More than a Few Reasons for Having Ginger in Your Kitchen!!

Ginger is one of the most useful items you can have in your pantry since it can be used in so many different ways and for many different reasons. It has nutritional, medicinal as well as gastronomical benefits. Here are a few reasons for having ginger in your kitchen:

• Ginger may be used to make beverages. One of the simplest is made by grating ginger and allowing it to stand in hot or room temperature water for a few hours. This is then strained and sweetened and flavoured with almond essence (optional). Although the flavour of ginger is accompanied by a sting, this drink can be very refreshing served cold. More or less water may be used depending on how much of the stinging sensation you can tolerate. I’m sure there are other ways of making this drink.

• It can also be combined with other ingredients to make great drinks. Ginger with cranberries. Ginger with pineapples, ginger with citrus and ginger with sorrel – these are a few of the mixed ginger drinks that you may be able to locate on the grocery shelves. And even when ginger is not a dominant flavor as it is in the drinks already mentioned, a dash of ginger can step up the flavor of many different drinks. And speaking of mixes, ginger ale has long been a mixer of choice.

• This versatile rhizome is also great for making teas. Freshly grated ginger, steeped or boiled for a few minutes and sweetened to taste, can sooth and relax the nerves. Like other teas, ginger teas are also available in tea bags or crystals and are just as delicious. And similar to cold beverages, ginger may also be used in combination with other herbs and spices to add flavour to teas.

• The list of sweets and desserts that can be made using ginger is never ending. From cakes to cookies, puddings to ice creams and even sauces and spreads - the list goes on. Never had ginger ice cream? Visit a Chinese restaurant; chances are, you’ll be able to order a few scoops from the dessert menu. And let’s not forget gingerbreads, cookies and snaps, must-haves for many, especially at Christmas.

• Our top notch ingredient is also great in savoury dishes – as a marinade for meats, fish and vegetables and as an ingredient in many different dishes. It is very popular in Chinese and Thai recipes - chopped, grated, julienned, candied. Look up ginger recipes and you’ll find pickled ginger, ginger pork, carrot-ginger soups, ginger-beef stir fries, ginger chicken, ginger coleslaw and many, many more. There are also quite a few ginger-flavored salad dressings.

• But forget flavor for a moment, if you can, and let’s look at some of ginger’s benefits. Ginger also has healing virtues. It has long been used to calm stomach upsets and in particular motion sickness. It’s proclaimed to give relief from headaches, coughs and asthma. It promotes healthy sweating which may help with detoxification. Due to its anti-inflammatory compounds called gingerols, it may be used to treat inflammation. And studies are being done that may prove its effectiveness in destroying certain cancer cells. If you wish to use ginger medicinally, do read up on all the available material to find out about dosage and methods to get the best results.

• Another great reason to buy ginger is that it’s very unlikely that you will waste your money since it lasts for a long time if stored properly. Some prefer to store fresh ginger in the refrigerator while others believe it lasts longer stored at room temperature. Since it is available in so many different forms, you may choose which is best for you - fresh, dried, crystallized, powdered.

Because of its flavour, culinary uses and medicinal benefits, ginger makes it to the top of our list of must-haves.

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