These look like small caraway seeds,
but they taste like a pungent version of thyme.
Indian cooks like to sprinkle them on breads. Look
for them in Indian markets.
This powdered gum resin imparts a
very strong onion-garlic flavor to Indian dishes.
Use it sparingly--a little goes a long way. It's
available in Indian markets.
Black cumin seeds =
royal cumin seeds = kala jeera = shahi jeera
Indian cooks use this spice in many
of their curries and tandoori dishes. It's darker
and sweeter than ordinary cumin. To bring out its
nutty flavor, it helps to toast the seeds briefly
before using them.
Brown cardamom =
black cardamom
Pods of this spice are sold in Indian
markets. Some recipes call for the entire pod to be
used, others call for the ground seeds. Don't
confuse this with the more common (green)
cardamom, which comes
in round green or tan pods.
Fenugreek = fenugreek
seeds = methi = halba
This adds an earthy flavor to
curries, chutneys, and sauces. It's available as
seeds or powder, and you can usually find it in
Indian and Middle Eastern markets. If it's not
available, just leave it out of the recipe.
Nigella = black onion
seeds = calonji = habasoda = ketza = black
caraway
This has a subtle flavor that's often
used to enhance vegetable dishes. To bring out the
flavor, it helps to toast the seeds briefly before
using them.
White
poppy seeds = kas-kas
Indian cooks use these as a thickener
in their curries and as a filling in baked goods.