Ground Ginger
Ground ginger is dried, powdered ginger root with a warm, spicy-sweet flavor, used mainly in baking and spice blends where fresh ginger's juiciness isn't wanted.
How to buy
Buy from a source with good turnover; it should be a light tan-yellow color and smell sharply warm and spicy when the jar is opened -- a dull, faint smell means it's past its prime. Buy in small quantities since it fades faster than whole spices.
How to store
Store in an airtight container away from heat and light; ground ginger holds good flavor for about a year, after which it fades noticeably rather than spoiling outright. A pinch rubbed between your fingers should still feel a little tingly and smell sharp if it's fresh.
Culinary profile
- Flavor
- Warm, sweet, and spicy with a peppery bite, more concentrated and one-dimensional than fresh ginger's bright, citrusy heat -- the two aren't fully interchangeable in a recipe.
- Texture
- A fine, dry powder that disperses evenly into batters and doughs without the fibrous texture of fresh grated ginger.
- Aroma
- Warm and spicy-sweet, with a slightly musty, peppery edge compared to fresh ginger's sharper citrus-like aroma.
How to prepare
- Baked into doughs — Mixed into gingerbread, cookies, and cakes for warm spice depth.
- Blended into spice mixes — Combined into pumpkin pie spice, chai spice, and curry powders.
- Whisked into marinades — Used in dry rubs and marinades when fresh ginger isn't on hand.
- Steeped into drinks — Stirred into mulled cider or tea for warmth.
Classic dishes
American
- Gingerbread cookies — A spiced cookie dough built heavily on ground ginger.
- Pumpkin pie spice blend — A baking spice mix in which ground ginger adds warm sweetness.
- Gingersnaps — Crisp, spiced cookies flavored with ground ginger and molasses.
- Mulled cider — Apple cider warmed with ground ginger, cinnamon, and clove.
- Pickling spice blends — A whole-and-ground spice mix for pickles that often includes ground ginger.
- Carrot cake spice mix — A warm spice blend for carrot cake built around ground ginger and cinnamon.
Indian
- Curry powder — A spice blend in which ground ginger contributes warmth and bite.
- Chai spice blend — A tea spice mix built on ground ginger, cardamom, and clove.
Middle Eastern
- Ras el hanout — A Moroccan spice blend in which ground ginger adds warmth and depth.
German
- Speculoos-style spiced cookies — Thin, crisp spiced cookies flavored with ground ginger and cinnamon.
- Pfeffernusse — Small, dense spiced holiday cookies flavored with ground ginger and pepper.
- Gingerbread house dough — A stiff, spiced dough built on ground ginger meant to hold its shape when baked.
Caribbean
- Jamaican ginger cake — A dark, moist cake built on ground ginger and molasses.
- Jerk seasoning dry rub — A dry version of jerk seasoning that includes ground ginger among its spices.
British & Irish
- Spice cake — A dense cake spiced with ground ginger alongside cinnamon and clove.