Nigella Seed

Nigella seed comes from Nigella sativa, an annual flowering plant native to western Asia and eastern Europe, and is known by many names including black cumin, black caraway and kalonji. The small, black, angular seeds have a pungent, slightly bitter flavor often compared to a mix of onion, black pepper and oregano, and are typically toasted before use to bring out their aroma. They are used as a spice and garnish across Middle Eastern, South Asian and Eastern European cooking, commonly sprinkled on flatbreads such as naan and used in pickles, curries and spice blends.