Fresh Ginger & Other Types of Ginger Root
Ginger root can be bought and used in many forms, including fresh ginger root, dried ginger root, powdered ginger and crystallized / candied ginger. You can compare the appearances of powdered, crystallized and fresh ginger with this image.
Fresh ginger root tends to provide the most flavor, and is commonly used for ginger "tea" and other ginger drinks, as well as in many Chinese dishes. If you're new to using fresh ginger for cooking, check out these guides to how to select and store fresh ginger root and how to store and use fresh ginger.
You can also freeze fresh ginger to save money and time in the kitchen.
For more information on forms of ginger, check out this handy chart on types of ginger and how to cook with them from About.com Home Cooking. It includes information on fresh ginger root vs. mature ginger root, crystallized / candied ginger, and more.
Ginger Health Benefits
Many people are drawn to ginger not only for its pungent flavor, but also for its health benefits. Historically, ginger has been used for various ailments, and used in particular for gastrointestinal issues. For more information on specific health benefots and medicinal uses of ginger, see that articles linked below:
- Ginger as Alternative Medicine
- Ginger for Nausea
- How Ginger Benefits Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- How Ginger Benefits Arthritis
- Ginger for Morning Sickness
Ginger "Tea" Recipes
More accurately known as a ginger infusion or ginger decoction, ginger "tea" is one of the most popular ways of consuming ginger for health or for enjoyment. These are some of my favorite recipes for homemade ginger "tea":
- Homemade Ginger Tea Recipe from About Vegetarian Cooking
- Ginger Tea Recipe from About Alternative Medicine
- Lemongrass-Ginger Iced Tea Recipe from About Herbs & Spices
- Korean Ginger Tea Recipe from About Korean Food
- More Ginger Tea Recipe from About Coffee / Tea
- Iced Ginger Tea Recipes from About Coffee / Tea
Beyond ginger tea, popular ginger drinks include ginger ale, ginger beer, ginger juice and ginger cocktails. Below, you'll find some of the top ginger drink recipes on About.com. Unless otherwise notes, these recipes are made with fresh ginger root.
- How to Make Ginger Juice from About Chinese Food
- Macrobiotic Ginger Drink Recipe from About Whole Foods Cooking
- Qishr / Ginger Coffee Recipe from About Middle Eastern Food
- Ginger-Orange Hot Cocoa Recipe from About Coffee / Tea
- Iced Ginger Yerba Mate Recipe from About Coffee / Tea
- Lemon-Ginger Drink from About Indian Food
- Ginger Lemonade Recipe from About Coffee / Tea
- Homemade Fresh Ginger Ale Recipe from About Home Cooking
- Ginger Beer Fizz Recipe from About Cocktails (made with ginger beer and fresh ginger, as well as actual beer)
- Hennessey Ginger Tea Cocktail Recipe from About Cocktails
- Ginger Snap Martini Recipe from About Cocktails
- Jameson & Ginger Cocktail Recipe from About Cocktails (made with ginger ale)
- Ginger Mist Cocktail from About Cocktails (made with ginger preserves and sugared ginger)
- Lemongrass-Ginger Tequila Recipe from About Cocktails
- Ginger-Coffee Cocktail Recipe from About Coffee / Tea
From ginger snap cookies to ginger ice cream to ginger simple syrup, there are many ways ginger can be incorporated into sweet foods and sauces. Here are some of the most popular recipes for sweet ginger dishes on About.com:
- Brown Sugar-Ginger Simple Syrup Recipe from About Coffee / Tea
- Vanilla-Ginger Simple Syrup Recipe from About Cocktails
- Candied Ginger Recipe from About Home Cooking
- Pomegranate-Ginger Sauce Recipe from About French Food
- Ginger Ice Cream Recipe from About Chinese Food
- Chocolate-Ginger Cookies from About Cooking for Kids
- Gingersnap Cookies Recipe from About Baking
- Lemon-Ginger Cookies Recipe from About Southern Food
- Dairy-Free Lemon-Ginger Scones Recipe from Dairy-Free Cooking
- Easy Ginger-Orange Scones Recipe from About Coffee / Tea
- Ginger Orange Quick Bread Recipe from About Bread Baking
- Gingerbread Recipe from About Southern Food (Made with crystallized ginger)
- White Chocolate & Ginger Biscotti Recipe and Ginger Biscotti Recipe with Pistachios Recipe from About Coffee / Tea
Ginger Beef... Lemon-Ginger Hummus... Carrot-Ginger Soup... While ginger is delicious in sweets, it also shines in traditional and contemporary savory dishes. These ginger recipes from About.com cross cultures and culinary preferences to showcase the unique flavor of ginger:
- Ginger-Scallion Oil Recipe from About Chinese Food
- Chinese Ginger Sauce from About Chinese Food
- Grilled Ginger Chicken from About Chinese Food
- Orange-Ginger Chicken Recipe from About Home Cooking
- Ginger Beef Recipe from About Chinese Food
- Coconut-Ginger Mussels Recipe from About Fish & Seafood Cooking
- Ginger Shrimp Recipe from About Local Foods
- Ginger-Garlic Tofurkey Roast Recipe from About Vegetarian Food
- Sesame-Ginger Baked Tofu Recipe from About Vegetarian Food
- Lemon-Ginger Hummus Recipe from About Middle Eastern Food
- Carrot-Ginger Soup Recipe from About Local Foods
- Gari / Pickled Ginger Recipe from About Japanese Food (While pickles ginger tastes fairly sweet, it is usually used to accompany savory sushi and sashimi dishes. For that reason, I've included it here.)
Ginger is a fascinating herb with a long history and many uses in various cultures. Learn more about ginger with these articles:
