कलौंजी
Nigella sativa
Kalonji is the small, angular black seed scattered over naan and used in pickles and spice blends across India, Pakistan and West Asia. It comes from a pale-flowering annual plant.
The seed has a strong, slightly peppery aroma. It is sometimes called black cumin, although it belongs to a different botanical family from cumin.
In Keshsar, kalonji is prepared with the other botanicals for the slow infusion, contributing part of the finished oil’s dark colour and distinctive scent.