer to whole or ground seed spice.

Its flavour is warm, earthy, penetrating, and somewhat bitter. Whole seeds have a firm texture, while ground cumin is a loose powder; the flavour becomes more pronounced when the seeds are toasted.

Whole cumin seeds are narrow, ridged, and brownish, while ground cumin is a loose powder. It is sold whole or ground, and toasting, grinding, and removal or inclusion after cooking change its texture, aroma, and contribution to a dish.

Ingredient type
seasoning

Forms & related ingredients

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Where will you meet it?

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Where cumin appears

326 linked foods

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Main dishes

Ingredient connections awaiting review · Coverage is still growing, including packaged snacks.

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

Local names for cumin

Names and romanised forms to recognise on menus and labels.

English

cumin

English

Cumin (cummin) seed, dried, ground

Search alias · Not a confirmed translation

English

cumin seeds

Search alias · Not a confirmed translation

English

Cumin, graine

Search alias · Not a confirmed translation

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

Cumin nutrition & diet

Cumin nutritional value

Spices, cumin seed

Per 100 g of the edible portion in the recorded food form.

Calories
375kcal
Protein
17.8g
Carbs
44.2g
Fat
22.3g

Reference values for the specific food form shown. Other varieties, brands and preparations can differ.

Portions & preparation

Use the cumin form actually consumed, distinguishing ground spice from whole seeds and measuring the amount incorporated into the dish. Toasting, blooming in oil, or mixing into a seasoning blend changes the preparation context; record added salt, oil, and other ingredients separately from cumin.

Compare the right form: Match ground dried cumin or another labeled form, specifying whether it is plain, toasted, oil-bloomed, or part of a blend.

Diet considerations

Cumin is plant-derived. Plain ground cumin generally differs from curry powders, taco seasonings, pastes, and commercial blends that may contain salt, sugar, cereal ingredients, dairy, or animal-derived flavorings. Dietary impact is portion-dependent, while the recipe carrying the spice determines most compatibility considerations.

AI-authored reading notes · Awaiting editorial review. Measured values, where available, have a separate source above.

Dietary compatibility

  • Vegan
    Typically compatible
  • Vegetarian
    Typically compatible
  • Pescatarian
    Typically compatible
  • Keto
    Not established
  • Paleo
    May be compatible
  • Low-carb
    Not established
  • Halal
    Not established
  • Kosher
    Not established
What these diet assessments mean
Vegan · Typically compatible
The plain ingredient profile is plant, fungal or mineral based. Added ingredients in a prepared product need a separate check.
Vegetarian · Typically compatible
The plain ingredient profile is plant, fungal or mineral based. Added ingredients in a prepared product need a separate check.
Pescatarian · Typically compatible
The plain ingredient profile is plant, fungal or mineral based. Added ingredients in a prepared product need a separate check.
Keto · Not established
A defined serving and sourced carbohydrate data are needed before assessing this dietary pattern.
Paleo · May be compatible
May fit a paleo pattern, depending on the cut or form, processing and added ingredients.
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: USDA FoodData Central — Spices, cumin seed ↗. 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: .