4 Substitutes For Cumin In A Recipe

If you've never heard of a simmer pot, it's a way of adding fragrance to your home by boiling a very aromatic blend of ingredients. As the steam rises it spreads the aromatherapy of the fragrances you're simmering around the home. Usually, after a simmer pot is finished, the ingredients are discarded, but a spiced soup broth wafting through the house can provide that same experience with the reward of a meal at the end. Personally, I love cumin for both food and fragrance.

If you should run out of cumin or find the spice has gone stale, several other spices can be substituted for cumin in a pinch without sacrificing on flavor. These substitutes have a similar flavor profile to cumin at comparable costs, but also have some notable differences. You can play around with the different spices in your cabinet to experiment with different flavor profiles and get a good idea of what flavors work well together.

Cumin is an ancient herb commonly used as a spice, though its uses have varied over the centuries. Its warm, earthy, slightly bitter flavor is popular in cuisines all over the world in both its ground and seed form. The cumin seed is the part of the plant typically used in recipes. The cumin plant has a strong fragrance and an appearance that's similar to dill, with long, thin leaves. It typically grows about two feet high and blooms bright pink flowers containing rice-like seeds that are ready to be harvested 120 days or so after planting. The herb grows best in warm or tropical climates and requires very little water, making it drought-resistant. 

There are five different types of cumin and each one comes from a different species of the plant. Records of the use of cumin date back over 5,000 years ago, when ancient Egyptians used the black variant as an ingredient in the mummification process. It was exchanged as a form of currency in Medieval England where tenants paid their rent in pounds of the bitter spice (as well as pepper). Those were the days. Though you can't currently pay your landlord with cumin, there is some folklore on its use in the treatment of digestive disorders, diarrhea, and bloating. A simple way to get the benefits of cumin is to steep it to make delicious spiced tea which you can sweeten with a little bit of honey.

Coriander is an herb from the Middle East with a mild, citrusy, floral flavor that is an ideal substitute for cumin. Use only half the amount of coriander to replace cumin in your recipes as the flavor is a bit more pungent, though less spicy. You will want to make up for the lack of spice by balancing it with other ingredients. It's allegedly an aphrodisiac. During the Medieval period, this herb was rumored to be an ingredient in love potions. This may explain why it's loved in so many cultures. The leaf or the seed can be used to flavor dishes, but each has a slightly different flavor profile. It is more common to use the leafy form of coriander (also known as cilantro) as a garnish to add a fresh, crisp tang to soups and stews. 

The seed is traditionally used in Indian, Mexican, and Thai cuisine and is a common ingredient for pickling and sausage recipes. It's a spice that lends itself well for use in sweet treats since it has some sweet and nutty undertones. You can purchase coriander already ground or in seed form at your local spice market. Coriander seeds are a good source of iron, copper, calcium, potassium, manganese, zinc, and magnesium. Coriander essential oils contain linalool which can improve skin and its fragrance is said to promote relaxation.

Chili powder is a blended spice of dried and powdered chili peppers mixed with spices and garlic. Cumin is included as one of the ingredients in some blends, making it ideal to substitute in its place. It is an essential ingredient for chili, no matter which recipe you choose. It's also quintessential for fajitas and tacos to add an authentic spice. Chili powder is originally a Southwestern or Mexican spice blend.

You can make your chili powder blend yourself using common spices in your cabinet instead of purchasing the preblended versions at your local grocery. This allows you to customize the ingredients it contains to ensure that it fits your taste and specific recipe. When replacing cumin with chili powder use half the amount called for in the recipe since chili powder contains a host of other ingredients that will alter the flavor of the dish.

Paprika is a good substitute for cumin because it adds a similar smokiness to dishes. It is similar to chili powder in hue and flavor and is made of dried ground red peppers. The Capsicum annuum red pepper is the most common type of pepper used to manufacture the deep red spice. The plant is native to South America and is a member of the nightshade family which also includes bell peppers and jalapenos. Paprika is the Hungarian word for pepper and the spice was initially introduced to Hungary by the Turks. 

There are a wide variety of different types of paprika available on shelves in Hungary, where it is an essential ingredient in many of the country's national dishes. There is research on the applications of this pepper for promoting vascular and metabolic health. It is also a good source of vitamins A, E, and C as well as antioxidants which can reduce oxidative stress. As a replacement for cumin, start by adding half the amount and then add more paprika to taste.

Caraway is yet another spice you should use half of when substituting it for cumin as it has a slightly more pungent flavor. It is a biennial, flowering herb with earthy, citrus, and peppery undertones. All parts of the plant are edible, but the seeds are most commonly used as a spice. This herb originated in the Mediterranean. The seeds are very similar in appearance to rice (like cumin seeds), but caraway has a very distinctive, licorice flavor that differentiates its taste. Caraway is a traditional spice in German cuisine where it's included in sauerkraut, cheese, bread, and sausage recipes. It is also common in Indian cuisine where it's used in rice, soups, stews, and curries. 

There is research on its applications for its use as an anti-inflammatory and to relieve indigestion. This versatile herb is a source of iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, zinc, and fiber making it a nutrient-dense cumin replacement. Of the options mentioned caraway may be the substitute that most closely resembles cumin in appearance and flavor profile making it the top pick as a culinary stunt double. 

Each replacement option adds its unique interpretation, and it may take a bit of experimentation to get the right substitution ratio. Overall, you can be confident using any of these options to fill in for cumin in your favorite recipes when you need an alternative.