Spice
Nigella Seeds
Urdu/Hindi: Kalonji
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Also known as: black seed, black cumin, onion seed
Kalonji is one of the most visually recognizable seeds in Pakistani baking — pressed onto naan and sheermal before they enter the tandoor. Beyond bread, it is used in achaar (pickle) making and sprinkled over certain curries in Sindhi cooking. It is considered medicinally significant in Islamic tradition (the 'seed of blessing'), so it carries cultural weight far beyond its culinary role.