Here’s Everything You Can Make With A Piece Of Fresh Ginger

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Ginger root is spicy and pungent when it’s fresh. It adds a bold and spicy flavor to anything, and it’s just as easy to chop up as any aromatic or root vegetable. You can find fresh ginger root pretty much anywhere, and it’s insanely versatile. Just peel a piece of ginger with a spoon and it’ll be smooth sailing from there. Here’s everything you can make with a piece of fresh ginger.

Hot Chocolate

Ginger and chocolate work surprisingly well together. When you have that piece of fresh ginger lying around, add it to your hot chocolate. You won’t regret it. This recipe calls for milk, fresh ginger, cocoa powder, sugar, water and dark chocolate shavings for a garnish. You’re basically infusing your milk with fresh ginger. We’re all about that spicy and sweet combo.

Meatballs

For a perfect appetizer, any kind of garlic and ginger meatballs will definitely be a hit. Garlic and ginger go together like salt and pepper. Plus, meatballs are easy for guests to eat in one or two bites. Here’s a recipe for ginger chicken meatballs with Chinese broccoli. You could also go for these scallion meatballs with a soy ginger glaze or Asian pork meatballs with a ginger and honey sauce.

Spritzers

Once the weather warms up, you’ll want something healthy and refreshing to sip on or to use as a cocktail base. This ginger spritzer only calls for four ingredients: water, sugar, fresh sliced ginger and sparkling water. And this apple, ginger and honey spritzer would be a good choice as a cocktail base or for a refreshing non-alcohol drink.

Applesauce

It’s important to know how to make your own applesauce. Once you have the routine down pat, you’ll be addicted and probably won’t turn to the store-bought kind ever again. Try making your own ginger applesauce with brown sugar, cinnamon and vanilla. This pear and ginger applesauce would also be great with roasted chicken, mixed into your oatmeal or on top of your yogurt.

Tea

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When in doubt, make ginger tea. If you have a cold or you’re out of tea bags, ginger tea will come to your rescue. All you need to do is chop up some fresh ginger and let it steep in some hot water for about 1o minutes and you have ginger tea. You can add honey, lime or lemon, but the fresh ginger is powerful enough on its own. Try this homemade ginger tea the next time you’re craving something warming. Cardamom and ginger chai tea is also a soothing option.

Dressings

You know when you go for sushi and there’s that orange dressing served with your salad? Well, ginger is the main player in that dressing and you can easily make it at home. Here’s a recipe for a quick ginger dressing with grated carrot and ginger. And this carrot ginger dressing looks equally as delicious with carrots, rice vinegar, fresh ginger, lime juice, toasted sesame oil and honey.

Grilled Vegetables

You can’t go wrong with some ginger-marinated veggies. There’s a good chance that any vegetables you have lying around your house will work with some chopped ginger. Try some sesame-ginger grilled vegetables or maple and ginger-roasted vegetables with pecans.

Simple Syrup

Ginger simple syrup is really handy to have in the kitchen. If you have sugar, water, ginger and 30 minutes to spare, you should get out a saucepan and make a batch. You can use ginger syrup for a cocktail base, in baked goods or as an ice cream topping. Add a little ginger syrup to pretty much any dessert that needs a spicy kick.