Sesame Free Cumin-Lime Herb Oil
Bright, herby, and just a little smoky from toasted cumin and coriander, this finishing oil is the kind of condiment that makes everything it touches taste more intentional. Warming the whole spices gently in olive oil coaxes out their deep, earthy aroma before the fresh lime zest, lime juice, cilantro, and parsley swoop in to lift the whole thing with citrusy brightness. The technique is simple — crack the seeds, bloom them in oil, strain, and stir in the fresh stuff — but the result tastes like something you'd find drizzled over a dish at a restaurant you'd immediately want to revisit. Many flavored oils and condiments on store shelves sneak in sesame oil or tahini-adjacent ingredients, so making your own from scratch is genuinely the cleanest route. Every ingredient here is straightforward and easy to verify, which means you get bold, complex flavor without any label-reading stress. Drizzle it over roasted vegetables, grilled proteins, grain bowls, or warm flatbread, and it will quietly become the most-reached-for jar in your fridge.
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Learn more →Ingredients
8 servings
- ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 ½ tsp cumin seeds
- ½ tsp coriander seeds
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
- 1 tsp lime zest (from about 1 lime)
- 1 tbsp fresh lime juice
- 3 tbsp fresh cilantro, finely chopped
- 2 tbsp fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
- ¼ tsp fine sea salt, plus more to taste
- 2 tbsp scallion greens, thinly sliced (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Lightly crush the cumin seeds and coriander seeds with a mortar and pestle or the flat of a knife — just enough to crack them open, not grind them to powder.
- 2
Combine the olive oil, crushed cumin seeds, crushed coriander seeds, and red pepper flakes in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Warm until the spices begin to sizzle steadily and the oil smells fragrant, about 3–4 minutes. Watch closely — the spices can darken quickly once they start sizzling.
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