Qizha
A jar of qizha paste | |
| Alternative names | Black tahini |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Palestine |
| Associated cuisine | Palestinian cuisine |
| Main ingredients | Nigella sativa seeds |
Qizha (Arabic: قزحة, romanized: qizḥa, pronounced ʼezḥa in Palestine) is a black seed paste used in Palestinian cuisine. Made from crushed nigella seeds, the paste has a sharp, bitter taste with slight tones of sweetness.[1][2] The paste can be used with other condiments, such as tahini, or baked into pies, breads, and pastries.[1]
Name
The word Qizha can refer to the paste made from nigella seeds, or to the nigella plant itself.[3]
The paste is also referred to as black tahini,[2] not to be confused with the "black tahini" made from black sesame, which is referred to with that same name.[4]
Production
Qizha is made from the seeds of Nigella sativa of the buttercup family of plants, which is native to the Middle East and India. The seeds, sometimes known as "black cumin", are soaked in salt water for a night, oven roasted, left on rocks to dry in the sun, and finally ground to make a paste.[5] Some sources consider the cities of Nablus and Jenin to be the source of the best-quality qizha.[2][6]
Popularity
The popularity of Qizha is limited, this is attributed to its bitter taste and pitch black appearance (its appearance is likened to "engine oil"[1][7][8]).[1] It is sometimes described as "unique" to Palestinian cuisine.[2][7]
Uses
Culinary
Qizha paste is used in creating sweets and pastries, like halwa, it may also be mixed with syrup and eaten as a spread like tahini.[1]
It's also used to create a qizha pie, which is a semolina cake topped with sugar syrup and nuts.[9]
A spoonful of Qizha is sometimes consumed by the elderly as a traditional remedy for a variety of ailments.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f Berger, Miriam. "Is the world ready for this Palestinian dish?". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 2019-03-28.
- ^ a b c d Pyenson, Luke (September 17, 2014). "Black Tahini Is the Dark Magic of Palestine". Vice. Retrieved May 2, 2025.
- ^ عيسى بك, أحمد (1930). معجم أسماء النبات (in Arabic). p. 125. Archived from the original on 2022-02-05. Alt URL
- ^ "The Ingredient No One Knows What To Do With (Yet)". Food52. 27 March 2016. Retrieved 11 May 2025.
- ^ "Qizha - Arca del Gusto". Slow Food Foundation. Retrieved 2019-03-28.
- ^ "- Black Cumin Pie (Qizha)". Kitchen of Palestine. Retrieved 2019-03-28.
- ^ a b "Akub: New Notting Hill Restaurant Serving A Palestinian Menu". theglossarymagazine.com. 17 May 2023. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
- ^ Shaheen, Blanche (21 February 2023). "The Black Ingredient that Cures "Everything But Death" in a Cake!". Feast in the Middle East. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
- ^ Kalla, Joudie (17 June 2021). "Palestinian black sesame cake". Gulf News. Retrieved 11 May 2025.