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jakehglover · 6 years

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How to Grow Cumin

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By Dr. Mercola

Cumin is the second most popular spice in the world, second only to black pepper. A member of the parsley family, cumin seeds have been prized for thousands of years and are best known in their ground form as a spice added to curry dishes.

Widely cultivated and used in the cuisines of North Africa, the Mediterranean and Iran, cumin has a warm, earthy flavor that adds depth and a bit of spice to a wide variety of foods. Cumin is a popular spice for beef and lamb, but it's also suitable for use on root vegetables and beans.

Spice maker McCormick states that it's one of the top 10 spices sold in the U.S., where it's commonly used in Mexican recipes (stews, tacos), Middle Eastern dishes (hummus, stew and eggplant) and Indian cuisine, where it's often featured alongside chili pepper, turmeric, mustard seed, coriander seed and peppercorn.1

Cumin also features a starring role in many spice blends, including chili powder, garam masala, sofrito and bahaarat. Traditionally, cumin seeds were carried by brides during wedding ceremonies as a symbol of faithfulness, and in ancient Greece the seeds were used as a table condiment similar to salt today.

It was also used medicinally to aid digestion, support breastfeeding and treat health problems including fever, diarrhea and vomiting.2 While you may be tempted to head to the supermarket to stock up on this versatile spice, you can easily grow cumin in your own backyard. Once you collect the seeds, put them in a coffee grinder and you'll have fresh, ground cumin whenever you need it.

How to Grow Cumin

Cumin is a flowering annual plant that grows to be about 12 to 20 inches tall. Its short-lived flowers are pink or white (flowering begins midsummer) and yield the cumin seeds used in cooking. Recommended for USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 5 to 10, cumin is a plant that takes about four months to reach maturity and prefers a hot growing season.

This means if you live in an area with a short growing season, you'll need to start the seeds indoors, only transplanting them outdoors when temperatures (lows) will be at 60 degrees F or above and the plants are about 2 inches tall. For a general guide, start the seeds indoors about four to eight weeks before the final frost in your area.3

Seeds should germinate in about seven to 14 days, and soaking them prior to planting (for about eight hours) may increase germination rates. Cumin seeds don't tolerate transplanting well, so it's best to use biodegradable pots that can be planted directly into the soil when the time comes.

And because each cumin plant only produces a small number of seeds, you'll need to grow a lot of plants if you plan to use the seeds regularly. Cumin does best in full sun, so choose a bright, sunny spot in your garden and sow the seedlings about 4 inches apart, shallowly in the soil (about one-fourth inch deep), in rows that are 18 inches apart.

You can also plant cumin in containers, and some suggest planting them in clumps rather than rows, which helps support the sometimes-spindly plants as they grow and keeps the seed pods from spilling over onto the ground.

Seedlings should be kept moist and watered occasionally, especially in dry weather, but avoid overwatering, as this plant enjoys well-drained, sandy soil (but will tolerate most soil types as long as it's fertile). If you live in a region with long periods of dry heat, cumin may benefit from misting.4

Overwatered cumin plants can develop root rot, while the plants are also susceptible to aphids, wilt, blight and powdery mildew. That said, they're also known to attract beneficial insects to your garden that can help keep other pests away.5

How to Harvest Cumin

Cumin plants must be watched closely late in the growing season as, left unattended, the seeds will dry and scatter on the ground, making harvesting difficult if not impossible. The plants may also ripen at different rates, so be prepared to harvest some of the plants while leaving others behind.

The seeds are ready to harvest when the flowers are done blooming and the clusters turn brown, typically in the fall.

The dried stems can then be cut down near the ground and seed clusters placed in a paper bag (upside down) to dry out and catch the seeds, which are yellow-brown in color and similar in shape and size to caraway seeds. The Homestead Garden recommends:6

"When some of the plants are ready, cut down five to six cumin plants at the stem and place the pod clusters in a paper bag. Tie it and hang the bag upside down in a warm, dry place. After seven to 10 days, the pods will have dried. Rub the pods between your fingers and the seeds will drop out for immediate use or for storage …

You can also thresh the bag when it is ready to harvest: beat the bag against a hard surface to dislodge the seeds. Sift the seeds through a mesh cloth to remove the chaff."

Be sure the seeds are completely dry before storing them in a cool, dry location away from direct sunlight. The seeds can be saved for about two years. The seeds can be used whole or ground, but to preserve freshness and flavor, grind what you need just before cooking.

Health Benefits of Cumin Seeds From Diabetes to Digestion

Cumin seeds, not to be confused with black cumin or black seed, which are entirely different plants, are a good source of iron and contain a number of other nutrients including manganese, copper, calcium, magnesium, vitamin B1 and phosphorus. Their traditional use as a digestive aid and tonic also has some modern-day merit.

According to the nonprofit George Mateljan Foundation, which was found to discover, develop and share scientifically proven information about the benefits of healthy eating, "Research has shown that cumin may stimulate the secretion of pancreatic enzymes, compounds necessary for proper digestion and nutrient assimilation."7

Cumin essential oil has even shown promise for relieving the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, including stomach pain and bloating.8 The plant also has anticancer and antidiabetes properties, which are thought to be due to its active components, including terpens, phenols and flavonoids.9

In fact, cumin has been found to work better than the antidiabetes drug glibenclamide in treating diabetic rats10 and similar benefits were found in a human study.

When cumin essential oil was given to people with Type 2 diabetes, it led to decreases in insulin, fasting blood glucose and markers of inflammation along with an increase in adiponectin, a hormone involved in regulating glucose levels. "In addition it may control the complications of diabetes Type 2 in these patients," according to the researchers.11

Cumin was also found to be effective against stomach and uterine tumors in mice. Researchers noted, "The results strongly suggest the cancer chemopreventive potentials of cumin seed and could be attributed to its ability to modulate carcinogen metabolism."12

Cumin for Stress and Weight Loss

Cumin also has antistress, antioxidant and memory-enhancing activities, such that when it was administered to rats, it led to improvements in memory and stress.13 The antioxidant activity of cumin was also evaluated in a 2004 study, which found that the spice (along with others, such as caraway, coriander, dill and fennel) was far more potent than vitamin C (ascorbic acid).14

Those with respiratory disorders such as asthma and bronchitis may also want to include cumin in their diets, as it acts as an expectorant that can loosen mucus and phlegm in the respiratory tract. In fact, one animal study found it reduced coughing similarly to the drug Codeine.15

There's even research showing that cumin could aid in weight loss. When overweight participants took cumin for eight weeks, they lost a similar amount of weight as those taking the weight-loss drug orlistat120, and even experienced the additional benefit of improved insulin metabolism.16

It's also a good spice to add to your cooking from a food safety standpoint, as it has antimicrobial properties that may lower the risk of foodborne illness. Cumin even has antibacterial properties that can thwart multidrug-resistant bacteria like methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA).17

How to Use Cumin in Your Cooking

Cumin is a warm spice, similar to cinnamon, caraway and nutmeg, that will give a nutty, sweet and slightly smoky flavor to a wide variety of dishes. Add it liberally to vegetables, stews, soups and curries, as well as for a seasoning in beef, chicken and fish dishes. For a more robust flavor, cumin seeds can be roasted lightly before use.

To make cumin tea, which may be especially soothing to drink after a meal, boil cumin seeds in water then allow them to steep for eight to 10 minutes.18 You can also try the two cumin-inspired recipes below, which not only will expand your palate, but also increase your nutrition at the same time.

Cumin Spiced Lettuce Rolls

Ingredients

1 head leaf lettuce (butter or red leaf)

1 avocado, peeled and sliced into strips

2 scallions, minced

1 red bell pepper, minced

Alfalfa sprouts

Dressing

3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1 teaspoon raw honey

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Himalayan salt to taste

1/4 cup olive oil

Procedure

Cut out the lettuce cores. Separate leaves.

Top with some minced scallions and a few pieces of red pepper.

Add some sprouts and roll the leaf carefully. Secure with toothpick.

Continue the process with the remaining lettuce roll ingredients.

To make the dressing, whisk together lemon juice, honey, ground cumin, cayenne pepper and salt. Add olive oil.

Serve lettuce rolls with dressing on the side.

Grilled Tomato and Cumin Salsa

Ingredients

12 roma tomatoes

2 cloves garlic, unpeeled

1 small onion, quartered

1 green chili

1 1/2 tablespoons coconut oil

1 teaspoon ground cumin seeds

1/4 teaspoon Himalayan salt

3 tablespoons fresh lime juice

A handful of chopped fresh coriander

Procedure

Preheat the grill.

Place the tomatoes, onion, chili and garlic in a medium-sized baking dish, and then drizzle with coconut oil.

Grill for five to 10 minutes, or until outsides of vegetables are charred. Make sure to check them frequently to avoid burning.

Remove the vegetables from the stove. Remove and throw out the chili stem, tomato cores and garlic skins.

Use a food processor to chop the charred vegetables coarsely. Transfer to a bowl and add the cumin, lime juice, Himalayan salt and coriander.

from HealthyLife via Jake Glover on Inoreader http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2018/09/14/growing-cumin.aspx

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sherristockman · 6 years

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How to Grow Cumin Dr. Mercola By Dr. Mercola Cumin is the second most popular spice in the world, second only to black pepper. A member of the parsley family, cumin seeds have been prized for thousands of years and are best known in their ground form as a spice added to curry dishes. Widely cultivated and used in the cuisines of North Africa, the Mediterranean and Iran, cumin has a warm, earthy flavor that adds depth and a bit of spice to a wide variety of foods. Cumin is a popular spice for beef and lamb, but it's also suitable for use on root vegetables and beans. Spice maker McCormick states that it's one of the top 10 spices sold in the U.S., where it's commonly used in Mexican recipes (stews, tacos), Middle Eastern dishes (hummus, stew and eggplant) and Indian cuisine, where it's often featured alongside chili pepper, turmeric, mustard seed, coriander seed and peppercorn.1 Cumin also features a starring role in many spice blends, including chili powder, garam masala, sofrito and bahaarat. Traditionally, cumin seeds were carried by brides during wedding ceremonies as a symbol of faithfulness, and in ancient Greece the seeds were used as a table condiment similar to salt today. It was also used medicinally to aid digestion, support breastfeeding and treat health problems including fever, diarrhea and vomiting.2 While you may be tempted to head to the supermarket to stock up on this versatile spice, you can easily grow cumin in your own backyard. Once you collect the seeds, put them in a coffee grinder and you'll have fresh, ground cumin whenever you need it. How to Grow Cumin Cumin is a flowering annual plant that grows to be about 12 to 20 inches tall. Its short-lived flowers are pink or white (flowering begins midsummer) and yield the cumin seeds used in cooking. Recommended for USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 5 to 10, cumin is a plant that takes about four months to reach maturity and prefers a hot growing season. This means if you live in an area with a short growing season, you'll need to start the seeds indoors, only transplanting them outdoors when temperatures (lows) will be at 60 degrees F or above and the plants are about 2 inches tall. For a general guide, start the seeds indoors about four to eight weeks before the final frost in your area.3 Seeds should germinate in about seven to 14 days, and soaking them prior to planting (for about eight hours) may increase germination rates. Cumin seeds don't tolerate transplanting well, so it's best to use biodegradable pots that can be planted directly into the soil when the time comes. And because each cumin plant only produces a small number of seeds, you'll need to grow a lot of plants if you plan to use the seeds regularly. Cumin does best in full sun, so choose a bright, sunny spot in your garden and sow the seedlings about 4 inches apart, shallowly in the soil (about one-fourth inch deep), in rows that are 18 inches apart. You can also plant cumin in containers, and some suggest planting them in clumps rather than rows, which helps support the sometimes-spindly plants as they grow and keeps the seed pods from spilling over onto the ground. Seedlings should be kept moist and watered occasionally, especially in dry weather, but avoid overwatering, as this plant enjoys well-drained, sandy soil (but will tolerate most soil types as long as it's fertile). If you live in a region with long periods of dry heat, cumin may benefit from misting.4 Overwatered cumin plants can develop root rot, while the plants are also susceptible to aphids, wilt, blight and powdery mildew. That said, they're also known to attract beneficial insects to your garden that can help keep other pests away.5 How to Harvest Cumin Cumin plants must be watched closely late in the growing season as, left unattended, the seeds will dry and scatter on the ground, making harvesting difficult if not impossible. The plants may also ripen at different rates, so be prepared to harvest some of the plants while leaving others behind. The seeds are ready to harvest when the flowers are done blooming and the clusters turn brown, typically in the fall. The dried stems can then be cut down near the ground and seed clusters placed in a paper bag (upside down) to dry out and catch the seeds, which are yellow-brown in color and similar in shape and size to caraway seeds. The Homestead Garden recommends:6 "When some of the plants are ready, cut down five to six cumin plants at the stem and place the pod clusters in a paper bag. Tie it and hang the bag upside down in a warm, dry place. After seven to 10 days, the pods will have dried. Rub the pods between your fingers and the seeds will drop out for immediate use or for storage … You can also thresh the bag when it is ready to harvest: beat the bag against a hard surface to dislodge the seeds. Sift the seeds through a mesh cloth to remove the chaff." Be sure the seeds are completely dry before storing them in a cool, dry location away from direct sunlight. The seeds can be saved for about two years. The seeds can be used whole or ground, but to preserve freshness and flavor, grind what you need just before cooking. Health Benefits of Cumin Seeds From Diabetes to Digestion Cumin seeds, not to be confused with black cumin or black seed, which are entirely different plants, are a good source of iron and contain a number of other nutrients including manganese, copper, calcium, magnesium, vitamin B1 and phosphorus. Their traditional use as a digestive aid and tonic also has some modern-day merit. According to the nonprofit George Mateljan Foundation, which was found to discover, develop and share scientifically proven information about the benefits of healthy eating, "Research has shown that cumin may stimulate the secretion of pancreatic enzymes, compounds necessary for proper digestion and nutrient assimilation."7 Cumin essential oil has even shown promise for relieving the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, including stomach pain and bloating.8 The plant also has anticancer and antidiabetes properties, which are thought to be due to its active components, including terpens, phenols and flavonoids.9 In fact, cumin has been found to work better than the antidiabetes drug glibenclamide in treating diabetic rats10 and similar benefits were found in a human study. When cumin essential oil was given to people with Type 2 diabetes, it led to decreases in insulin, fasting blood glucose and markers of inflammation along with an increase in adiponectin, a hormone involved in regulating glucose levels. "In addition it may control the complications of diabetes Type 2 in these patients," according to the researchers.11 Cumin was also found to be effective against stomach and uterine tumors in mice. Researchers noted, "The results strongly suggest the cancer chemopreventive potentials of cumin seed and could be attributed to its ability to modulate carcinogen metabolism."12 Cumin for Stress and Weight Loss Cumin also has antistress, antioxidant and memory-enhancing activities, such that when it was administered to rats, it led to improvements in memory and stress.13 The antioxidant activity of cumin was also evaluated in a 2004 study, which found that the spice (along with others, such as caraway, coriander, dill and fennel) was far more potent than vitamin C (ascorbic acid).14 Those with respiratory disorders such as asthma and bronchitis may also want to include cumin in their diets, as it acts as an expectorant that can loosen mucus and phlegm in the respiratory tract. In fact, one animal study found it reduced coughing similarly to the drug Codeine.15 There's even research showing that cumin could aid in weight loss. When overweight participants took cumin for eight weeks, they lost a similar amount of weight as those taking the weight-loss drug orlistat120, and even experienced the additional benefit of improved insulin metabolism.16 It's also a good spice to add to your cooking from a food safety standpoint, as it has antimicrobial properties that may lower the risk of foodborne illness. Cumin even has antibacterial properties that can thwart multidrug-resistant bacteria like methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA).17 How to Use Cumin in Your Cooking Cumin is a warm spice, similar to cinnamon, caraway and nutmeg, that will give a nutty, sweet and slightly smoky flavor to a wide variety of dishes. Add it liberally to vegetables, stews, soups and curries, as well as for a seasoning in beef, chicken and fish dishes. For a more robust flavor, cumin seeds can be roasted lightly before use. To make cumin tea, which may be especially soothing to drink after a meal, boil cumin seeds in water then allow them to steep for eight to 10 minutes.18 You can also try the two cumin-inspired recipes below, which not only will expand your palate, but also increase your nutrition at the same time. Cumin Spiced Lettuce Rolls Ingredients 1 head leaf lettuce (butter or red leaf) 1 avocado, peeled and sliced into strips 2 scallions, minced 1 red bell pepper, minced Alfalfa sprouts Dressing 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 1 teaspoon raw honey 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper Himalayan salt to taste 1/4 cup olive oil Procedure Cut out the lettuce cores. Separate leaves. Top with some minced scallions and a few pieces of red pepper. Add some sprouts and roll the leaf carefully. Secure with toothpick. Continue the process with the remaining lettuce roll ingredients. To make the dressing, whisk together lemon juice, honey, ground cumin, cayenne pepper and salt. Add olive oil. Serve lettuce rolls with dressing on the side. Grilled Tomato and Cumin Salsa Ingredients 12 roma tomatoes 2 cloves garlic, unpeeled 1 small onion, quartered 1 green chili 1 1/2 tablespoons coconut oil 1 teaspoon ground cumin seeds 1/4 teaspoon Himalayan salt 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice A handful of chopped fresh coriander Procedure Preheat the grill. Place the tomatoes, onion, chili and garlic in a medium-sized baking dish, and then drizzle with coconut oil. Grill for five to 10 minutes, or until outsides of vegetables are charred. Make sure to check them frequently to avoid burning. Remove the vegetables from the stove. Remove and throw out the chili stem, tomato cores and garlic skins. Use a food processor to chop the charred vegetables coarsely. Transfer to a bowl and add the cumin, lime juice, Himalayan salt and coriander.

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