What Are Caraway seeds and How Can I Use Them?

Here's everything worth knowing about caraway seeds and how to pick them, what they are, how to store them, and what to use instead, plus 321 recipes to cook tonight.

What are caraway seeds?

Caraway seeds are usually used whole, have a pungent, anise-like taste and aroma that comes from essential oils, mostly carvone and limonene.

They are used as a spice in breads, especially rye bread. It is thought that seeded rye bread is denser partly because the limonene from the caraway fruits has yeast-killing properties.

Caraway is also used in liquors, casseroles, curry and other foods. It is more commonly found in European cuisine such as sauerkraut.

It is also used to add flavor to cheeses.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 tbsp (6g)

Amount per Serving

Calories 19Calories from Fat 7

% Daily Value *

Total Fat 0.9g 1%

Saturated Fat 0.0g 0%

Trans Fat ~

Cholesterol 0mg 0%

Sodium 1mg 0%

Total Carbohydrate 3.0g 1%

Dietary Fiber 2g 9%

Sugars 0.0

Protein 1.2g

Vitamin A 0% Vitamin C 2%

Calcium 4% • Iron 5%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your caloric needs.

recipeland.com/nutrition

Quick facts

Where to find caraway seeds: Caraway seeds are usually found in the spices section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group: Caraway seeds are a member of the Spices and Herbs US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

In Chinese: 香菜种子
British (UK) term: Caraway seeds
en français: graines de carvi
en español: semillas de alcaravea

How much do caraway seeds weigh?

Amount	Weight
1 tbsp	6 grams
1 teaspoon	2 grams

Spices and Herbs

Allspice 904 Allspice berries 37 Star anise 178 Aniseed 23 Bay leaves 2049 Caraway seeds 321 Cardamom pods 100 Cardamom seeds 317 Celery seeds 283 Chervil 65

Recipes using caraway seeds

There are 321 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Sour Cabbage Salad

This salad fits to pierogi with the meat filling. You may also try it with fried or grilled fish.

Finnish Onion Pie

A savory Finnish classic featuring a yeast bread-like crust filled with caramelized Vidalia onions, ham or bacon, and a creamy egg and sour cream mixture, flavored with (optional) caraway seeds.

Honey Soda Bread

Irish honey soda bread with whole wheat, golden raisins, and caraway seeds. No yeast, sweetened with honey, ready in just over an hour. Authentic St. Patrick's Day baking.

Best Raisin Soda Bread

Irish raisin soda bread studded with sweet raisins and caraway seeds, leavened by the tang of buttermilk and baking soda. A quick, no-yeast loaf with a tender crumb. A St. Patrick's Day classic.

Caraway Burgers

Caraway burgers marinate seasoned beef patties in beer for 3 hours before grilling. A German-leaning burger with the licorice-pepper note of caraway and a malty tenderized bite.

Leek & Potato Soup with Country Ham

Hearty leek and potato soup with smoky country ham, red cabbage, and dry-toasted cumin, caraway, and fennel seeds for a rustic, deeply flavored bowl.

One day I was in the mood for rye bread but I had no rye flour, so what did I do? I made a loaf of bread that tastes so much like the real thing, I am not sure I will mess with real rye (and the extra gluten) anymore.

Harissa

A spicy paste of Spanish origin that contains garlic, caraway, cumin and coriander.

Pork Ribs in Sour Cabbage

Nothing new under the sun, just my rendition of very popular dish in Eastern Europe, inspired by various cuisines of Carpathian Mountains. Cooked quite quick in a pressure cooker.

Another Falafel Recipe

Falafel patties pan-fried from cooked chickpeas with cumin, coriander, garlic, and parsley, then tucked into pita with homemade harissa. A quick vegan main that lands in 30 minutes.

Spring Cabbage with Bacon & Chorizo

for fans of spring cabbage and typical combinations..

Another Irish Soda Bread Recipe

Don't settle for the same old bread, instead make your own Irish Soda Bread with this simple and easy to follow recipe.

Whole Wheat Molasses Bread

Whole wheat molasses bread for the bread machine with caraway seeds and brown sugar. Dump-and-press loaf with a deep malty crumb, rye-like aroma, and a chewy whole-grain bite.

Classic Russian Black Rye Bread

Indulge in the rich, aromatic flavors of Black Russian Rye Bread with this easy-to-follow recipe. This bread will satisfy your craving for hearty and flavorful artisan bread, made with a blend of rye and wheat flour, molasses, caraway seeds, and a few secret ingredients.

Crab n' Bacon Cheese Melt Sandwiches

Crab, bacon and cheese melts. A match made in heaven.

Delicious Whole Wheat-Rye Bread

Hearty whole wheat rye bread for the bread machine with molasses and caraway seeds for classic deli flavor. A high-fiber loaf with the dense, slightly tangy character of traditional rye.

Hungarian Beef & Barley Stew (Instant Pot)

Hearty, rich, flavorful, and so easy to make. No Instant Pot. No worries, the stovetop method is included. And the bang for the buck on this barley beef stew recipe for inflationary times checks all the boxes.

Herbed Whole Wheat Bread with Sunflower & Sesame Seeds

Artisan whole wheat bread loaded with sunflower seeds, sesame, herbs, and decorative seed toppings. Hearty high-fiber yeast bread with beautiful scored patterns.

German Cabbage Rolls (Kohlrouladen) - traditional

"Kohlrouladen" used to be a staple on the menu for regular people in Germany during winter time. The relatively long preparation and cooking time pays out, because it can be easily reheated over a couple of days and gets even better and tastier then. Fried potatoes complete the picture, but you can cook the potatoes also in the pot with the sauce, if there is space left. This recipe can be varied in many ways, be it the stuffing (ground meat here), or the sauce. The recipe is as traditional as it can be; the ingredients are adjusted to availability in North America (like Savoy cabbage in lieu of "Weisskohl", bacon to replace "Speckwuerfel"). For sure the ground meat can vary depending on preferences or diets - I bet quite often in the "good old times " regular people did not exactly know what's in the ground meat they got from the butcher - at least it was some meat, for most of the families only once a week.

German Bacon Potato Soup

German bacon potato soup slow-cooks bacon, potatoes, leeks, cabbage, and carrots in beef broth scented with caraway and nutmeg, then thickens with mashed potato and sour cream. Hearty Bavarian comfort.

Chunky Leek & Potato Soup

Very tasty. It's hard to go wrong with potatoes and leeks. They seem a perfect combination especially when it comes up to soup, such as this chunky leek and potato soup. It was very easy to make, and packed with great flavors. If you prefer smooth soup, puree it in a food processor or blender. In whichever way, it's always delicious.

Cabbage Bacon Salad with Creamy Buttermilk Vinaigrette

Buttermilk vinaigrette and crispy bacon bring this cabbage salad back to life. It's creamy, tasty and flavorful. A delicious way to turn an economical ingredient into a tasty dish.

Octoberfest Braised Red Cabbage with Bratwurst

German braised red cabbage with bratwurst, simmered low and slow with Granny Smith apples, caraway, and a sweet-tart hit of vinegar and currant jelly. A classic Oktoberfest plate of silky ruby cabbage and juicy sausage.

German Rye Beer Bread

German rye beer bread made in a bread machine with rye flour, caraway seeds, and a full bottle of beer. A dense, malty loaf with old-world flavor and almost no effort.

Warm Red Cabbage & Apple Salad

In cold season, this warm red cabbage and apple salad is served with some roasted meat, brings you to warm.

Bread Cracker

Enjoy the flavor of bread and the texture of cracker in these bread cracker that's made with whole wheat flour, yeast and cumin or fennel seeds.

Octoberfest Cabbage Salad

This Oktoberfest cabbage salad is another welcomed recipe at Oktoberfest.

Buttermilk Irish Soda Bread

Buttermilk Irish soda bread with raisins and caraway seeds. A tender, slightly sweet round loaf made with butter, sour cream, and tangy buttermilk. The American holiday-table version.

Halloween Ghost Potatoes

A Halloween take on mashed potatoes that your kids will love. The potatoes are piped into ghost shapes and then baked until lightly browned in the oven. Use an oval gratin dish and it will turn into a boat of ghosts!

Yogurt Irish Soda Bread with Raisins

Recipe yields 1 loaf. Find more recipes on TheNibble.com.

Crockpot Sausage & Cabbage

A simple, but tantalizing crockpot dish that will have you licking your lips when you're just watching it cook!

Rye Bread with Onions & Caraway

Excellent bread. Nice, light texture and good crust. I will add more caraway next time, though, as we really like that flavor. I doubled the recipe to make a large loaf, and it worked fine. I usually just use my machine for the kneading process and than finish the loaf by hand, but let the machine do the whole thing this time, since I was busy all day. Made the house smell great, and was perfect with a steaming bowl of split pea soup! Thanks for this keeper.