Cumin is a seed that comes from the herb "Cuminum Cyminum" which is a member of the parsley family. Cumin is sold both in seeds form and already ground. If you’re purchasing cumin in your typical large grocery chain you will likely find it in ground form. Cumin is one of the spices that makes up many curry powder variations. It’s a versatile spice that can be used in many types of dishes including Mexican dishes like this easy lentil quesadillas recipe. If you don’t have cumin seeds you can use ground cumin, but you’ll want to use less since ground cumin is more concentrated than cumin seeds.