Nigella ...

[yajvan]

hariḥ oṁ
~~~~~~

namasté

I was wondering if anyone uses the nigella seed for cooking?
Some call it kalonji or munga reala in Hindi.

I have not tasted it as yet ( a recipe is calling for the seeds); As I am told via a web lookup: The black seeds
taste like a combination of onions, black pepper and oregano, and have a bitterness to them like mustard seeds.

I was wondering if it too comes in a powder. The bitter taste would be ideal for ayurvedic purposes.

Any users of this particular seed?

Here is the plant itself.

http://www.types-of-flowers.org/pictures/nigella.jpg

praṇām

[c.smith]

Personally I don't like them - they taste somewhat like fried onion to me. Haven't seen it in powdered form but almost sure it would do well in a spice grinder.

[murugan]

Nigella is used in India and the Middle East as a spice and condiment and occasionally in Europe as both a pepper substitute and a spice.