Its strong and fragrant taste brings a real plus to your dishes, whether you use it in the form of seeds or use a mill to obtain a nigella powder. The nigella seed is widely used in Arabic cuisine, although it can also find its place in our western kitchens. As they mature, they become black in colour. Each capsule contains many small seeds in a triangular shape. On the other hand, the nigella seeds must dry in the open air and benefit from a humid environment, they will ideally be installed under an open shed.
Then, it is necessary to dry them, not too quickly however, it is better to avoid full sun. Harvesting is in itself quite simple, just cut the stems on which the capsules are located. After flowering, they give way to capsules which contain the famous nigella seeds. Nigella is a very pretty plant with blue (or even pink or white) flowers. It has peppery, fruity and lemony notes that make all the difference in a dish. Its flavour is quite strong, pungent, which requires a rather precise dosage in your kitchen. What is the flavour of nigella seeds?īlack cumin seed is a very special spice. However, it tends to be democratized in the West and is increasingly consumed by lovers of spices and herbs. Today, it is mainly in the Arabic cuisine that we find the nigella seed. The nigella seed I am offering you, which is also called black cumin, comes from the nigella sativa. Do not confuse them, the second mentioned is a poisonous flower. There are different kinds of nigella, namely nigella sativa, nigella damascena or nigella arvensis. Quoted in the Bible, nigella was then promoted by the prophet of Islam to the 7th rank of plant capable of healing all diseases. Nigella is mentioned in the capitulary of Villis, the famous legislative act containing a list of plants that Charlemagne wanted to be cultivated on royal estates. Cultivated as an ornamental species, nigella produces seeds that find their perfect place in your kitchen among other spices. If it is found today in Egyptian plantations, this plant is native to Asia. The nigella is a herbaceous plant cultivated since antiquity. Very appreciated, as much for its taste as for its virtues, it is not known by all, it is the moment for me to present it to you. The seed of nigella is used as a seasoning and adds complexity to your cooking. It is in Egypt, in the delta of the Nile, that the nigella that I propose to you today is produced.