Cardamom – February Featured Ingredient

Did you know Norwegians and persons from India absolutely love their Cardamom – February Featured Ingredient? Neither did I until I was researching info for this post. As of now I am obsessed with this wonderful spice and think it’s not used enough in baking. It’s a very potent spice so a little goes a long way.

Cardamom tastes spicy but not overpowering unless you use too much so be careful when measuring. Also, you may taste a hint of citrus along with an herbal note. Trust me it’s such a bewitching, complex, and surprising flavor.

Cardamom – February Featured Ingredient

You will find cardamom works well with lemon, orange, and lime or any other citrus. It also works well partnered with other warm spices like cinnamon, cloves, allspice, and nutmeg. I personally think the flavor of cardamom used in baked goods tastes better and never more evident of use like in my Browned Butter Cardamom Sugar Cookies. This cookie recipe is a must try the next time you feel the urge to bake cookies.

Cardamom – February Featured Ingredient

So, what is cardamom and its origin? Cardamom is the fruit of a tropical plant related to ginger and one of the most expensive spices after saffron and vanilla. Have you seen the price on vanilla lately? However, some worthwhile items like spices are worth the price and most often a little goes a long way.

Cardamom – February Featured Ingredient

This aromatic spice grows on plantations in mainly Guatemala and India as a tall plant with pods. The plants are allowed to flower for up to nine months and pods are picked when about three-quarters ripe. The pods are washed and dried after harvest. Depending on how pods are dried determines the color of the pods. White pods have been dried in the sun for days and become bleached. Green pods are only dried one day and one night in a heated room. That said, inside of each pod are the seeds which are ground into the unique spice powder.

Cardamom – February Featured Ingredient

Throughout the Middle East, India, and Scandinavia cardamom is used in coffee, baked goods, and ground meat. Cardamom is the prominent flavor you taste in Chai. Cardamom is marvelous combined with cinnamon and cloves.

Purchase cardamom pods and remove seeds and grind into powder. Cardamom can be purchased already ground but does keep longer as seeds yet grind when needed for recipes. The spice oil is also used in scenting soaps, body care items, perfumes. However, I think this spice will become a new favorite no matter which way you choose to use it. Enjoy…until next month!