If ginger isn’t in your regular meal rotation, you’re really missing out. Not only is it packed with health benefits, ginger’s unique flavour adds spice and depth to recipes in a flavour that can’t be matched. By adding it to your stir fries, smoothies, noodle dishes and more, you reap all the benefits of ginger while also getting its great taste. You can also pickle and candy ginger at home to add to your favourite recipes or eat on its own. Ready to see our favourite ginger recipes? You’re not going to want to miss them!
4 Health Benefits of Ginger
1. Improves Digestion
Ginger has a positive effect on the gasses that form in the intestinal tract during digestion. Enzymes found in ginger can help the body break up and expel this gas, providing relief from discomfort. It can also help improve movement through the digestive tract, aiding with constipation. Ginger has been shown to speed up the emptying of the stomach, which helps improve indigestion.
2. Reduces Inflammation
Ginger contains gingerol, a natural substance that has powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. For those with arthritis, ginger’s anti-inflammatory properties are particularly beneficial.
3. Helps Fight Off Sickness
If you have a cold or flu, ginger can help ease sickness. Fresh ginger helps protect the respiratory system. It can soothe a cough or sore throat, and with its antioxidant effects, it helps boost the immune system so you feel better faster.
4. Relieves Nausea
Ginger can treat many forms of nausea, especially morning sickness. It can also help relieve nausea following cancer treatment. Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties that improve digestion and support the release of blood pressure-regulating hormones to calm your body and reduce nausea. Talk to your doctor before taking large amounts of ginger if you’re pregnant. It’s not recommended for pregnant women who are close to labour or who have had miscarriages.
How to Pickle Ginger
Pickled ginger is easy and inexpensive to make at home. Young ginger is ideal for pickling since it has thin, easy-to-peel skin, but has a short season during the spring and isn’t always easy to find at the supermarket. Mature ginger is easier to find at your local grocery store, and both can be used to pickle ginger. You’ll use 12 ounces of fresh ginger (or about 2 large hands) to make a jar of pickled ginger following the steps below.
- Peel your ginger and slice it thinly on a mandoline or with a knife.
- Place ginger in a small bowl with 1 ½ tablespoons salt and let it sit for 30 minutes
- Add ginger to a wide mouth pint jar
- Combine ½ cup rice vinegar, 1 cup water and 1 ½ tablespoons of granulated sugar in a small saucepan over high heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Pour over the ginger filling the jar to within ½ inch of the top
- Seal the jar tightly
- Let the jar cool to room temperature then place in the refrigerator. Wait at least 48 hours before using them – they get better with age, and can be left in the fridge for up to 2 months
5 Pickled Ginger Recipes
1. Homemade Pickled Ginger | All Recipes
2. Japanese Pickled Ginger | The Spruce Eats
3. Pickled Sushi Ginger | Just One Cookbook
4. Quick Pickled Ginger | NYT Cooking
5. Easy Pickled Ginger | It’s Not Complicated
How to Make Candied Ginger
- Peel 1 pound of fresh ginger round and slice into 1/8th inch thick slices using a mandoline
- Place in a 4-quart sauce pan with 5 cups of water and set over medium-high heat. Cover and cook for 35 minutes or until ginger is tender
- Drain ginger in a colander, reserving ¼ cup of the cooking liquid
- Weigh the ginger and measure out an equal amount of sugar, then return the ginger, water and sugar to the pan. Set over medium-high heat and bring to a boil, stirring frequently.
- Reduce heat to medium and cook, stirring frequently, until the sugar syrup looks dry and begins to crystallize, approximately 20 minutes
- Transfer the ginger to a cooling rack and spread out
- Once completely cool you can store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks
5 Candied Ginger Recipes
1. Candied Ginger | The Spruce Eats
2. Crystallized Ginger | Fine Cooking
3. Honey Candied Ginger | Delicious Obsessions
4. Vanilla Honey Candied Ginger | The Healthy Foodie
5. Easy Crystallized Ginger | Very Well Fit
12 Breakfast/Smoothie Ginger Recipes
1. Strawberry Citrus and Ginger Smoothie | Culinary Hill
2. Fresh Lemon Ginger Detoxifying Smoothie | Nutrition in the Kitch
3. Mango Ginger Kale Green Smoothie | Minimalist Baker
4. Banana Orange and Ginger Smoothie | All Recipes
5. Soft and Fluffy Gingerbread Pancakes | Averie Cooks
6. Ginger Scones | Simply Recipes
7. Gingerbread Muffins with Lemon Glaze | Sally’s Baking Addiction
8. Blueberry Ginger Breakfast Bread | Fine Cooking
9. Strawberry Ginger Smoothie Bowl | Natalie’s Health
10. Ginger Pecan Scones | Epicurious
11. Molasses and Ginger Granola Bars | Good Life Eats
12. Pineapple Ginger Smoothie | Simple Green Smoothies
12 Dinner Ginger Recipes
1. Garlic Ginger Chicken and Broccoli | Pinch of Yum
2. Asian-Inspired Beef with Ginger | My Recipes
3. Ginger Cashew Chicken Salad | Taste of Home
4. Ginger Scallion Ramen Noodles | Bon Appetit
5. Garlic Ginger Glazed Sticky Pork | Foodie with Family
6. Healthy Ginger Sesame Chicken | Meals with Maggy
7. Ginger Cashew Chicken Curry | Bon Appetit
8. Turkey Ginger Noodle Soup | Taste of Home
9. Soy Ginger Noodles | The Endless Meal
10. Sesame Ginger Tofu and Veggie Stir Fry | Delish Knowledge
11. Sesame Noodles with Honey Ginger Sauce | Jessica in the Kitchen
12. Peanut Ginger Tofu Stir Fry | Sweet Peas and Saffron
12 Dessert Ginger Recipes
1. Peaches with Ginger Syrup and Buttermilk | Bon Appetit
2. Gingerbread Pudding Cake | Food
3. Ginger Cookies | Dinner Then Dessert
4. Moist Gingerbread Snack Cake | Sally’s Baking Addiction
5. Ginger Milk Pudding | China Sichuan Food
6. Gingerbread Pudding Cake | Seasons and Suppers
7. Lemon Ginger Cheesecake | Epicurious
8. Crystallized Ginger Biscotti with Almonds and White Chocolate | Food
9. Fresh Ginger Root Cake | Proportional Plate
10. Ginger Ice Cream | NYT Cooking
11. White Chocolate Chip Gingerbread Cookies | Joy Food Sunshine
12. Fresh Ginger Lemon Pound Cake | Family Style Food
Ginger is one of the healthiest spices out there and when used in recipes, adds a delicious dose of zingy spice!
