help with the spice CUMIN...

I was going to make some chili tomorrow in the crock pot, this will be my first attempt at home made chili..I have a receipe that calls for cumin, I know nothing about this...My recipe also calls for chili powder, which I know is spicey and has a kick to it so I will be using that spareinly.....I dont like spicey foods but I like flavorful foods....I love mexican, but not with the kick of mexican can have sometimes...

 

so any suggestions on this herb/spice Cumin? and any good chili receipes out there..i want easy but will cook it all day in crock pot...

Thanks

Debby

I love cumin! It is more of a smoky spice to me, not like hot burn your mouth lol. I would say its subtle, not too overpowering. I've never used it in chili but now I think I'm going to have to try that!

I am from Texas and you have to have ground cumin in chili or it is not real chili. It is not hot.

Agree with the others that Cumin is more smoking.  Just gives it that traditional chili flavor.  And I wouldn't go too easy handed on the chili powder   I don't like a lot of spice either, but usually end up with at least 1/4-3/4 cup depending on how big of batch I am making.

here's how I make my chili with cumin (powdered cumin, not seed):

1lb stew meat, pulverized in food processor (leaner than hamburger but with smaller chunks than stew meat)

1/2 an onion, diced

2 cloves of garlic

2 tablespoons of cumin

2 tablespoons of chili powder

2 tablespoons of paprika

cook the onion in some olive oil until it's soft. add cumin, chili powder, and paprika, plus the meat. cook for about 5 mins. then add 1 can of chili beans, 1 can of pintos, and one can of tomato sauce.  cook on medium for 45 or so mins. Then right before I di**** up I add chipotle flavored hot sauce (Cholula brand) to taste

disclaimer: I'm from the Pacific Northwest, so beans in chili is a-okay. if beans in chili makes you cringe, omit. LOL

happy eating

Cumin is delicious ! It's really good on pork in the crockpot !

I love cumin! I love opening the bottle and smelling it too! lol It smells delicious! Since you said you love Mexican food, I am a Mexican and we use that on a lot of our cooking.  It is not hot but it gives the food an amazing flavor. 

Honestly, I love McCormick seasonings. Their seasoning pouch is delish! - and no measuring out a recipe.

Many chili powders contain a bit of cumin, as well as paprika and other spices. Some can be spicy, but not usually hot inless it specifies on the label that it is.
I personally do not care for cilantro or cumin, but I do like chili powder... Guess I'm weird!.Cumin is the seed from the cilantro plant, which is dried and can be used whole, crushed, or powdered.If you do not like cilantro, you probably will not like cumin.(cilantro tastes soapy to me, and I have heard this is due to an allergy, but not sure I believe that)

Since I can't stand chili powder anymore, I buy the chili beans in the heat I want, onions, add hot sauce and no other spicy seasonings.  This would be for people who do not want it to burn all the way down.