/ / Kalojeera o rosun bata - Hot garlic and kalongi

Kalojeera o rosun bata - Hot garlic and kalongi

Published by:    Updated on: May 11, 2022
How to cook with Nigella Seeds kalojeera bharta - Bengali recipe

How to cook with Nigella Seeds kalojeera bharta - Bengali recipe

Kalojeeraa also known as black caraway come from the pods of an annual flowering plant Nigella sativa native to Asia. Although black onion seeds share a similar appearance to black sesame seeds, they have a very different flavor, nigella seeds being more pungent with a strong aroma. To release the flavor and aroma of nigella seeds, dry toast the seeds in a pan before using.

Barnali Dutta

Literature has shown this humble seed is an antibiotic as well as garlic has immune-boosting properties, onion seeds especially when combined with garlic are regarded as a harmonizer of the imbalance. It is usually taken during rainy season and a winter day for its antibacterial and antiviral properties to prevent cold. In addition of some roasted peppercorn it is given to the new mothers for the postpartum care.

Panch Phoron, the Bengali five-spice is a simple combination of five spices, used whole, mix together equal quantities of fenugreek seeds, cumin seeds, fennel seeds, black mustard seeds, and nigella seeds, in some dishes adding radhuni seeds or celery seeds is necessary to make panch phoron to produce the perfect dish. Fry spices in oil until you hear them pop and the aromas are released. Sada aloor torkari which is Bengali potato stir-fry, sada is white in Bengali means without turmeric, a classic Indian dish with potato and onion sauteed with fresh green chilies and nigella seeds used to serve with a side of fried bread or luchi.

Using lentils, onions, garlic, turmeric, coriander, cumin seed powder, nigella seeds, cardamom, and cinnamon to make a hearty stew with a South Asian influence is known as red lentil dhal. Before serving, more toasted nigella seeds can be added on top.

Cook with Nigella Seeds kalojeera bharta - Bengali recipe

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Ingredients:

  • Onion seeds (kalo jeera), 2 tablespoon
  • Garlic (rosun), 9 to 10 cloves
  • Dry red chillies, 2
  • Mustard oil, half teaspoon
  • Salt as required
Directions:
  1. Dry roast all the ingredients except salt and mustard oil.
  2. Make a dry paste in Stone (Granite) Mortar and Pestle.
  3. Add salt and oil to the paste and enjoy with piping hot rice.

Prep time: 10 min | Cook time: 10 min | Total time: 20 min
Yield: 2 servings | Calories per serving: 100



Some more recipes using Kalojeera, nigella seeds:
  • Dukkah : Combined toasted hazelnuts, cumin, nigella seeds, coriander, and sesame seeds make up dukkah, an egyptian spice mixture. It can either be left chunky and crunchy or powdered. Try it over hummus or serve it with cucumbers and radishes for dipping.
  • Mediterranean hummus: toasted nigella seeds give your hummus a touch of smoky flavour, garnish with parsley and premium olive oil.
  • Naan bread: Before baking, spread the dough with melted ghee and top with nigella seeds while creating homemade naan.
  • Ye'abesha gomen: Aromatic collards cooked in a spicy butter made in the Ethiopian style with cardamom, fenugreek, and nigella seeds. It goes well with vegetarian and meat meals from Ethiopia, such as doro wat and sega wat.
  • Butternut squash that has been roasted and cut into cubes is sprinkled with a mixture of nigella, cumin, coriander, cardamom, cinnamon, chile, sugar, and salt. Serve heated with a dollop of plain yoghurt on the side and fresh cilantro sprigs.
  • Simple Middle Eastern-inspired carrot salad with feta: Drizzled with lemon juice and olive oil. feta crumbles, parsley chops, and toasted nigella seeds are placed on top.
  • Asian stir-fry: In a wok, stir-fry veggies such cabbage, broccoli, red bell peppers, ginger, julienned carrots, and shiitake mushrooms. Add toasted nigella seeds to the meal after adding a soy sauce and sherry mixture as the finishing touch.
  • Red lentil dhal: A thick Bengalee daal inspired stew made with red lentils mosoor daal, onions, garlic, turmeric, and coriander. Additional toasted nigella seeds can be sprinkled on top before serving.

Beat the heat: top summer drinks for keeping cool in hot weather Read "Stay Cool and Refreshed with This Traditional Toddy Palm Kernel Mocktail Recipe" here.

Common uses of Kalojeera

The Bengalees used the kalojeera in much the same way as we now use a Vicks inhaler in the case of a blocked nose, we wrap a teaspoon of nigella seeds in a small square of linen. Briefly rub the parcel in your hand to warm it up slightly, then bring it to one nostril while you block the other and inhale deeply. Repeat as often as necessary until your nose is unblocked.

Antioxidant effect of garlic (Allium sativum) and black seeds (Nigella sativa) has been in use for many centuries and was recognized for its therapeutic and medicinal value as far back as the era of ancient Egypt in healthy postmenopausal women. The antioxidant properties of garlic and different garlic preparations are well documented. Nigella seeds are widely used in Bengal in the recipes as well as home remedies.

The results of investigations on N. sativa seed fixed oil showed its therapeutic potential in treatment of sinusitis by its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antihistaminic, immune-modulator, antimicrobial and analgesic effects. The use of N. sativa seed fixed oil can inhibit the inflammation of sinuses and respiratory airways, microbial infections and finally help the patients suffering from clinical symptoms of sinusitis such as coryza, nasal congestion, headache, neck pain, earache and toothache. Clinical studies are required to evaluate its efficacy in patients with sinusitis in future.

Reference taken from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5884000/:

People commonly use black seed for asthma, hay fever, diabetes, high blood pressure, eczema, weight loss, menstrual cramps, and many other conditions. Nigella sativa, a member of Ranunculaceae family is commonly known as black seed. N. sativa seed with a rich historical and religious background is the miracle curative herb for all ailments, except the death. N. sativa seeds are used widely for extraction of fixed oil. N. sativa seeds were used by Dioscorides as diuretic, emmenagogue, galactopoietic.
  • Avicenna in the “Canon of Medicine” used the black seed for stimulating the body's energy and helping recovery from fatigue and dispiritedness. It was a remedy for coryza. Frying the seeds in oil and putting in the lint and putting on forehead, relieves the headache. Soaking the seeds in the vinegar for one night and crushing them and smelling was a remedy for chronic headache.
  • In Middle East countries, N. sativa seed oil is used as antiseptic, local analgesic and for treatment of asthma, bronchitis, rheumatism and other inflammatory diseases.
  • Algerians take the roasted seeds with butter for cough, and with honey for colic, Arabians use its seed as lactagogue, soaking in rose oil as eye drops for eye infections.
  • Indian people use the seed tincture for anorexia, diarrhea, dyspepsia and fever or seed fixed oil in sesame oil for dermatosis. N. sativa is anthelmintic, carminative, emmenagogue and stimulant in Ayurvedic.
  • Sniffing the cloth containing the mixture of N. sativa seed with melted butter is used by Ethiopians for headache.
  • Indonesians combine N. sativa seed with astringent medicines for abdominal disorders. The seed extract is used for treatment of liver ailments.
  • The poultice seeds is used by Malayans for treatment of abscesses, headache, nasal ulcers, orchitis and rheumatism. In North Africans, mixture of N. sativa seed with honey is used as morning aperitif.
  • Unani Medicine consider the plant as abortifacient, diuretic, anthelmintic and emmenagogue and good treatment for cough, fever, jaundice, pulmonosis and sore eyes. In Yemen, the seeds are used for hemorrhoids

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