Nigella damascena is generally considered to be an ornamental plant, but according to PFAF, the seed can be used raw or cooked, and is normally used as a condiment with a nutmeg-like flavour. It can also be used to produce an oil. Nigella sativa is definitely edible, and used widely as a spice.
These tasty seeds can be used for flavoring curries and lentil dishes, as well as cooked with root vegetable dishes and stir-fries. Another way to use nigella seeds is sprinkled over naan bread before baking.
Nigella seeds can add an herby-oniony flavor to all sorts of dishes. Try sprinkling them over salad, vegetables (potato dishes especially), or fish or adding them to rice pilaf, lentils, and chicken or lamb braises. Add these oniony, aromatic seeds to everything from baked goods to potatoes, pilaf, and braises.
“Kalonji†also known as black cumin is a very popular spice in every kitchen. In English, it is called fennel flower, black caraway, nutmeg flower, Roman coriander. It is a flavorful spice that has its own sweet and nutty flavor. Kalonji is a widely used medicinal plant that has a history of a thousand years.
Nigella seeds are probably one of the most confused spices. Over the years I've heard nigella referred to as onion seeds, black cumin, black caraway and fennel flower, among others. Let's just simply call them nigella or kalonji (from Hindi). They are a great replacement for sesame seeds without the sweet element.
The Nigella seeds are slightly pungent and biitter and Nigella suggests black mustard seeds as an alternative. If these are also difficult to find then you can probably substitute the more common yellow mustard seeds.
Also known as black cumin, nigella or by its scientific name Nigella sativa, kalonji belongs to the buttercup family of flowering plants. In addition to its culinary use, kalonji is known for its medicinal properties.
Today, black seed is used for treating digestive tract conditions including gas, colic, diarrhea, dysentery, constipation, and hemorrhoids. It is also used for respiratory conditions including asthma, allergies, cough, bronchitis, emphysema, flu, swine flu, and congestion.
Tests on animals indicate that high doses of Nigella sativa may damage the kidney and/or liver. Use may be considered carefully in individuals with existing kidney or liver problems or risks. Taking Nigella sativa during chemotherapy may hamper the effects of chemotherapy drugs.
In addition, Nigella sativa oil increase the number of Leydig cells in rat testes[24] beside the presence of unsaturated fatty acids in Nigella sativa oil that stimulate 17 L-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity[25] thus increasing testosterone level.
Kalonji oil is used to fight hair fall and even to induce hair re-growth, due to the presence of Nigellone and Thymoquinone in it. It also nourishes the hair follicles and prevents the hair from falling off. The application of this oil is said to be a safe and natural way to re-grow hair, without medication.
Kalonji seeds are about the same size as sesame seeds, though they have a more triangular instead of oval shape. In foods, you'll find kalonji seeds in a variety of recipes. Lovers of these little black seeds praise their nutlike, somewhat peppery taste.
Some early research shows that taking crushed black seed increases "good" high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and reduces total cholesterol, "bad" low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and blood fats called triglycerides in people with borderline high cholesterol.
Summary Kalonji can be eaten raw, added to dishes or mixed with honey or water. The oil can also be diluted and applied topically to the hair and skin or taken in supplement form.
If you choose a product with individual packaging, follow the recommended dose — usually a daily intake of about 1 to 2 teaspoons. Talk with your doctor before you start taking black seed oil, and include it on your home medication list.
For topical uses, black seed oil can be massaged onto the skin. Black seed oil can be consumed in either capsule or liquid form. However, due to its strong flavor, you may want to mix the oil with honey or lemon juice before ingesting.
The seeds have a slightly bitter flavor and resemble cumin or oregano, depending on whom you ask. To me they taste like the bits of burned onion, poppy and sesame seeds that fall off of a toasted everything bagel.
To use black seed, you must heat raw seeds and grind them before eating them. You can also combine them with honey, water, yogurt, or other food, or apply black seed oil onto your skin topically.
Advocates of black seed oil for hair suggest that these properties can help maintain scalp health by addressing issues such as dandruff while keeping the scalp moisturized. These people also suggest that black seed oil could help seal in the moisture in individual hair shafts because it's rich in fatty amino acids.
"Although both are safe to eat, most people spit out the black seeds since they are hard to chew and make eating the flesh of the watermelon more cumbersome," Shames says. But if you're too busy enjoying the watermelon slices to mess with digging out seeds, that's fine. You will be OK if you do swallow one.
Collecting your own seed from your own plants is the easiest way to ensure you get exactly what you want. Nigella is a very simple plant to collect seed from. Once the bloom fades and falls away the seed pod swells up to a very noticable size. The seed head left behind blows up like a balloon.
damascena plant is ferny, the flowers are fluffy, and the seed pods are intriguing.
How to Grow Love-in-a-Mist.
| Botanical Name | Nigella Damascena |
|---|
| Hardiness Zones | 2–11 (USDA) |
| Native Area | Southern Europe, North Africa, Southwest Asia |
| Toxicity | Toxic to people |
Toxicity: the Nigella flower is not poisonous. However, the seeds contain amounts of toxic alkaloids which, in greater doses, are not recommended for consumption.
Your seeds can grow into beautiful flowers and be planted out when they are big enough. Nigella is a member of the buttercup family. The seeds are also very tasty in savoury pastries, curries, vegetable dishes and pickles. Nigella seeds also add great texture when sprinkled whole over bread or when added to dough.
