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Nigella Seed

Small black seed with an onion-like aroma, used on breads.

Nigella Seed — illustrative ingredient image

About Nigella Seed

Nigella seed is the small, black seed of a culinary herb, commonly used as a seasoning for breads, flatbreads, pastries, pickles, and vegetable dishes. It is often called black seed or black cumin in culinary contexts, although those names can refer to different ingredients in some markets.

The seeds have a distinctive savoury aroma often compared with onion, oregano, or toasted herbs. Their flavour is warm, slightly bitter, peppery, and nutty, becoming fuller when toasted. Used whole, they give food a faintly crunchy texture; grinding distributes their flavour more evenly through a dish.

Each seed is tiny, angular, and matte black. Nigella is usually sold whole, either loose or packaged, and may be sprinkled over dough before baking or added to spice mixtures. Toasting in a dry pan intensifies its fragrance, while simmering softens the seeds and blends them into sauces and stews.

Ingredient type
seasoning

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Where nigella seed appears

0 linked foods

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

Local names for nigella seed

Names and romanised forms to recognise on menus and labels.

English

Nigella seed

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

Nigella Seed nutrition & diet

Nigella Seed nutritional value

Product example: ORGANIC BLACK SEEDS ANCIENT SUPER SEED NIGELLA SATIVA (Sunfood LLC)

Per 100 g of this specific product as recorded by USDA, per 100 g.

Calories
400kcal
Protein
0.0g
Carbs
50.0g
Fat
16.7g

A product-specific label example, not a generic average. Formulations can change; use the nutrition label on the product being eaten.

Portions & preparation

Confirm that the ingredient is Nigella sativa seed rather than another locally named black seed, and match whole, ground, toasted, or incorporated form. Use the edible seed portion separately from breads, pastries, pickles, or spice blends. Toasting and grinding change preparation but not identity.

Compare the right form: Reference must match confirmed Nigella sativa seeds in whole, ground, or toasted form and the edible seed portion, excluding the carrier food.

Diet considerations

Nigella seed is a plant-derived spice when its botanical identity is confirmed. Plain seed differs from blends or products carried on bread, pastry, pickles, or sauces. Cereal ingredients, dairy, egg, oils, and animal additions in the surrounding preparation can change compatibility and portion-dependent carbohydrate patterns.

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

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: USDA FoodData Central branded product — ORGANIC BLACK SEEDS ANCIENT SUPER SEED NIGELLA SATIVA ↗. 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: .