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Ginger is a wonderful ingredient that not only tastes great but is also beneficial to your health! You can incorporate fresh ginger into your favorite recipes to add a bit of spice. It pairs wonderfully with soups and main dishes like stir-fries, and even desserts. You can also chew fresh ginger or brew it into tea to help improve your health.
Steps
Incorporating Fresh Ginger into Recipes
Combine ginger with vegetable soup. The spicy flavor of ginger complements smooth and creamy soups perfectly. A vegetable soup with ginger is especially comforting when the weather is cold, as it enhances the dish's flavor and keeps you warm! Here’s how you can make a simple vegetable soup:
- Measure 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of finely chopped fresh ginger, 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of ground coriander, and ½ teaspoon of ground mustard seeds. Add these along with ½ teaspoon of curry powder into 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of heated oil in a thick pot.
- Add 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of finely chopped fresh ginger, 2 cups (480 ml) of chopped onions, and 4 cups (950 ml) of sliced carrots to the pot. Sauté for 3 minutes, then add 5 cups (1.2 liters) of chicken stock and bring to a boil.
- Reduce the heat to medium and simmer for 30 minutes. Let it cool, then blend in batches in a food processor until the soup is smooth. Pour it back into the pot and gradually add ¼ cup (60 ml) of chicken stock at a time if the soup is too thick.
Grate fresh ginger into stir-fried dishes. Stir-fried meals are easy to prepare at home. Add protein and vegetables with a little sauce into a pan with a few tablespoons of cooking oil. Stir-fry the ingredients over medium heat until cooked. Grate some fresh ginger halfway through the cooking process to add a spicy flavor to your dish.
Add ginger to desserts. Ginger complements sweet dishes with its spicy kick. You can add ginger to most cookies, cakes, and pastries to enhance the flavor. Check recipes for the best time to incorporate fresh ginger. Depending on the recipe, you may need to add ginger to either wet or dry ingredients.
- Fresh ginger is often stronger than ground ginger, so be cautious when measuring. You may need to reduce the amount of ginger to ¾ or ½ if substituting fresh ginger for ground ginger.
- The longer you mix ginger with other flavors, the more intense its flavor will be. For stronger ginger taste in pumpkin gingerbread, you can bake it a day ahead.
Make a ginger dressing for salads. Combine ¼ cup (60 ml) of cooking oil and ¼ cup (60 ml) of vinegar in a blender. Choose your preferred type of oil and vinegar. Add a small piece of chopped ginger (about 2.5 cm). You can season with salt, pepper, and other spices if desired. Blend everything until smooth, and you'll have a delicious ginger dressing for your salad!
Consume fresh ginger to enjoy its health benefits
Chew fresh ginger to ease indigestion. If you're experiencing stomach discomfort, a slice of fresh ginger might help. Peel and slice a small piece of ginger, then chew it like gum. Once the flavor fades, discard the slice and chew another one.
- Fresh ginger is excellent for alleviating nausea during pregnancy, as it helps stabilize the stomach without harming the baby.
Make hot ginger tea to soothe a cough. The size of the ginger piece you use depends on how strong you want the tea to be. Start with a 2.5 cm square piece of ginger. Slice the ginger and place it in a cup, then pour in 1 cup (240 ml) of boiling water.
- You can peel the ginger before slicing, but this is optional.
- For added flavor, you can add 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of honey and a few drops of lemon juice to your ginger tea.
Use ginger to prepare fruit juice. If your diet includes fruit juices, adding a little ginger to your juice can enhance its health benefits. Slice a 2.5 cm piece of ginger before juicing. Remove the ginger pulp and juice the fruit as usual. Your juice will have the flavor and benefits of ginger without being too thick.
- If you prefer, you can leave the ginger in the juicer to make the juice spicier and thicker.
Chew fresh ginger to improve your appetite. Some compounds in ginger can stimulate your digestive system. If you're feeling unwell and have lost your appetite, ginger might help you regain your desire to eat.
