Description
Papaver somniferum L.
Poppy seed is an oilseed obtained from the opium poppy (Papaver somniferum). The tiny kidney-shaped seeds have been harvested from dried seed pods by various civilizations for thousands of years. The seeds are used, whole or ground, as an ingredient in many foods, and they are pressed to yield poppyseed oil.
Intact seeds
Intact seeds Whole poppy seeds are widely used as a spice and decoration in and on top of many baked goods. In North America they are used in and on many food items such as rusk, bagels (like the Montreal-style bagel), bialys, muffins and cakes, for example, sponge cake. Across Europe, buns and soft white bread pastries are often sprinkled on top with black and white poppy seeds (for example Cozonac, Kalach Kolache and, Kołacz). Poppy seeds are used in various German breads and desserts as well as in Polish cuisine. Like sesame seeds, poppy seeds are often added to hamburger buns and make hot dog buns extra crunchy. Le Snak is a food product made by Uncle Toby’s of New Zealand, consisting of three poppy-seed crackers and a portion of semi-solid cheese. Whole poppy seeds also have a medical use: in a simple, accurate, and inexpensive test for vesicointestinal fistula (see Poppy seed test).
Paste
Polish makowiec , Polish makovník , a nut roll filled with poppy seed paste In Lithuania and Eastern Slovakia a traditional meal is prepared for the Kūčios (Christmas Eve) dinner from the poppy seeds. They are ground and mixed with water; round yeast biscuits (kūčiukai; bobalky in Slovak) are soaked in the resulting poppy seed ‘milk’ (poppy milk) and served cold. In Central Europe poppy strudel is very popular, especially during Christmas.
| Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz) | |
|---|---|
| Energy | 2,196 kJ (525 kcal) |
| Carbohydrates | 28 g |
| – Sugars | 3 |
| – Dietary fiber | 23 g |
| Fat | 42 g |
| – saturated | 5 g |
| – trans | 0 g |
| – monounsaturated | 6 g |
| – polyunsaturated | 29 g |
| Protein | 18 g |
| Folate (Vit. B9) | 82 μg (21%) |
| Vitamin E | 1.8 mg (12%) |
| Calcium | 1438 mg (144%) |
| Iron | 10 mg (77%) |
| Manganese | 7 mg (333%) |
| 17 mg tocopherols in addition to Vitamin E Percentages are relative to US recommendations for adults. Source: USDA Nutrient database |
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