Over the years I've heard nigella referred to as onion seeds, black cumin, black caraway and fennel flower, among others. Nigella seeds are frequently used in Indian, Middle Eastern, and North African cuisine as a spice and condiment. In Asia, nigella seeds are sometimes ground into a powder or left whole and mixed into spice blends. If you need a ground spice to substitute ground fennel seeds, these are the best. As a matter of fact, many ground spices can substitute one another. Nigella seeds are probably one of the most confused spices. Flavor-wise, oregano is a perfect match for nigella seeds but they completely differ in texture. In several dishes, such as … Fennel seeds have a flavor similar to that of licorice and are sometimes confused with anise as a result. In fact, you can also use liqueurs such as Pernod. The fennel itself is not dried up and ground to produce a spice. Most notably, nigella seeds add a welcome crunch and herbaceous character when substituted for I in Bengali I, joining equal parts fenugreek, cumin, black mustard seeds, and fennel seeds. Fennel Seeds. When you don’t have nigella seeds, you can either ignore them or use a substitute. Anise also has an intense licorice flavor. For this purpose, the fennel seeds are used. Equivalents. If your curry is quite spicy and you want it to have deep robust flavors, then dry roast some cumin seeds in a skillet and grind them to a fine powder. Caraway seeds can be a great substitute for fennel seeds when you make rye bread or soda bread. What are nigella seeds? A popular bengali spice blend called “panch phoron” uses nigella seeds along with fenugreek, cumin, fennel, and black mustard seeds.These tasty seeds can be used for flavoring curries and lentil dishes, as well as cooked with root vegetable dishes and stir-fries. To learn more, you can have a read through my paprika substitutes. Nigella seeds. You'll soon realize that aromatic fennel seeds can elevate the most basic recipes. Celery seed is the best substitute for nigella seeds. Fennel seeds also offer benefits in the way of vitamins, minerals and fiber, so you can feel good about working them into your weekly meal plan. String cheese — Middle East The tastes are completely different. Use fennel seeds for pickling vegetables, seasoning sausage or making a crust for fish or beef fillets. You might know nigella seeds by its other names, such as charnushka, black onion, or kalonji. The best substitute for these seeds is to use here will be nigella seeds also known as black onion seeds or ground fennel seeds mixed with dried oregano. According to Domestication of Plants in the Old World, by Daniel Zohary and Maria Hopf, nigella seeds were found in Tutankhamen's tomb. Fenugreek and fennel seed have completely different flavor profiles, which means that it is difficult to mistake one for the other. One of the oldest spices known to be used, nigella seeds (n. sativa) were found in Tutankhamun’s tomb and are mentioned in the Bible’s Old Testament, although their use is not clear.The tiny black seeds have a slightly bitter taste with some of the pungency of onion, but also offer many other subtle nuances of flavour. TRADITIONAL USES. Besides, you can put them into almost all types of roasts as they add flavor and aroma to the meat without causing overpowering. Nigella seeds have an oregano-like quality with herbaceous notes, a slight bitterness and a warm, toasted-onion flavor. If you are looking in your larder and unable to get to a store, a bit of celery seed should bring flavour. When you don’t have nigella seeds, you can either ignore them or use a substitute. Celery Seeds vs Fennel Seeds. Indian chefs use nigella seeds to form the basis for several dishes, particularly in Northern regions, and often sprinkle them on naan or Indian flatbread and include them in rice pilau.A five spice mix common in Bengal called paanch phoron may include these seeds as one of the five spices; mixing them with fennel, cumin, fenugreek and mustard seeds. . It also has a licorice flavor. Can you use fenugreek in place of fennel seed and vice versa? It’s an age-old spice that was already present and widely used as far back as the ancient Egyptian times.