WHAT IS GINGER?UNDERSTANDING SUPERFOODS

by Christopher Flatt www.becomingachef.co.uk

DON’T BE GINGER WITH THE GINGER

 Ginger Is Used In A Number Of Different Cuisines, Particularly

Dishes From India And Throughout Much Of Asia

This Root Has Been Used For Centuries, And It Has Made

Significant Inroads Into Western Cuisine Thanks To Its Amazing

Taste, But Also To Its Myriad Health Benefits

It’s Been Dubbed A “Superfood” For Many Good Reasons

WHAT IS GINGER?  What We Call Ginger Is Actually The Root, Or Underground Stem

(Rhizome), Of A Plant

It Is Native To India, China And Japan, In The Same Family As Turmeric

It Can Be Sliced, Chopped, Ground, Powdered And Juiced Depending

On The Use Intended (Food, Beverages Or For Medicinal Needs)

Ginger’s Hot, Spicy, Aromatic Qualities Make It A Prime Addition To Any

Number Of Different Dishes And Beverages

It Is Also Used For A Number Of Health Problems

WHY USE GINGER? 

Ginger Is Used Primarily For Flavoring Dishes

Because A Little Bit Of Ginger Packs A Big Punch, You Can Use

It Without Adding A Lot Of Calories To A Dish

However, It Can Also Be Used For Health Purposes

Ginger Can Be Used To Treat:

Nausea, including morning sickness and motion sickness Loss of appetite Gas Diarrhea Arthritis pain (including rheumatoid arthritis) Cough Migraines Stomach pain Diabetes Bronchitis Bleeding Swelling (applied externally) Toothaches

GINGER’S NUTRITION 

However, It Is Also Important To Know More About The Root’s

Nutritional Makeup. It Is A Good Source Of The Following:  Vitamin B6 – Iron - Vitamin C Potassium - Magnesium - Folate Iron - Phosphorus - Niacin Riboflavin - Magnesium

 Per 100 Grams, Ginger Also Offers 17.77 Grams Of

Carbohydrates, 2 Grams Of Dietary Fiber, 1.82 Grams Of Protein

And 1.7 Grams Of Sugar. It Only Contains 13 Mg Of Sodium

GINGER IN FOODS AND BEVERAGES While Ginger Can Be Consumed On Its Own Either For The Taste

Or For A Medical Purpose, It Is Generally Added To Liquids And

Foods

It Pairs Very Well With A Number Of Different Food Types,

Including Citrus Fruits And Seafood

It Is Also Good With Pork Dishes, With Apples And Much More

It Works Particularly Well In Smoothies, Especially Those With

Citrus Fruits Incorporated, As Well As In Stir-fry Dishes, In Apple-

based Beverages And In Fish Dishes

CHOOSING GINGER  It Is Always Recommended That Fresh Ginger Be Used, As

This Allows You Complete Control Over Its Use And Ensures

There Are No Fillers Or Binders Used

When Choosing Ginger, Look For Roots That Are Smooth And

Wrinkle-free

As The Root Ages, It Begins To Lose Moisture, Which Shows

As Wrinkled Skin On The Outside Of The Root

Choose Unwrinkled, Smooth, Firm Roots That Have Little

Flexibility (Bendable Roots Are Usually Dry And Lack Flavor)

The Aroma Should Be Spicy, Or “Hot”

 Ground Ginger Is Used In Many Dishes

If You Choose To Purchase Pre-ground Ginger Rather Than

Grinding Your Own, Buy From A Trusted Brand

The General Equation Is One-eighth Of A Teaspoon Ground

For Every One Tablespoon Freshly Grated

CHRISTOPHER FLATT www.becomingachef.co.uk

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