Ginger doesn’t just make cookies especially tasty (I swear that triple-ginger cookies are basically impossible not to eat)–the potent root is filled with health-boosting benefits.
Ginger can help settle your stomach when you’re feeling pukey; it has anti-inflammatory properties (research has shown that it brings down pain levels in people suffering from osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis); and studies have indicated it may provide relief from migraines. And, amazingly, preliminary research has shown that ginger may even help slow the growth of cancerous tumors.
So how do we get more ginger into our lives (besides eating batches upon batches of those aforementioned cookies)? What about sprinkling it over your morning yogurt, stirring it into some tea, adding some to your stir fry, putting it into tomato sauce, or using it to zest up your soup? In some recipes, you can even use it instead of salt or sugar.
And here are some other ideas! The recipes below are from world-famous restaurants specifically use Wakaya Perfection, a hand-cultivated, organic powdered ginger from the island of Fiji. One of the cool things about cooking with ginger is that you can play around with it in recipes until you find what works best for your tastes–while still getting some great health benefits.
Organic Sippy Cup Cocktail
by Leo Robitschek, mixologist at Eleven Madison Park
1 1/2 oz amaro averna
1 oz of cocchi vermouth de Torino
1 oz lime juice
3/4 oz Wakaya Perfection Organic Ginger syrup (see below)
Shake and strain into a highball with fresh ice
Top with a dash or angostura bitters
Top with club soda
Garnish with orange wheel and mint
Wakaya Perfection Organic Ginger Syrup
2 teaspoons to 1 cup of hot water and 1 cup of sugar in the raw
Mandarin Oriental Organic Ginger Muesli
by Toni Robertson, Mandarin Oriental NYC
4 cups raw organic oats
1 cup non fat milk
2 Tbsp golden raisins
2 Tbsp dried cherries
2 Tbsp lavender honey
1/2 tsp candied ginger (chopped)
1/4 tsp Wakaya Perfection Organic Ginger Powder
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup Greek yogurt
Mix all ingredients together. Allow to marinate in refrigerator for an hour. Garnish with extra yogurt and fresh berries.
Espresso Ginger Crumble
Ritz Carlton Palm Beach
3 Tbsp sugar
1 Tbsp almond flour
1 Tbspall purpose flour
2 tsp Nespresso Cosi grinds
1 1/2 Tbsp butter
2 tsp cocoa powder
2 grams Wakaya Perfection Organic Ginger Powder
Sea salt to taste
Preheat oven to 325. Blend all ingredients in a bowl and placed mixture onto a sheet pan and place in oven. After mixture has baked for 15 minutes, remove from oven and add a pinch of sea salt and mix. Allow to cool.
Do you like ginger? What are your favorite ways to use it?
