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Cumin
is very popular in Indian cooking and Indian herbal medicine.
In Ayurvedic medicine a popular cure for hangovers is one
teaspoon of lime juice and a pinch of cumin in a glass of
orange juice. Ayurvedic practitioners also recommend drinking
a cumin, coriander and fennel tea to help clear up acne. Combine
the herbs equally for a total of one teaspoon and steep them
for 10 minutes in hot water. Strain the tea and drink three
cups a day after meals. Even if it doesn't clear up your acne
it will certainly help your digestion.
Like
its close relatives caraway and anise, cumin alleviates flatulence
and bloating and invigorates the entire digestive system.
A 4th-century BC herbal medicine text has been found that
lists cumin as a treatment for obesity and urinary and liver
problems. The spice is mentioned in both the Old and New Testaments
("Woe unto you, ... for ye pay tithe of mint and anise
and cummin.") and the Romans imported the spice from
Egypt and used it as we use black pepper today.
Cumin used to symbolize greed which is why the Roman Emperor,
Marcus Aurelius, was nicknamed "Cuminus". During
the Middle Ages it became associated with retention, attachment
and fidelity. It was added to bread to prevent it from being
stolen by wood demons. Cumin was also alleged to have the
power to keep a thief inside the house along with the bread
he was trying to steal. Country lasses used to make their
lovers swallow cumin to ensure their fidelity. Soldiers' sweethearts
would put cumin in their wine and bread to guarantee their
devotion.
Cumin has lost some of its popularity as a culinary spice.
In Germany and Holland it is still used to flavor liqueurs
and cheeses. Ground caraway seeds make a reasonable substitute
for cumin, but the latter is much hotter.
The
zing in cumin is due to cumin aldehyde, which, like capsaicin
in hot peppers, is insoluble in water. This is why drinking
water with spicy food doesn't tame the heat. Alcohol or milk
fat will however.
Ground cumin seeds lose their flavor rapidly so it is better
to buy the seeds and grind them in an old coffee grinder as
needed. Before grinding, lightly roast them in a dry frying
pan to bring out their flavour and aroma.
For those who like spicy food, try some baharat, a
fiery concoction from Africa for seasoning meats and vegetables.
Stored in an airtight jar it will keep for up to four months.
Baharat
· ½ nutmeg, grated
· 1 Tbsp. black peppercorns
· 1 Tbsp. coriander seeds
· 1 Tbsp. cumin seeds
· 1 Tbsp. cloves
· Small piece of cinnamon
· 6 small cardamom seeds
· 2 Tbsp. paprika
· 1 tsp. ground chili.
Grind all the ingredients together.
Here's
my own cold combating soup (with apologies to American poet,
Ezra Pound):
Chicken Cumin Soup:
(Winter is a Cumin in, loud sing oh damn!
Snow doth fall and car doth stall
And how the wind doth ram)
· 1 boneless, skinless free range chicken breast, cut
into pieces
· 4 cups unseasoned chicken or vegetable stock
· ¾ a cup of dried red lentils
· 4 cloves garlic, minced
· ½ bay leaf
· 1 small piece ginger root, minced
· 2 medium onions, finely chopped
· 1 fresh jalapeno pepper, chopped fine
· 1 tsp. ground cumin seed
· ½ tsp. ground turmeric
· Juice from ½ lemon (if you're making this
recipe in the summer, some fresh chopped lemon balm or lemon
thyme is even better)
· 1/3 cup of milk, light cream or substitute of your
choice such as coconut milk
· 2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil.
Sauté the chicken in the olive oil until lightly browned
all over. Remove the chicken and set aside. Lightly sauté
the onions in the olive oil until translucent, adding the
jalapeno and the garlic after several minutes. Add the rest
of the ingredients, including the chicken, but without the
milk and the lemon juice. Simmer until the lentils are tender,
about 45 minutes. Just before serving, add first the lemon
juice and then the soymilk, bringing the soup on a low heat
back to simmer before serving. Before serving add salt to
taste. Also, if it isn't sufficiently fiery for you gastronomic
pyromaniacs, add a little cayenne pepper. This immune boosting
recipe will serve two and is guaranteed to search and destroy
any lingering viruses that are threatening your well-being.
An excellent accompaniment is some fresh baked corn bread.
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