Spices That Taste Like Cumin

Amber cumin's deep orange hue makes it easily recognizable.

Amber cumin is a piquant, earthy spice that comes from the dried fruit of the cumin plant. References to cumin appear in ancient Egyptian texts and in the Bible. Cumin appears in the traditional cuisines of Asia, the Mediterranean, the Middle East and Latin America. Moroccans refer colloquially to cumin as their "national spice" because it appears in so many dishes. Cumin's flavor is unlike that of any other spice, though some alternatives work in a pinch.

Coriander

Ground coriander seeds are a common substitute for cumin.

Coriander seed comes from the cilantro plant. Coriander appears in the traditional cuisine of countries throughout Asia, the Middle East and Europe. Ground coriander seeds approximate cumin's pungency and bitterness. The spice gives food a bright citrus flavor and goes well with most recipes calling for cumin. Substitute 1 tsp. ground coriander for every 1 tsp. ground cumin. Unlike cumin seeds, whole coriander seeds never appear in recipes. Coriander cannot substitute for whole cumin seeds.

Caraway Seeds

Ground caraway seeds provide a good substitute for cumin.

Caraway seeds provide a useful substitute for cumin. Indigenous to Western Europe, the spice comes from a plant related to the cumin plant. Now it appears in foods throughout Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East in either ground or whole form. Caraway shares cumin's pungency but adds hints of pepper and black licorice. Caraway seed tastes more bitter than cumin, so use 1/2 tsp. whole or ground caraway for every 1 tsp. whole or ground cumin.

White Cumin

White cumin shares many similarities with its more common amber variant. Though the related black cumin tastes quite different from amber cumin, white cumin retains enough similarities to work as a substitute. Indigenous to the Mediterranean region, white cumin retains a spicier and less pungent flavor than the others. Indian and Middle Eastern groceries sell white cumin, though non-specialty grocery stores rarely stock it. Use 1 tsp. whole or ground white cumin as a substitute for every 1 tsp. whole or ground cumin.

Chili Powder

Mexican chili powder often contains cumin additives.

Chili powder is a ground spice sold in supermarkets that contains ground chili peppers along with approximately 20 percent additives. Cumin is one of the most common additives in chili powder; this accounts for its similar flavor. Chili powder's flavor tastes spicier than cumin and lacks its bitterness. Because chili powder adds a great deal of heat to a dish, use approximately 1/2 tsp. ground chili powder for every 1 tsp. ground cumin. Home cooks sometimes add a pinch of chili powder to coriander or caraway to approximate cumin.

Anise Seed

Anise seed adds a strong licorice flavor to sweets and savory dishes throughout the Middle East and Mediterranean. Cooks often compare the flavor to that of fennel seed. On its own, anise seed tastes quite sweet and not at all pungent. Though a different plant, star anise shares enough similarities with anise seed that it provides an acceptable substitute. Add a pinch of ground anise seed or star anise to any of the above spices to approximate the taste of amber cumin.

Tags: ground cumin, Middle East, whole ground, anise seed, comes from, coriander seeds