Cumin

With its potent, unique flavor, whole Cumin is a crucial ingredient in many kinds of global cuisine. It’s essential in Indian curries, and is commonly roasted before being ground to give it a lovely nutty, toasted taste. The earthy flavor is crucial to good chili. Nearly all Mexican bean and meat recipes call for generous amounts of cumin (called "comino" in Mexican recipes), as do foods of various other Latin American countries. Some European countries use it to flavor their breads. Cumin is often used in rice and couscous dishes, with legumes, lamb dishes, falafel and curries such as Dahl to give dishes an intense and earthy flavor.