what foods go well with ginger

Aromatic and spicy, ginger is as good for you as it tastes. From marinades to baked goods, sore muscles to motion sickness, this top-performing spice adds zest and flavor to recipes. Read on to find out more about this remarkable rhizome. You may just agree with us that ginger is the root to good food as well as good health! Here are 51 ways to use ginger.

Ginger has a natural affinity for pumpkin, sweet potatoes, and winter squash. These starchy vegetables provide the perfect canvas for ginger’s spicy, floral heat. Add ginger, along with gratings of nutmeg and black pepper, to any recipe for sweet potato casserole. Who needs marshmallows when you have this much flavor?
what foods go well with ginger

Food uses for ginger

what foods go well with ginger

1. Give a kick to chocolate bark

Try minced crystallized ginger in blogger Vanilla Crunnchs Pomegranate Chocolate Bark and cookbook author Grace Parisis Microwavable Chocolate Bark 3 Ways.

2. Spoon it over grilled fish

Michael Wilson, Chef de Cuisine of Domenica in New Orleans, drizzles grilled fish with a vinaigrette of grated ginger, Champagne vinegar, grapefruit, extra-virgin olive oil and chopped flat leaf Italian parsley.

3. Soup up the soup

Chef Todd Pulsinelli, executive chef at Restaurant August in New Orleans, adds juiced ginger to pumpkin soup and tops it with ginger whipped cream.

what foods go well with ginger

4. Marinate chicken

Wilson describes his Ginger Scallion Chicken Thighs at Domenica as “summer on a plate”. The chef marinates chicken overnight in a combination of grated ginger, minced garlic, sliced scallions, plain whole milk yogurt and salt. Grill and enjoy!

5. Glaze fried chicken

Drake Leonards, executive chef of Lüke in New Orleans, combines 1 cup honey, 1 teaspoon ginger, a splash sambal (Indian hot sauce) and the juice from half a lime. The mixture is also a perfect dressing for a grilled corn salad.

6. Create a not-so-Sloppy Joe

Another Pulsinelli tip: add ginger to a meaty Sloppy Joe sauce for an unexpected pop.

what foods go well with ginger

7. Add zing to classic crème brulée

Al Roker spikes his version of the French dessert with a hit of ginger.

Recipe to try: Ginger-Lemon Crème Brûlée

8. Add zest to applesauce

Chef Wilsons spicy and sweet applesauce is easy to make: Toss peeled and diced Granny Smith apples with brown sugar and grated ginger. Refrigerate overnight, then cook over medium heat until the mixture is the consistency of applesauce.

9. Sass up sweet potatoes

Add it grated and juiced, says Pulsinelli, when making whipped sweet potato puree.

what foods go well with ginger

10. Wake up breakfast bread

Ginger—ground and in a syrup—pack a double pow in this Nutty Caramel Bread Swirl.

11. Spice up cranberry sauce

To give a new twist to your usual recipe, Wilson suggests adding grated ginger to taste.

12. Give a kick to chicken and dumplings

Pulsinelli adds zested ginger and lemon zest to give traditional chicken and dumplings an extra kick. He also adds the duo chicken fricassee for extra flavor.

what foods go well with ginger

13. Perk up peach cobbler

Cookbook author Melissa Clarks summer skillet peach crisp has a touch of ginger.

14. Glaze pork and ribs

Here are just a couple ways our experts suggest to use ginger: Melissa Cookston mixes ginger ale with nectarines for a zesty citrus pork glaze. Leonards also glazes pork ribs and wild duck and with a mixture of 1 teaspoon minced or pickled ginger, 1 cup preserves (he loves figs or plum) and a splash of vinegar. 15. Braise with it “I add a piece of peeled ginger to the pan when braising a pork shoulder to give it some depth,” says Wilson.

what foods go well with ginger

16. Add zing to wings

Take your wings up a notch. Pulsinelli tops salt and pepper fried chicken wings with ginger and shaved serrano peppers and Martha Stewarts ginger scallion wings are perfect for a party.

17. Try it in Jell-O

When making flavored Jell-O, Dr. Jeremy Wolf, ND, wellness expert for LuckyVitamin.com, substitutes ginger tea for water.

18. Make a flavored salt

At Restaurant August, house made potato chips are sprinkled with a mixture of lime, chile and ginger salt.

what foods go well with ginger

19. Dress a salad

Blend carrots, ginger, onion, rice vinegar, soy sauce, sugar and oil for a light and flavorful Ginger Carrot Dressing.

20. Upgrade classic Italian sage butter

“Fold grated ginger and finely chopped sage leaves into room-temperature butter,” says Wilson. “Then spoon it on top of a roasted sweet potato with dark cane syrup.”

21. Bake up gingersnaps

These crispy gingersnap cookies by Molly Marzalek-Kelly come alive with a zesty lemon-sugar topping.

22. Use it with grilled salmon

Memphis BBQ expert Melissa Cookston turns up the heat in Grilled Ginger Salmon with Pineapple Chipotle Glaze.

23. Serve it with oysters

Pulsinelli creates a magical mignonette sauce with chopped ginger, jalapeno, shallots, vinegar and pepper.

24. Add to stocks

Another Wilson favorite: liven up vegetable, fish and chicken stocks by adding a piece of peeled ginger.

what foods go well with ginger

25. Sizzle it in a stir fry

Every stir fry is always better with at least a little bit of the root.

Recipe to try: Al Rokers Ginger Shrimp Stir Fry

26. Elevate meatballs

Add it along with loads of lemongrass and lime to pork and shrimp meatballs to create Pulsinellis Friday lunch special.

27. Whip up mayo

Pulsinelli top pulled pork sandwiches with a ginger and hoisin sauce flavored mayo for a touch of panache.

what foods go well with ginger

28. Use it in kabobs

Al Rokers 5-Ingredient Ginger Honey Shrimp Kabobs have a sweet kick and theyre fun to make.

29. Add a kick to steamed mussels

Drake Leonards, executive chef of Lüke in New Orleans, adds a kick to steamed mussels with coconut milk and a “sweat of ginger.” (Cook ginger for a minute on medium heat in an olive-oil-coated pan with a dab of butter.)

what foods go well with ginger

30. Wrap it up

These easy Asian Lettuce Wraps come alive with a filling thats spiced with fragrant ginger.

31. Make it candied

Keep candied ginger on hand to quiet digestive upset.

what foods go well with ginger

32. Spice up summer rolls

An easy tamari-ginger dipping sauce is perfect with these Chicken and Shrimp Summer Rolls.

33. Cool down with an easy-to-make seafood appetizer

Recipe to try: Chilled Ginger Shrimp

34. Wake up with Al Rokers ginger jump start

TODAYs Al Roker gets up every morning at 3 a.m. To keep him energized, every morning he drinks this kombucha tea with lots of fresh ginger and listens to the “A-Team” theme song.

Recipe to try: Als Morning Ginger Jump Start

35. Pump up Champagne

TODAY contributor Joy Bauer shares her low-calorie Champagne Ginger Cocktail recipe: In a small dish or saucer, combine equal parts sugar and minced ginger. Run a lemon wedge along the rim of a Champagne flute, then dip it in the sugar-and-ginger mixture to rim the glass. Add 1 teaspoon crystallized ginger to the bottom of the Champagne flute, then pour in 5 ounces of Champagne. Enjoy!

36. Add it to simple syrup

Its the base of cocktail guru Maureen Petroskys delicious Honey Ginger Sparkler with Rock Candy stirrers.

what foods go well with ginger

37. Add zing to a healthful elixir

Registered dietician, Frances Largeman-Roth tailor-made this Beet-Apple-Ginger Smoothie for a healthy boost.

38. Pump up your Pimms Cup

“I love to muddle a few slices of ginger and cucumber in my Pimms cup–fruit, cucumbers, mint and a fortifying shot of gin, with a splash of ginger ale,” says Drake Leonards, Executive Chef of Lüke restaurant.

what foods go well with ginger

39. Drink a ginger cocktail

Ginger ale adds the fizz to this cranberry cocktail.

40. Brew it as tea

Easy to make, simply add 8 to 10 slices of fresh ginger, 1 tablespoon of grated fresh ginger to 4 to 5 cups of water. Bring to a boil for about 20 minutes. Strain and cool before drinking.

41. Make a DIY ginger ale

Cookbook author Diane Morgans homemade ginger ale is easier—and tastier—than you can imagine!

THIS is What Happens if You Eat Ginger Every Day (Secret Benefits)

FAQ

What food is ginger good with?

Curries and Stir-Fries: Ginger adds a warm, spicy flavor to dishes like curries, stir-fries, and noodle dishes. Soups and Broths: It’s often used in soups, broths, and stews to add depth of flavor and a hint of spiciness.

What tastes good with ginger?

Other flavors and spices to pair with ginger are allspice, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, mace, chiles, peppercorns, cumin, fennel, coriander, mustard, turmeric, vanilla, sesame seed, lemongrass, mint, cardamom, lemon, tamarind, garlic, onion, scallion, chives, shallots, star anise, black tea, honey, soy sauce, fish sauce, …

What flavors go well with ginger in baking?

The combination of cinnamon and ginger is commonly found in cookies, cakes, and spiced candies. Coconut: Coconut adds a tropical sweetness to ginger confections, creating a unique treat. Honey: The natural sweetness of honey complements the spiciness of ginger, creating a balanced and flavorful combination.

What goes well with Ginger?

With its strong spicy flavor and aromas, ginger pairs well with other flavors such as citrus fruits, garlic, chili peppers and soy sauce. While experimentation is key when cooking with this root vegetable, there are several classic combinations which have stood the test of time due to their tantalising tastes.

Is ginger good for health?

The root of the ginger plant is a well-known herbal digestive aid and has been used as a remedy for heartburn and morning sickness. Research suggests that ginger taken as a supplement is generally safe in small amounts, but in large doses may cause digestive upset and irritate the throat and mouth.

What spices go well with Ginger?

Here are some ideas: Coriander: This warm-tasting spice adds an earthy flavor to ginger. Black Pepper: Adds heat and depth when used in combination with ginger. Garlic Powder: Use this pungent spice sparingly as it can overpower the subtle flavors of ginger. Turmeric: Its citrusy aroma pairs well with the spicy notes of ginger.

What can you do with fresh ginger?

Try it in a DIY herbal tea, mixed with honey and lemon, or infused into a simple syrup for cocktails. Make it into a stir fry or fried rice, or a 20 minute chickpea curry. You can even put it into an apple crisp, where it adds big, cozy flavor. In fact, we’re getting hungry! Let’s get cooking! And now…the best fresh ginger recipes to try!

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