Need HELP!!! :)

I have a new recipe i am wanting to fix tomorrow and it has cumin in it.....and i don't have any!!! What could i use in place of cumin, or should i just leave it out??? I have never used cumin so i don't know what it is suppossed to taste like....

Thanks Jet

I checked around and most say...just leave it out of the recipe....Found a couple that said a bit of chili powder...but most said leave it out because it has it's own unique flavor..

thanks for replying! this is a soup recipe (chicken barley chili) and it has chili powder in it also, so maybe I will just leave it out....

i did read that cumin has a smoky flavor, so I had kinda thought about adding a 'little' of liquid smoke???? but maybe I had better not....????

According to "Joy of Cooking" flavor is strong, hot, faintly bitter, with a touch of caraway. 

Lists caraway seeds as an alternative.

The cumin I have is ground & clearly old as it didn't taste the least hot when I just tried a speck or two! 

Chicken Barley Chili

1 14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes
16 ounces V-8 juice
1 cup barley
1 cup chicken broth
3 cups water
1 Tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
1 15 ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed.
1 15 1/4 ounce can whole kernel corn, undrained.
3 cups chicken breast, cooked, and cut into pieces
optional garnishes: lowfat sour cream and reduced fat cheddar cheese

In a 6 quart saucepan, combine first seven ingredients. Over high heat bring to a boil; cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 40 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add beans, corn, and chicken; increase heat until chili comes to a boil. Cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer for anouther 5 minutes, or until barley is tender. If chili gets too thick, add more chicken broth or water.

makes 11 one cup servings.
270 calories, 5 g fiber, 4 g fat, 32 g. protein.

Here is the recipe I am using....

cumin has a very distinct flavor used in alot of mexican dishes...I use alot of it have never noticed it being really hot or too spicey for that matter.. when you use taco seasoning it has cumin in it...I like to put a shake or 2 in my spanish rice and it just really perks it up!

maybe I could just omit the chili powder and cumin and just use taco seasoning packet??

Looks like a good recipe!

I'd probably just use cayenne (1/8 tsp. to start), with or without caraway seeds, & try cumin the next time.

Jet... the recipe looks wonderful I snagged it!! thank you!

No cumin... I would maybe do a tsp of taco seasoning and the chili powder..chili powder has its own flavor as well...there isn't alot in there so I would use it.. but maybe add a tsp of the taco seasoning.. you can always add more if you think it needs it!!! but you can't take it out!

Thanks everyone!!! Your the greatest!!!

Jet

So, how'd that Soup turn out for you, Jet?!?