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 | November 16th 2013, 7:23 AM
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 winter days for its antibacterial and antiviral properties to prevent cold. In addition of some roasted peppercorn it is given to new mothers for 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 means without turmeric. It is a classic dish with potato and onion sautéed with fresh green chilies and nigella seeds, usually served with 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.
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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
- Dry roast all the ingredients except salt and mustard oil.
- Make a dry paste in stone mortar and pestle.
- Add salt and mustard 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.
- Mediterranean hummus: toasted nigella seeds give hummus a smoky flavour, garnish with parsley and olive oil.
- Naan bread: spread dough with melted ghee and top with nigella seeds before baking.
- Ye'abesha gomen: aromatic collards cooked in a spicy Ethiopian style butter with cardamom, fenugreek, and nigella seeds.
- Roasted butternut squash cubes sprinkled with nigella, cumin, coriander, cardamom, cinnamon, chile, sugar, and salt.
- Middle Eastern carrot salad with feta, parsley and toasted nigella seeds.
- Asian stir-fry vegetables finished with toasted nigella seeds.
- Red lentil dhal: a thick stew made with red lentils, onions, garlic, turmeric, coriander and nigella seeds.
Common uses of Kalojeera
The Bengalees used kalojeera in much the same way as we now use a Vicks inhaler in the case of a blocked nose. A teaspoon of nigella seeds is wrapped in a small square of linen, slightly warmed by rubbing between hands and inhaled to clear nasal passages.
Antioxidant effect of garlic (Allium sativum) and black seeds (Nigella sativa) has been recognized for centuries and valued for medicinal use. Nigella seeds are widely used in Bengal in both recipes and 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.
Reference: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5884000/
- Avicenna in the “Canon of Medicine” used black seed for stimulating energy and recovery from fatigue.
- In Middle East countries, Nigella seed oil is used as antiseptic and analgesic.
- Algerians take roasted seeds with butter for cough and with honey for colic.
- Indian traditional medicine uses seed tincture for digestive problems and fever.
- Ethiopians inhale seed mixtures for headache relief.
- Indonesians combine the seed with medicines for abdominal disorders.
- Malay traditional medicine uses poultice of seeds for abscess and rheumatism.
- Unani medicine considers the plant diuretic, stimulant and useful for cough and fever.
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