Cardamom is a fragrant seasoning, which in its value is close to the king of spices - saffron. In its original form, it is an herbaceous evergreen plant, which belongs to the ginger family. The homeland of spices is India. Cardamom has a rich and amazing spicy smell. Its taste is spicy-sweet, with citrus notes.
How to use cardamom?
Seasoning is actively added to food, as it gives it a rich and unique flavor.
Cardamom is placed in the following dishes:
- cookies;
- gingerbread cookies;
- puddings;
- soups;
- meat dishes;
- porridge.
This spice is especially often used in the culinary of countries of Asia and America.
In addition to these dishes, cardamom is added to various warming drinks: mulled wine, cocoa and coffee.
Cardamom, like most spices, is very healthy. Seasoning has a positive effect on the gastrointestinal tract and the body as a whole. Cardamom perfectly controls the appetite and does not allow a person to eat more than normal. Also - and this is important - the spice has a warming effect. After drinking a drink with cardamom, a person suffering from a cold will quickly get on his feet and will feel much better.
If cardamom is not at hand
But what if there is no seasoning? What hostess can replace cardamom in the recipe?
Unfortunately, it is impossible to completely replace the seasoning, as it has an individual specific taste. Although most cooks not only wonder what to replace cardamom in baking or in another dish, but also successfully does it. The article provides some useful tips on this subject.
Awesome Mulled Wine Recipe
Mulled wine is a warming drink, which is most often made from wine with the addition of various spices. His homeland is England. In the non-alcoholic version, grape juice is taken as the basis.
Cardamom is an integral part of mulled wine, but what if this seasoning was not at home? What can replace cardamom in mulled wine?
Ground ginger and nutmeg come to the rescue in this case, which also have warming properties.
For the original alcoholic drink you will need:
- wine (red) - 1 liter;
- 1⁄4 cup of water;
- 1 tbsp. a spoonful of sugar;
- 4-5 circles of orange;
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger;
- several pods of cloves;
- 1 stick of cinnamon;
- a pinch of nutmeg.
The classic mulled wine is being prepared as follows:
- Mix the spices thoroughly and add water.
- Boil the resulting mixture and let it brew a little.
- Strain the finished mixture, add wine, granulated sugar and orange cut in advance into thin slices.
- Next, cook mulled wine over low heat, not boiling.
- As soon as the bubbles appear, remove the drink from the heat and let it brew again.
For those who want to warm themselves on a frosty winter day, but do not drink alcoholic beverages, there is a non-alcoholic version of mulled wine that is not inferior in taste. Products for him:
- grape juice - 1 l;
- cloves - 4-5 pods;
- ginger - 1 teaspoon;
- nutmeg - 10 g;
- two to three slices of lemon;
- 1 stick of cinnamon.
It is prepared using the same technology as mulled wine based on wine.
Fragrant baked goods with spices
This seasoning is successfully used in various pastries. Thanks to her, the product is very aromatic and tasty. But what can replace cardamom in baking, if it is not at hand? In this case, you can add a little nutmeg or a spoonful of cinnamon to it. Or do without any seasonings at all.
For example, a recipe for baklava without cardamom. This oriental sweet dish is prepared as follows.
For the test:
- 3 cups flour without a slide;
- 200 g of softened oil;
- 3 chicken yolks;
- 200 g sour cream (20 %);
- 1 teaspoon of soda, salt and vanillin to taste.
For filling:
- honey;
- 2 cups of granulated sugar;
- 200 g of ground walnuts;
- nutmeg to taste.
Stages of preparation:
- Flour through a sieve to remove lumps.
- Gently mix it with softened butter.
- In the butter-flour mixture, deepen and pour in the remaining ingredients for the dough.
- Knead the dough well, divide into several parts and put in the refrigerator for at least an hour.
- Then one part of the dough is rolled out, a nut filling is placed on it, which is covered with the second part of the dough. Again the filling and the last part of the test.
- Baklava is smeared with yolks, cuts in the form of rhombuses and baked in the oven at 200 degrees.
- A few minutes before cooking, the baklava is removed from the oven, poured with a syrup of honey, sugar and seasonings, put back.
- The baklava is cut into portioned pieces already in a cooled form.
Baklava according to this recipe turns out to be very tasty, tender, with a rich honey and nutty taste.
Gingerbread cookie - a Christmas treat
Many people associate gingerbread cookies with the winter holidays and Christmas. Their spicy aroma is literally created in order to enjoy them, wrapped in a plaid and washed down with hot tea.
Indeed, there is nothing better than tasting warm and fresh homemade cakes. How to replace cardamom in gingerbread cookies if it is not at the moment? In fact, it is quite possible to do without this spice. The main component of this Christmas dish is ginger, and you just don’t need to save on it.
Here's a great recipe for Christmas cookies.
For the test you will need:
- flour - 6 glasses;
- soda - 1 teaspoon;
- ground ginger - 1 tbsp. a spoon;
- cinnamon - 1 teaspoon;
- granulated sugar - 1 cup;
- honey - 1⁄4 cup;
- water - half a glass;
- eggs - 1 pc.;
- vanillin - to taste;
- melted butter - 1 cup.
For glaze:
- egg white - 1 pc.;
- icing sugar - half a glass;
- lemon juice - 1 tsp.
Cooking:
- Mix flour, soda and necessary spices.
- In a separate bowl, mix water, oil, sugar, egg and vanillin.
- Bring to a homogeneous mass and combine both of the resulting mixture.
- Divide the finished dough into several equal parts, roll it out about three centimeters thick and put it in the cold.
- After 2 hours, roll out the chilled dough ten millimeters thick, cut out the figures for cookies and distribute them on a baking sheet, after sprinkling it with flour.
- Bake until tender - until golden brown.
Another great cookie with ginger. The following ingredients are needed for it:
- flour - 2-3 tbsp. spoons;
- butter - 100 g;
- chicken egg - 1 pc.;
- ground ginger - 1 tbsp. a spoon;
- lemon zest - 1 teaspoon;
- sugar - 100 g;
- vanillin and salt to taste.
- First, sift the flour through a sieve, then mix with salt and ginger.
- Beat the slightly melted butter with sugar until a homogeneous mass is obtained.
- Add grated lemon zest, vanillin and egg to the oil mixture.
- Mix all ingredients thoroughly and add flour.
- Substitute the dough, roll it into sausage and put in the refrigerator for about an hour and a half.
- Roll out the chilled dough, cut out figures of any shape from it.
- Put them on a baking sheet covered with parchment, which must first be lightly greased with oil and sprinkled with flour. Oven in the oven at a temperature of 160 degrees until cooked.
Christmas cookies according to this recipe are very tasty, with a rich ginger aroma. It will certainly appeal to all households.
How to replace cardamom in coffee?
Coffee is an excellent invigorating drink that has many recipes. It is cooked with various spices, milk, cream, caramel. Many are interested in how to replace cardamom in a coffee recipe.
Unfortunately, a full-fledged analogue does not exist. If desired, instead of cardamom, you can add cinnamon to the drink, which also goes well with coffee.
In order to make coffee with cinnamon, you will need the following ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon;
- 1 teaspoon of coffee;
- granulated sugar - 1-2 teaspoons;
- water - 100 ml.
- Coffee, cinnamon and granulated sugar are poured into the Turk.
- Then put on a small fire to warm the coffee mixture well.
- The next step is to add water to the Turk and brew coffee until the foam appears on the surface.
Classic cinnamon coffee is ready!
The next option is for coffee lovers with milk. Products:
- 1 tsp coffee;
- 1 stick of cinnamon;
- milk - 100 ml;
- sugar - 1-2 tsp;
- water - 100 ml.
Cooking method:
- Boil milk with cinnamon for about five to six minutes, until it turns brown.
- Then you should make coffee in a Turk, pour it in a cup half and add milk and cinnamon.
Delicious and invigorating coffee with cinnamon and milk is ready.
How to replace cardamom in meat dishes?
To improve the taste and appetite, various spices, including cardamom, are often put in meat dishes. But he was not in the kitchen. What can replace cardamom in a meat recipe?
Powdered allspice, but not more than half a teaspoon, can be added to the dish. In addition to pepper, half a teaspoon of ground ginger or garlic is also suitable. The meat will turn out no less tasty.
Delicious rice with spices
Rice is one of the most common cereals in the world. It is used as a side dish for meat and fish, added to soups, prepared from it cereals and even desserts. The most popular type of cereal in Asia.
To diversify the taste of rice and give it an additional aroma, various spices are added to the dish. Cardamom often appears in recipes with rice, but you can do without it.
Spices such as turmeric, ginger and garlic are great for rice. They give the dish a wonderful spicy taste.
Conclusion
Cardamom is one of the most popular condiments. Its burning citrus flavor is combined with many dishes. This spice gives them their unique, slightly spicy and fragrant taste.
For many inexperienced culinary experts, the question often arises: how to replace cardamom in its absence?
Unfortunately, a full analogue of seasoning does not exist, since it has its own special taste. Replacement is possible only if the amount of cardamom in the recipe is not so significant and you can do without it or add other spices that will not spoil the taste of the dish. You can replace cardamom in pastries and drinks with cinnamon or ground ginger, in meat and rice dishes with turmeric, allspice and garlic.