Oh, ginger chicken and beef—just the thought makes my taste buds do a little happy dance. Picture this: tender chunks of meat, kissed by the warm spice of ginger, each bite like a comforting hug on a cold day.
Remember the buzz around the latest food festival downtown? Yeah, these recipes bring that excitement to your kitchen, blending timeless flavors with a pinch of modern flair.
Steps
- Mushroom Dumplings in Toasted Ginger and Garlic Broth
- Prepare the mushroom duxelles in advance to use as a dumpling filling. Toast ginger and garlic to infuse the broth, then add dried shiitake mushrooms for a deeper flavor.
- Double Ginger Salad with Chickpeas and Peanuts
- Combine pickled ginger and fresh ginger matchsticks to create a tangy and punchy salad. Add chickpeas and peanuts for a crunchy texture.
- Chilled Noodle Salad with Carrot-Ginger Dressing
- Cook carrot and onion with dashi, then blend with miso, ginger, vinegar, and oil to make a smooth dressing. Toss with soba noodles and add crispy vegetables and toasted seaweed for texture.
- Chicken Soup with Ginger and Cilantro
- Simmer boneless chicken pieces in a broth infused with ginger and cilantro, adding tomatoes, zucchini, and bell peppers. Serve with a garnish tray of fresh herbs, chiles, and citrus for added flavor.
- Soy-Ginger Salmon Pasta Bowls
- Use a soy-ginger marinade for both the salmon and pasta. Top the dish with avocado, cucumber, chiles, and cilantro for a refreshing finish.
- Ginger-Orange Chicken Wings
- Simmer chicken wings with rice wine, ginger, and citrus peel, then finish in sweetened soy sauce. Enjoy with cooked ginger pieces to balance the richness.
- Tempered Curry-Ginger Sweet Potatoes
- Quickly toast whole spices like cumin and mustard seeds in hot oil. Toss with sweet potatoes for a flavorful dish inspired by Sri Lankan cooking.
- Restorative Ginger and Turmeric Noodle Soup
- Prepare a garlic oil and ginger-turmeric curry paste, which can be made ahead and stored. Use it to flavor a comforting noodle soup.
- Sesame-Crusted Tuna with Ginger Cream
- Sear tuna quickly and top with a ginger cream spiked with sriracha. Serve for a dish with a spicy kick.
- Vegan Coconut-Ginger Caramels
- Replace butter with coconut fat to make chewy, plant-based caramels. Add Thai chile for a fruity heat, or substitute with crushed red pepper.
- Shaky Pete’s Ginger Brew
- Combine citrus and ginger for a semi-frozen cocktail, topped with beer. Serve in an ice-cold mug for a refreshing drink.
- Skillet Apple-Ginger Crisp
- Add candied ginger to the topping of an apple crisp for extra zing. Experiment with different fruits like pears or peaches for variety.
- Triple-Ginger Rye Cookies
- Mix rye flour with powdered, candied, and fresh ginger for earthy, spicy cookies. Enjoy the layered ginger flavors.
- Ginger Dipping Sauce
- Create a tangy sauce with a hint of heat to enhance grilled or fried foods. Use it to add zest to a slaw or seafood.
- Ginger & Bourbon
- Simmer fresh ginger in water to release its flavors, then mix with honey and bitters. Combine with bourbon for a soothing cocktail.
- Gingered Butternut Squash Soup with Spicy Pecan Cream
- Make a smooth soup with ginger and butternut squash. Top with spiced whipped cream and pecans for crunch.
- Crispy Tofu Steaks with Ginger Vinaigrette
- Coat tofu in panko and fry until crispy. Serve with a ginger and scallion vinaigrette for a flavor boost.
- Glazed Lemon-Ginger Scones
- Mix candied ginger into lemony cream-based scones. Bake for a light and moist treat.
- Ginger-Miso Sweet Pea Spread
- Puree sweet peas with ginger and jalapeño, then season with miso. Serve with crackers or vegetables for dipping.
- Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Raisin-Ginger Pan Sauce
- Slice tenderloin and serve with a tangy raisin-ginger sauce thickened with cornstarch. This adds body without extra fat.
- Molasses-Gingerbread Cake with Mascarpone Cream
- Bake a moist gingerbread cake flavored with molasses. Top with whipped mascarpone and confited orange peel.
- Lemon-Ginger Mousse
- Blend fresh, ground, and candied ginger into a mousse for a layered flavor. Serve as a light and tangy dessert.
- Ginger-Marinated Chicken with Onions and Peppers
- Glaze chicken and vegetables with honey before caramelizing. This adds depth without excess fat.
- Ginger-Lemongrass Soda
- Steep lemongrass and ginger in simple syrup, cool, then mix with lemon juice. Top with club soda for a refreshing drink.
- Ginger Vinaigrette
- Peel ginger using a spoon, then grate it for this vinaigrette. Use it to add punch to salads or dishes.
- Marranitos
- Bake pig-shaped cookies spiced with gingerbread flavors. Brush with egg wash for a glossy finish.
- No-Churn Ginger-Lychee Sorbet
- Freeze canned fruit and blend into sorbet without an ice cream maker. Enjoy a simple, refreshing dessert.
Ingredients
- Mushroom duxelles
- Toasted ginger
- Garlic
- Dried white flower shiitake mushrooms (or regular dried shiitakes)
- Pickled ginger (sushi type)
- Fresh ginger matchsticks
- Carrot
- Onion
- Dashi (or kosher salt as a substitute)
- Miso
- Vinegar
- Oil
- Tomatoes
- Zucchini
- Bell peppers
- Boneless chicken pieces
- Soy sauce
- Fresh herbs
- Chiles
- Citrus
- Soy-ginger marinade
- Pasta
- Avocado
- Cucumber
- Rice wine
- Citrus peel
- Sweetened soy sauce
- Sweet potatoes
- Cumin seeds
- Mustard seeds
- Garlic oil
- Ginger-turmeric curry paste
- Sriracha
- Thai chile (or crushed red pepper)
- Coconut
- Beer
- Candied ginger
- Rye flour
- Powdered ginger
- Fresh ginger
- Bourbon
- Honey
- Angostura bitters
- Butternut squash
- Pecans
- Panko
- Scallions
- Lemon
- Yellow miso
- Sweet peas
- Jalapeño
- Raisins
- Cornstarch
- Molasses
- Mascarpone
- Confited orange peel
- Lemongrass
- Club soda
- Eggs
- Canned lychee
FAQ
- What are some common forms of ginger used in cooking?
- Ginger can be used fresh, dried, or candied, each providing a different intensity and aroma. Fresh ginger is often used for its zesty and pungent flavor, while dried ginger is more concentrated and sweet. Candied ginger adds a chewy, sweet, and spicy note to dishes.
- How can ginger enhance the flavor of baked goods?
- Ginger adds a warm, spicy, and slightly sweet dimension to baked items like gingerbread or cookies. It’s especially popular during the fall and holiday seasons, often paired with other spices like cinnamon in desserts.
- What cuisines prominently feature ginger in their dishes?
- Ginger is a staple in many Asian cuisines, where it is used in curries, soups, sauces, and noodle dishes. It is also prevalent in global recipes, adding a unique flavor profile to a variety of culinary traditions.
- Can ginger be used in drinks, and if so, how?
- Yes, ginger can be used in drinks like cocktails and sodas. It’s often infused into syrups or brewed with citrus to create refreshing beverages, adding a spicy kick and balancing sweetness with its natural zing.
- What are some ways to incorporate ginger into savory dishes?
- Ginger can be used in marinades, broths, and sauces to add depth and complexity. It’s often paired with garlic, soy sauce, and other aromatic ingredients to enhance the flavor of meats, seafood, and vegetable dishes.
Tips
- When making mushroom dumplings, consider using dried white flower shiitake mushrooms for a richer flavor in the broth, but regular dried shiitakes work well too.
- For a flavorful carrot-ginger dressing, cook carrot and onion with dashi before blending with miso, ginger, vinegar, and oil. If dashi isn’t available, kosher salt can be a substitute.
- To extract maximum flavor from whole spices in Sri Lankan cooking, give them a quick swirl in hot oil, a technique known as tempering, which works wonders with sweet potatoes.
- For a refreshing ginger-lemongrass soda, ensure the syrup made with crushed lemongrass and ginger cools to room temperature before mixing with lemon juice and club soda.
Equipment
- forward recipes provided, here is a list of main equipment that you might not normally have at home and may need to purchase:
- Microplane zester – for grating fresh ginger.
- Instant dashi granules – for adding savory complexity to the dressing.
- Panko breadcrumbs – often used for coating tofu steaks.
- Soy sauce dispenser – for precise pouring and storage.
- Lemongrass – might not be a common pantry item.
- Club soda siphon – for making ginger-lemongrass soda.
- Ice-cold mug – for serving Shaky Pete’s Ginger Brew.
- Sriracha sauce – for spiking ginger cream.
- Thai chile – for adding heat to caramels and other dishes.
- centric recipes.
