7 Best Substitutes for Cumin (and How to Use Them)
We’ve all been there: You’re about to make dinner, maybe some turkey enchiladas or chicken tikka masala, and you reach into the spice cabinet and realize you’re out of a key ingredient: cumin. Cumin is one of those spices that shows up in a lot of my cooking. I use it in spice blends, bloom it with other spices to bring its signature warmth to toasted grains, and even sprinkle it directly on hard-boiled eggs. But what should you reach for when you realize you need a substitute? Here are seven substitutes for cumin and how to use them.
What Is Cumin?
Cumin is a spice made from the seeds of a plant from the parsley family. Very popular in Indian, Middle Eastern, Mexican, and Mediterranean cuisines, cumin is sold as either whole seeds or ground, and is used to add warm, earthy flavor to everything from lentil soup to chicken shawarma.
Chili Powder
Chili powder is a versatile spice blend that includes cumin among its main ingredients. While it’s a simple way to get cumin flavor into your dish, it does include a slew of other spices, like garlic, chiles, and oregano, so make sure you take those additional flavors into account when substituting.
Ground Coriander
Coriander is also part of the parsley family and this spice is made from ground coriander seeds. Coriander and cumin are often paired together in cooking, and their flavors are complementary, although not identical. When substituting, cut the amount of cumin by half — so, if a recipe calls for 1 teaspoon of cumin, start with 1/2 teaspoon of coriander.
Garam Masala
A spice blend popular in Indian cuisine, one of garam masala’s primary ingredients is cumin. It will bring a similar warmth and nuttiness to dishes. Much like chili powder, though, this complex blend brings other flavors, like cardamom, cinnamon, peppercorns, and nutmeg, to the party. It’s best to start with less when substituting — half the amount the recipe calls for is a good place to begin.
Caraway Seeds
Another substitute from the parsley family, caraway has a distinctive flavor but also similar warm, earthy notes to cumin. Caraway is most often sold as whole seeds, although you can substitute seeds when a recipe calls for whole cumin seeds. If substituting for ground cumin, be sure to pulse caraway seeds in a spice grinder or crush them in a mortar and pestle before using. Definitely start with half the amount here as well, as caraway has a pretty strong flavor.
Taco Seasoning
Similar to chili powder, taco seasoning makes a great substitute for cumin, as it counts it among the main ingredients. Along with the earthy flavor of cumin, taco seasoning adds oregano, garlic, onion, and paprika. Start with half the amount called for in the recipe and taste before adding more.
Nigella Seeds
Sometimes referred to as “black cumin,” nigella seeds (which aren’t related to cumin seeds at all, but come from a plant in the ranunculus family) look very similar to black sesame seeds, but have a strong flavor profile with hints of onion, oregano, and cumin. Nigella seeds are a great option when you’re looking to substitute for whole cumin seeds. You can also use it as a sprinkle to finish a dish — much like sesame seeds — knowing they will add in a cumin-adjacent flavor.
Curry Powder
Curry powder is a blend of several spices with a variety of blends including slightly different ingredients. Cumin, however, is a very common spice that is almost always in the mix along with turmeric, coriander, and fenugreek. When using curry as a substitute for cumin, start small, as curry has a strong flavor that can easily take over in a dish.
Further Reading
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