Spice Your Dish! 7 Best Substitute For Black Onions Seeds

Black onion seeds are tiny black seeds that are commonly found inside Asian & North African cuisines, especially inside baked products like bread & cakes and dishes such as stews, stir-fries, soups, curries & more. Interestingly enough, though they are called black onion seeds doesn’t mean it has anything to do with onions.

However, there are days when you might require the black onion seeds, but you just can’t seem to find them around; well, that’s the struggle some other persons face at times. The truth remains that though the black onion seeds remain a popular spice in Indian, Middle Eastern, and North African cuisines, there are days when you might be unable to find them in any of the grocery stores in the neighborhood.

Since they are best known for adding a whole lot of flavor to your recipes and dishes generally, it would remain a wise choice to go in search of substitutes that can at least try to replicate their flavor inside of your recipes and dishes rather than taking them out completely.

Be it inside your savory dishes, soups, curries, salads, and bread, below have been highlighted 7 of the most reliable substitutes for black onion seeds you can always trust and count on.

7 Substitute For Black Onions Seeds

1. Black sesame seeds

Black sesame seeds, which are characterized by the similar earthy and nutty flavor profile they share with the black onion seeds, come at the top of our list of excellent substitutes for the black onion seed, one which also happens to be the closest in appearance and texture to the black onions seed.

Known as well for their milder and less peppery taste, black onion seeds can be of very great importance to you on days when the black sesame seeds are unavailable for you to make use of inside of your bread recipes, stir-fries, or merely sprinkling them on your salads.

2. White sesame seeds

White sesame seeds fall in next as yet another reliable option of a substitute for black onion seeds, particularly because they tend to be milder in flavor compared to the rest of the other substitutes. This option of a substitute when toasted also brings out a richer taste.

Moving on, white Sesame Seeds are also an ideal choice of a substitute for the black onion seeds in garnishes that call for a little bit of crunchiness inside salads or sauces without necessarily having to overshadow its original flavors.

Salads and sauces aside, the black onion seeds are also a great choice of substitute in breads and pastries, especially Inside recipes like naan bread or other Middle Eastern flatbreads.

3. Caraway seeds

Caraway seeds are an ideal substitute for black onion seeds, bringing a similar flavor profile to the black onion seeds inside of your kitchen cabinets, a flavor accompanied by a hint of citrus and anise as well.

As a substitute for black onion seeds, caraway seeds are always at their very best when applied inside recipes meant for bread and savory bakes. However, it is suggested that you stick to applying them in smaller quantities compared to the black onion seeds, whose flavor tends to be stronger.

Generally, caraway seeds stand out among the rest for their earthy flavor, which is tailored and made perfect for specific types of rye bread. They are also commonly used in savory dishes like soups, stews, and sauerkraut.

Read also, No Onion, No Problem! 10 Best Substitute For Onion Seeds

4. Cumin Seeds

Cumin seeds fit in the profile perfectly well of what a reliable substitute for black onion seeds that you can always count on should stand for, with its flavor profile known to be earthy and nutty with a peppery kick that can be mistaken for the black onions seeds itself for first-time users.

Basically, as a substitute for the black onion seeds, they are known for their warm, earthy, and slightly bitter flavor, which are of great importance as a staple spice in Indian and Mexican cuisine, especially their curries, stews, and spice rubs.

Cumin seeds as a choice of a substitute for the black onion seeds is one you can always get in its powder form as well, offering a warm flavor that melds well with the pickling spices.

5. Celery seeds

Characterized by their earthy and slightly bitter taste as well, celery seeds, as a substitute for the black onion seeds, are the closest choice of a substitute that can easily replicate the flavor profile of the black onion seeds.

Generally, celery seeds are known to bring inside of your kitchen cabinets their somewhat peppery flavor, which is of great importance inside of recipes that ordinarily call for a sharp taste.

Additionally, the aforementioned slightly bitter taste and earthy flavor talked about are also ideal for lighter pickles and marinades, meaning you should be mindful about the right amount to put into use so as not to end up overpowering their subtle flavors at the end of the day.

6. Poppy seeds

Poppy seeds fall next as one of the reliable substitutes for black onion seeds you can always trust and count on, one that is known for its crunchy texture and subtle nutty flavor. However, regardless of the fact that it remains one of the reliable substitutes for the black onion seeds, it lacks the herbal notes that the black onion seeds do possess, which is why toasting them is suggested to help enhance their flavor.

Generally, poppy seeds, as a substitute for the black onion seeds, are known to add their crunchy texture to recipes and dishes without having to alter their overall flavor profile to a large extent.

7. Oregano seeds

None of the aforementioned substitutes for black onion seeds captures the mild herb flavor of black onion seeds better than the oregano seeds, which is why it is one of the top recommendations inside of any recipes or dishes that ordinarily call for a light sprinkle for garnish.

Just like the black onion seeds are ordinarily known for their slight nutty flavor, that is also the case wit the oregano seeds, which are also known for their slightly nutty flavor as well. However, to capture the similar taste and exact mild herbal flavor as the black onion seeds, it is recommended that you have your oregano seeds toasted.

Conclusion

In conclusion, no black onion seeds, no worries, as there are always some other reliable substitutes you can always trust and count on inside of your recipes. Examples being swapping in the cumin or celery seeds to get the same exact flavors as the black onion seeds, while swapping in the black sesame seeds is to get the same aesthetic look.