Ginger has been highly prized for both its medicinal and culinary properties for many thousands of years. Fresh, dried, ground, crystallised, pickled and preserved, it's a remarkably versatile spice.
The known history of ginger in cooking dates back over 5,000 years when records show both Indian and Chinese cultures using it as a healing tonic. But it was most likely used to flavour dishes and create herbal concoctions long before formal records began.
This pungent spice was an important trade article between India and the Roman Empire, where it was prized for its medicinal properties rather than any culinary uses. Just think, the recipe for pasta ragu could have been so much different had ginger taken off as a spice.
Ginger in its many forms can actually be found in recipes from most corners of the globe and we've got a few to gingerly bookmark.
Chinese: Ginger chicken
Ginger is practically as ubiquitous as soy sauce in Chinese cooking, so take your pick of gingery dishes to gourge on. Do put this ginger chicken on the list, though. It's a simple celebration of what the ginger spice offers.
Jamaica: Jerk chicken
Jamaicans use liberal helpings of ginger in many of their recipes, but we can't go past a spicy jerk chicken to really show off how fiercely well ginger plays with other spices.
Korea: Spicy pork
Jeyuk bokkeum is a highly popular Korean barbecue dish that boasts all the bold flavours Korean food is all about—a chunk of ginger balances gochujang, gochugaru, vinegar and soy.
Thailand: Green curry
Green curry paste always contains a healthy slug of ginger and its sister-spice galangal. This green curry lobster recipe makes a nice change from the usual chicken curry.
Lebanon: Spiced rice pudding
More than 2000 years ago ginger was brought to the Middle East from India, so there is a rich tradition of gingery dishes throughout the region. Ground ginger is particularly popular in desserts like this spiced rice pudding.
UK: Gingerbread
This 18th-century gingerbread recipe comes from Eliza Smith’s book, The Compleat Housewife, or, Accomplish’d Gentlewoman’s Companion from 1727. However, the first known recipe for gingerbread came from Greece in 2400 BC.
US: Gingerbread men
While Americans go wild for gingerbread men at Christmas time, they actually date back to Elizabeth I and England. The Queen's staff included a royal gingerbread maker who first created gingerbread men in the likeness of a visiting foreign dignitary party.
Sri Lanka: Fish curry
Lemongrass combines beautifully with ginger to create a tasty base for a delicate Sri Lankan fish curry. Proof that ginger can be subtle when it's called for.
Japan: Pickled ginger
If your only taste of Japanese pickled ginger thus far has been out of a packet off the sushi train, we urge you to make this recipe.
India: Chana masala
Ginger is one of the backbones of Indian cuisine and a good chickpea masala usually contains it. This version from Amritsar is even finished with slivers of julienned fresh ginger.
Vietnam: Candied ginger
Mut gung is liberally eaten during Tết, Vietnamese Lunar New Year. The sweet snack is enjoyed over a cup of green tea when guests stop by for a visit.
Malaysia: Nasi lemak
Punch up the flavour of rice by adding ginger, lemongrass and eschallots. Add a bit of this and a bit of that and you've got yourself a portable dish of nasi lemak.
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