How to Use Fresh Ginger Root
Answered by: Yvonne Tremblay
Question from: Leona
Posted on: November 16, 2005

I recently purchased some fresh ginger root. Now my dilemma is that I don’t know what foods to use it in. Would you please tell me what I can use it for? I would use more fresh herbs if I knew what foods to use them with. Is there any web site that would have a list of herbs that has food listed under them?

Fresh ginger is a terrific cooking ingredient. It has a sweet, slightly hot flavour and a spicy, pungent aroma. It is typical ingredient in Indian, Japanese and Chinese cooking. Buy ginger root that has smooth, unwrinkled skin and smells fragrant. To use, first peel off the tan skin by scraping with a knife or spoon, or use a peeler. (Peel only what you need.) Use grated, minced or slivered. To store, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate up to 3 weeks or double wrap and freeze for up to 6 months. Another idea for preserving ginger is to cut peeped ginger into 1/2-inch (1 cm) pieces and put in a jar; cover with Madeira and refrigerate up to 3 months.

Foods to use in: stir-fries; with soy sauce to make teriyaki sauce or dips for shrimp; marinades for meats such as chicken, pork, beef; with orange juice for marinades, sauces; in Indian cooking: cook with onions then add other spices, chopped tomatoes; to make Pad Thai; add to soups, salad dressings, etc.

For information on foods to use herbs in, please visit: www.yvonnetremblay.com, click on "Thyme in the Kitchen" and look under Herb Directory for uses of culinary herbs.

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