Pic courtesy of Wikipedia.org.
That jar in the back of your spice rack, which likely has a peeling label and 99% of the spice untouched, is probably ground cardamom. Whether in the form of green or brown pods, loose seeds, or the pungent powder, cardamom is a spice that tends to perplex home cooks. It has a clean, crisp scent with earthy notes, and the taste is a distinctive floral and almost lemony essence that cuts through other flavors without overpowering them. While the preceding statement might sound contradictory, fans of the spice appreciate the versatility, which allows cardamom to be used in many dishes. Generally speaking, whole seed pods lend themselves toward flavoring dishes and liquids as they can be easily removed. The ground spice possesses a remarkable ability to blend with a diverse and lengthy list of ingredients, yet the flavor and scent do not hide. Instead, it enhances sweet and savory dishes while making them uniquely its own.
I became interested in cardamom a few years ago, after drinking chai for the first time. I was amazed by the complex scent and taste. I couldn’t identify everything I was experiencing in the drink, so I turned to Google for help. I had assumed that lemon and mint were part of the ingredient list — what I was detecting turned out to be cardamom. Don’t let my words mislead you; go to a spice store and smell cardamom for yourself. You’ll immediately understand the inimitable complexity contained in the pods. I tried making my own chai at home and discovered two things: 1) The flavor changes each time, and 2) There’s no wrong way to make chai. Here are some dishes that you should try with cardamom the next time you make them:
1. Pork Chops with Orange Glaze — if you’re a fan of pork chops (and really, who isn’t?), you’ll appreciate adding a teaspoon of the ground spice to the seasonings for this dish. It adds just enough of an earthy quality to balance the more powerful citrus notes. This tip comes courtesy of Christine, my hairdresser at Frizzles.
2. Apple Pie — you’ll never go back to cinnamon alone, or some generic “apple pie spice” again. Cut the cinnamon used by half and mix a ½ teaspoon of ground cardamom in with the sugar and/or flour (depending on your recipe) and toss with the apple pieces. Your pie will taste exotic and delicious, without being overrun by any single flavor.
3. Lamb Kabobs — used as part of a rub, cardamom can enhance the earthy flavor of the meat, while adding lemony-floral notes that would go well with an accompanying cilantro-cumin yogurt sauce. Try using a teaspoon of the ground spice with the other ingredients and adjust up or down, depending on your palate.
4. Molasses Cookies — though they already have a complex flavor, adding a ½ teaspoon of ground to the mix pushes these chewy cookies over the edge. I find this variation to be particularly delicious with a glass of iced tea on a hot day.
5. Swedish Meatballs — using cardamom is a great way to provide a striking flavor to this time-tested dish. Use a combination of ground lamb, beef, and pork for the tastiest results and add ½ teaspoon to the meat mixture. The extra note the spice provides will have your family or friends trying to guess your secret ingredient.
-Tiffany Kajer Wright (TKW)
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