For several centuries, the healing properties of ginger have been spoken about: the debate about the beneficial properties of this root crop has not subsided. This plant is of interest to people who care about their health, to this day. Let's put together with you all the accumulated information about the benefits and harms of ginger in places, and also talk about how to choose it, how to sugar and how to store it.
Ginger in History
You and I will definitely talk about how to sugar ginger, but first, let's talk about the history and application of this incredibly fragrant fruit.
From ancient times, ginger root was considered a panacea, salvation from various poisons. It was believed that ginger has a warming effect and a positive effect on digestion. An interesting fact: in ancient Greece, with its help, they coped with the consequences of overeating. It’s worth taking a note, because now we love to eat tightly. In China, ginger was considered a means to improve memory. He was also chewed to cope with motion sickness. And in East Asia they used to preserve youth. In India, ginger was regarded as a universal cure for all diseases.
Ginger Cooking
To date, ginger is a fairly common cooking supplement. They use it in different forms: dried and grated as a spice, and fresh, grated or finely chopped, and candied. Each form has its own taste. For example, dried is more spicy, and fresh ginger is incredibly fragrant.
As spices, ginger is combined with rice, it is also widely used in the confectionery business. And ginger with lemon and honey is a separate dish, this is sauce, and sweetness for tea, and an aromatic additive that is deliciously diluted with water.
How spicy ginger feels depends on when it is added to the dish. If you are a lover of a pungent and full-bodied taste and aroma, then add ginger to your dish at the end of cooking, and for a thin note - at the beginning.
Culinary specialists from Asia know no one else about the incredible properties of ginger, and they know more than one way to use it in different forms. In Asia, candied ginger and pickled is prepared at home, it is regarded as a separate dish, and as a sauce or meat supplement, positioned as a fragrant spicy seasoning.
Ginger is widely used in the preparation of alcoholic beverages, soft drinks and tea. Tea with this root is especially loved in Asia. We will definitely tell you a recipe for tea with candied ginger syrup.
Ginger is an incredibly fragrant root crop, but, as already mentioned, it has a wide range of useful properties that I would like to talk about.
Useful properties of ginger
Of course, ginger possesses its healing properties thanks to its components: these are acute phenolic compounds, essential oils that reduce inflammation and nausea. As already mentioned, it is able to suppress motion sickness and vomiting after chemotherapy.
American scientists conducted research and found that ginger reduces blood coagulation and significantly reduces cholesterol. Its use is an excellent prevention of heart attack and stroke.
Ginger strengthens bones and relieves swelling, improves immunity, helps with constipation, headaches, migraines and reduces the feeling of discomfort with the flu. Cleanses the body of toxins, it is recommended in the fight against impotence and infertility. And he is also able to improve the quality of teeth.
Ginger essential oils are used for psycho-emotional disorders, they help fight fears, aggression, apathy.
The benefits of candied ginger are also to improve digestion, and in winter its use is an excellent prevention of colds. It enhances immunity and positively affects overall well-being, increasing vitality. Isn't this the main reason to try candied ginger?
Harm and contraindications
Of course, ginger has a number of contraindications. This plant is capable of harming the body. For example, the use of ginger, even in moderation, can cause belching, diarrhea, heartburn. It can cause irritation of the mucous membrane - this is a frequent result of an overdose.
Ginger can cause obvious harm to those who suffer from stones in the gall bladder, as it stimulates the production of bile. Naturally, in no case should you use ginger with stomach diseases and an ulcer. Ginger can cause skin dryness, rash. He may become the culprit of insomnia or excessive drowsiness. Ginger is contraindicated in pregnant, lactating and young children.
Speaking about the benefits and harms of candied ginger, it is worth noting that its excessive use can lead to weight gain. It should never be eaten with diabetes.
To avoid trouble and not harm your body, do not exceed the rate of consumption of ginger, and then all its beneficial properties will work for you.
Kind of ginger
A valuable part of ginger is its root. There are several types of ginger, but only two fall into the consumer spectrum. And they differ in the way of preliminary preparation. Conventionally, they are called:
- black ginger - the raw root of the plant;
- white ginger - washed, peeled from the top layer.
As a rule, both are dried, but the chemical composition of these two species differs by the presence of amino acids in different percentages. Most often, white ginger is sold, as it is candied.
How to choose ginger
Is it possible to sugar ginger so that it does not lose its beneficial properties? Sure. But before describing the recipe, let's find out how to choose ginger. After all, the choice of a quality root crop is the secret to a good treat.
Here is a short list of rules, following which you will find the perfect spine with the maximum set of useful elements.
- Look for root vegetables smooth, dense, without wrinkles, cracks. The loose and wrinkled surface of ginger suggests that it is not the first freshness.
- When buying ginger, give preference to long roots, as they accumulate more essential oils and useful elements.
- The smell of fresh ginger should be saturated, and the skin should be thin.
To check for freshness, use your fingernail to peel a little of the root skin. If you immediately hit a bright, saturated odor - this root crop is suitable for the recipe for candied ginger.
How to Sugar Ginger at Home
Ginger in sugar is an excellent ingredient for coffee, an additive to tea, pastries and a fragrant note in desserts. Candied ginger is stored for a long time and does not deteriorate for a long time. Even in this form, it retains most of its useful properties.
So, how to make candied ginger at home and how to store it to feast on in cold weather and maintain your immunity? What ingredients do we need?
To sugar ginger, stock up on these foods:
- ginger root - 1 kg;
- sugar - 500 g;
- water;
- icing sugar or sugar for sprinkling.
These are universal proportions for sugaring, so if you have a little more ginger, follow the proportions 2 \ 1.
Cooking process
Peel the ginger, do not cut a lot, most of the useful elements are hidden under the peel of the root crop.
Chop it. You can chop it into cubes, cut into circles or thin strips.
Put the root crop in a saucepan and fill with water. Water should completely cover the ginger. But in no case do not pour water. Pour in sugar. Simmer for 50-60 minutes. Ginger will become a little transparent. Do not worry if the water evaporates, do not add more liquid, just stir the main ingredient periodically.
After an hour, take an additional container and a sieve or colander. Put it in a container and drain the ginger syrup. Leave on for 10 minutes to make the syrup stack. Turn over the treat periodically.
Do not pour the syrup after cooking, we will tell you what can be done with it.
On a table, spread baking paper in several layers, lay out the ginger and let it dry.
Sprinkle it with sugar or powder, put in a jar. Your ginger in sugar is ready.
Storage
Candied ginger is stored for up to six months. Put it in jars with a tight lid; tin containers and tight airtight containers are best suited. Keep the treat away from drafts, moisture, and direct sunlight. Candied ginger, when stored properly, will delight you for months to come.
Ginger Syrup
We hope you succeeded in sugaring ginger. As you can see, this is very simple. But what to do with syrup if there is so much of it? It has so many useful elements that it is a pity to throw it away.
Add a couple of spoons of honey to it, squeeze the juice of one lemon or lime and boil everything together over a fire.
You can pour this syrup into containers; you can store it in the refrigerator for up to a week. If desired, it can be closed for the winter in sterilized banks.
You can add some pleasant aromatic spices, such as cinnamon, to ginger syrup.
Syrup tea
American pancakes with ginger syrup - an incredibly delicious breakfast treat. Ginger tea is equally delicious. Take a few tablespoons of syrup, lemon or lime juice, if you don’t have enough sweets, add honey to taste. You can add a little mint.
Brew it all with boiling water. This drink is incredibly tasty both hot and chilled. A chic, aromatic drink is an excellent cold prevention and a pleasant soft drink in hot weather.
It's just that you can cook a healthy treat, an alternative to sweets, because ginger in sugar is low-calorie and has a number of useful properties that we talked about.
This is a nice addition to tea, which will strengthen your immunity, help you lose weight (of course, if you do not use it in too large quantities), improve the functioning of the digestive tract and improve metabolism.
Enjoy your meal!