What Is Cardamom?
Cardamon is the third most expensive spice after saffron and vanilla. It is not the easiest way to describe its flavor in a few words, since it is both sweet and savoury. Cardamon has acquired the nickname of “Queen of Spices,” it is find in a multitude of recipes from Indian to French. Cardamon is a pod spice from the Ginger family, commonly used the southern Indian cuisine. Cardamon originated in southern India, but Guatemala is the largest producer of cardamon. Cardamon can be found in a whole pod, shelled, seeds ground powder.
You will be able to use it in both sweet and savory dishes. There are two types of cardamon, Green and Black.
How to use the spice?
When cooking with cardamom, consider starting with whole pods and grinding your own powder from the seeds. To do so, first toast the pods in a skillet. This helps bring out the flavor and makes it easier to open. From here you can remove the seeds from the pods and grind them by hand. Be sure to save the empty pods — they can be used to infuse coffee or teas. You can usually find whole cardamom pods in the spice aisle or the international aisle. If not there, try international grocery stores.
Health Benefits of Cardamom
Cardamom has been used as both an ingredient in cooking and as a medicine for centuries, and research suggests that the spice does indeed have health benefits. The high levels of antioxidants in cardamom may help lower blood pressure.Cardamom as also be found to have diuretic properties, it can promote urination. It has also been used as a breath freshener for centuries, and this claim was backed up by a recent study that found cardamom to be effective at disrupting bacteria that can lead to help diseases or infections.
Black & Green Cardamom
