Cardamom Pods

Description

Cardamom is an aromatic spice, naturally originating from India and Sri Lanka. It has an enticingly warm, yet pungent and sweet aroma. You can add it to dishes as whole pods, whole seeds, or ground. Cardamom pods can be stored for a whole year; simply and quickly grind the seeds right before use to ensure the powder doesn’t lose its flavor.

Cardamom is the third most expensive spice, after saffron and vanilla, because it’s very difficult to harvest. However, you only need a tiny bit of this spice for your meals. You can use it whole or ground. Cardamom seeds contain essential oil, which is extracted by heating the pods.

HOW TO USE: You can sauté cardamom pods in oil with cloves and cinnamon, then boil them with basmati rice to make a delicious pilaf. Cardamom also pairs wonderfully with rose water, ginger, cumin, cashews, coconuts, and almonds. It adds a fabulous taste and aroma to cookies, marzipan, and various yeast dough products. You can also add a pod to compotes and soups (it goes great with pea soup!), and sauces. For tea or other hot drinks, cardamom provides a truly magical flavor accent. Approximate amount needed: one ground pod per kilogram of dough or other food. For sweet dishes, jellies, compotes, and smoothies, ½ or ⅓ of a ground pod is enough per liter of liquid. If you’re cooking with heat, add whole pods 5 minutes before the end of cooking, and ground cardamom right at the very end.

MANASGARSAS.LV TIP: Try a glass of warm milk with cardamom for a sweet sleep before bedtime!