Sumac is a versatile spice that adds sour and citrus notes to your cooking. It is particularly popular in and around the Mediterranean and Middle East kitchens, where spices are added to marinades, rubs and dips or sprinkled directly to the food before serving.
It can be used to enrich sauces, dressings and mustard and dishes with green vegetables. Should be added at the end of cooking to make the best use of the fine aroma.
Nigella is used as both spice and garnish in Indian and Middle East cuisine. The flavour is mildly aromatic, and when cooked (roasted, baked or fried) emanates notes of oregano and a light, peppery bitterness, a bit like bread crust.
In the European world, Nigella seeds are being increasingly used in seed bread, vegetable, fish and lamb dishes. Nigella seeds originally come from India and are used in many of their most popular dishes, either as sprinkles on flatbread, and vegetable and meat curries.