Know more about Joan (Ajwain or Carom Seeds)

Remember those yummy savory Indian cookies called Mathris? Easy to prepare and delicious to eat, Mathris are one of the common snack items in many Indian homes. I just love the crisp texture and taste of the Mathris and can never stop after eating just one. A few weeks back, I shared this cookie with one of my friends, who was very surprised that even though the cookie was deep fried it didn’t create any digestive disorder. This made me think, there must be something special in the ingredients and I got my answer – Joan.

Joan (known as Ajwain in Hindi and Carom Seeds in English) is widely used in Indian cooking. They are used to temper the oil and add more flavor in the bland Dals (lentils) or kneaded in the dough of Luchi or Kachoris. They are also added in the batters of Beguni and Bora (Fritters), used in the preparation of Achars (Pickles), Mathris, Seo, Papri and other Namkeens (different types of savory cookies) and Sabjis (stir fried vegetables). They are highly fragrant and are always added in very small quantities to create a beautiful aroma and flavor in the dishes. I love eating Joan deva Luchi (Deep Fried Puffed Bread prepared with Carom seeds) and I don’t even need any curry with it. It tastes so good on its own.

To buy Joan, just visit a local Indian store. As we do with all our spices, Joan should also be stored in an airtight container in a cool, dry and dark place so that it can stay good for a long time.

Before tasting Joan remember, they have a strong dominant flavor so no more than a few seeds at a time. Chew slowly and then drink some water. My mom always recommends me to eat a few Carom seeds whenever I have a heavy meal. It helps to prevent any indigestion or gastric troubles. 

You can add a pinch of Joan to any vegetarian dish to add more flavor and aroma in it. However, I would recommend to fry them in some oil or ghee before adding them in any dish. This will ensure that its dominant flavor is reduced to a subtler hint in the dish.

I hope you do incorporate this amazing seed in your foods, to help you get started I have a few recipes:

• Masala Kachori (Indian Puffed Bread with Spices)
• Mathri (Savory Indian Cookies)
• Samosa (Spicy Potato stuffed Pastries)
• Luchi – Deep Fried Puffed Bread
• Namkeen Puri (Deep Fried Savory Puffed Bread)
• Namkeen (Savory Deep Fried Indian Snacks)
• My Homemade Spicy Potato Hors D'oeuvres 
• Besan Mathri (Deep Fried Flaky Gram Flour Cookies)
• Chapli Kabab with Lachha Paratha
• Shortbread Cookies with a hint of Carom Seeds
• Paneer Pakore (Fresh Cheese Fritters)
• Palak Kachori (Deep Fried Bread kneaded with Spinach and spices)

Make a low carb bread with Carom Seeds:

• Low Carb Ajwain Paratha with Coconut Flour