Poppy seed, commonly known as ‘khus khus‘ in Hindi, ‘Gasagasalu‘ in Telugu, ‘Kasa Kasa‘ in Tamil, ‘Kas Kas‘ in Malayalam, ‘Gasagase‘ in Kannada, ‘Khuskhush‘ in Gujarati, ‘Khas Khas‘ in Marathi, ‘Posto‘ in Bengali and ‘Khush khush‘ in Punjabi. It is essentially the oilseed derived from the poppy plant (scientific name: Papaver somniferum). These seeds do not contain narcotic properties. They are small and deformed in shape, slate-blue in colour, having a crisp texture and nut-like flavour.
They are customary in flavored bread, cakes, rolls and cookies. Poppy seeds are often sprinkled on top of dishes, used as garnish or as a spice with farm cheese, cheese, eggs, pie crust, salad, cookies, cakes, bread, pastries, salads, sauce, curries, sauces for meat and fish, vegetables and noodles.
Cooking gently in a dry fry pan makes it crisp and oozes out the seed’s full nutty flavour. In India, poppy seeds (khus khus seeds) are used in Dal and Raita for seasoning or as ‘tadka’. Poppy seeds have been cultivated for over 3,000 years. During the second century women used to cultivate flower plants for this controlled substance and steer it into medication. Muslim and Arabian countries used controlled substances as drugs and narcotics during the 6th century. Poppy seeds are grown in various European nations and in countries like Australia, India and Turkey. Besides being used as an ingredient in several foods, these seeds are ironed to yield flavoured oil having nutritive qualities.
People typically express concern over the narcotic properties of the flower plant from which poppy seeds are derived. Though it is true that the unripe seed of the plant contains alkaloids like morphine, a painkiller which might be addictive, the ripe seeds used for preparations contain only traces which do not seem to cause any form of addiction. However, we should keep in mind that even trace amounts of the alkaloids will cause a false positive end in drug tests. The alkaloids will stay within the body up to 2 days and hence, continuous result checks should be performed.
Poppy Seeds Health Benefits:
1. Poppy seeds are effective in quenching thirst, fever, inflammation, constipation and irritation of the abdomen.
2. Poppy seeds are one of the necessary ingredients in many cooling medicines.
3. Poppy seeds act as a supply of your daily dose of minerals like iodine, manganese, zinc, magnesium and copper.
4. The oil from poppy seeds plant is useful in treating carcinoma as it contains monounsaturated fatty acids.
5. Poppy seeds add flavour and texture to breads, cookies, muffins, cakes and other foods.
6. As an Ayurvedic medicine, these seeds are sometimes grounded into a paste with milk to form a skin-renewing moisturizer.
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7. Poppy seeds contain Linoleic acid that is beneficial in preventing heart disorders and abdomen conditions.
8. These seeds have a decent supply of fatty acids that are needed for the body’s physiological state. They are found to be rich in omega-3 fatty acids.
9. Poppy seeds also are used as narcotics to treat pain-related conditions. They’re utilized in treating respiratory disorders, infectious diseases, diarrhoea and sleep disorders.
10. Poppy seeds relatively contain lower quantity of alkaloids and are used in the treatment of various nerve disorders.
Poppy Seeds: Skin Benefits
As already stated, poppy seeds are a wonderful beauty aid. Their role in skincare has been recognized in Ayurveda. Nutritious as they are, they can be beneficial to your skin in the following ways.
11. Treatment of Eczema and Inflammation:
Poppy seeds are effective in treating eczema due to their high content of linolenic acid. Poppy seeds soaked in water or milk can be ground along with lime juice to form a smooth paste. Applying this paste externally helps in treating burning sensation and skin itchiness. It also acts as an effective pain killer by relieving the pain caused by skin inflammation.
12. Good Moisturizer:
13. Poppy Seed Scrub for Clear Skin:
Poppy Seeds: Hair Benefits
Hair problems like dandruff, hair loss, thinning hair, split ends and alopecia are a common sight these days. There can be several causes of these problems ranging from harsh chemical treatments and exposure to pollution to inadequate nutrition and prolonged illness. It is a well-known fact that proper nutrition is vital not only for a healthy body but also for healthy hair. Poppy seeds are a good source of unsaturated fatty acids as well as minerals like calcium, zinc and magnesium which contribute to healthy hair.
14. Treatment of Dandruff:
15. Stimulates Hair Growth:
How to Select and Store?
Selection: Proper selection of food items is vital, especially in the present scenario when food adulteration is a common phenomenon. As far as poppy seeds are concerned, several varieties are available which vary in color from ivory to beige, light grey to dark grey, black or bluish depending upon the cultivar type. The European variety called Maw is dark grey in color, the Indian variety is ivory to beige while the Turkish variety is tobacco-brown in color. Poppy seeds are available in both fresh and ground form. They have a high content of polyunsaturated fats and hence, vulnerable to oxidation. Thus, they can turn rancid easily. Make sure to buy good quality whole seeds from an authentic store having a good sale to ensure that they are fresh. They should be tiny and light.
Storage:
The best way to store poppy seeds is to keep them in a cool, dry, dark place in an airtight container. These can stay fresh for up to 6 months. They should be kept away from moisture.
Tips for Usage (Cooking/Eating)
Poppy seeds are tasteless but when heated, they obtain a nutty, spicy-sweet flavor. Roasting or baking makes them smell mild and sweet while deep frying releases special aromatic oils, making them crunchier. Given below are a few tips to enjoy poppy seeds in various recipes.
1. Toasted poppy seeds are often used to garnish breads and rolls, ground in sauces and pastry fillings or added to vegetables and salad dressings.
For toasting the seeds, place them in a small dry skillet and heat them over medium heat, stirring constantly until fragrant, for about 2 to 3 minutes.
Toasted poppy seeds are widely used in Turkish cuisine.
2. Poppy seeds are often added to buttered egg noodles, fruit salad dressings and yeast breads. Their nutty flavor and texture makes them usable in breads, cakes, pastries, curries, confectionery and pancakes.
3. In India, it is used along with a variety of mixed spices in small proportion. Korma is a popular dish in which ground poppy seeds are combined with coconut and other spices to prepare the spice to be added to it at the end of the cooking step. The whole poppy seeds are also used in chutneys.
4. White poppy seeds are called posto in West Bengal and Bangladesh. These seeds are used as a main ingredient in popular Bengali dishes like ‘Aloo posto’, ‘Chachuri’ and ‘Postor Bora.’ Aloo Posto is prepared by cooking a large amount of ground poppy seeds together with potatoes to provide a rich creamy texture. Potatoes can also be replaced with onions, ridge gourd, chicken or prawns.
5. ‘Gasagase Payase’ is a popular dish of Karnataka. It is basically a liquid dessert prepared with white poppy seeds, jaggery, coconut and milk.
6. In Maharashtra, poppy seeds are used in garnishing a special sweet called ‘anarsa’ prepared during the festival of Diwali.
7. Patties made from powdered poppy seeds are often grilled or sometimes fried. A rice dish can be prepared by simply mixing uncooked ground poppy seeds with mustard oil, chopped green chilli peppers and rice.
8. Poppy seeds cooked with jaggery and coconut are enveloped in a case of a flaky pastry and deep fried to prepare a delicious sweet called ‘karanji.’
9. In Andhra Pradesh, white poppy seeds paste is used to prepare a masala which is used in preparing exotic dishes with chicken, meat and vegetables.
10. In Austria and Hungary, poppy seeds are used in preparing popular sweet pastry dishes like Strudel and Germknodel.
11. It is difficult to grind poppy seeds. A special poppy seed grinder is used for this purpose. But if you do not have it, you can first lightly roast the seeds, using a mortar and pestle. These seeds can be used in whole form or crushed in cooking or bakery. When using them in uncooked food such as salads, it is advisable to roast them lightly first as this enhances their flavor and aroma.
12. Ground poppy seeds are widely used in pastries. Before being used in pastries, they should be soaked in boiling water for 1 to 3 hours before grinding.
13. These seeds are best when sprinkled over naan bread and cooked in a clay oven known as “tandoor.”
With so many benefits, we are sure you will try using poppy seeds in more ways in your life now, rather than just as a cooking ingredient. Let us know how you used these highly beneficial seeds and tell us what benefits you experienced! Share your tips in the comments below.
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Essential Nutrition Facts about Poppy Seeds:
