Simple Cardamom Recipes

Breakfast/ Dessert: Cardamom Fruit Bake

Ingredients

• 2 apples, peeled and sliced
• 2 firm ripe pears, peeled and sliced
• 1 Tbsp lemon juice
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 Tbsp cornstarch
• 1 tsp ground cardamom

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, toss apple and pear slices with lemon juice and vanilla. Mix cornstarch and cardamom.
2. Sprinkle over fruit; toss to coat well. Spoon into lightly greased 8- or 9-inch square baking dish. Bake 40 to 45 minutes or until fruit is tender.
3. Tip: Top with plain or vanilla greek yogurt https://maplehill.com/product/greek-plain/ and a low sugar granola to enjoy this like a traditional fruit crisp Makes 6 servings

Side: Cardamom Sweet Potato and Apples

Ingredients

• 2 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
• 2 large granny smith apples, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
• 2 Tbsp butter, softened
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp ground cardamom
• 1/4 tsp salt

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Place sweet potatoes and apples in a large saucepan.
3. Add cold water to cover 1 inch over sweet potatoes; bring to boil on high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and cook 15 to 20 minutes or until tender.
4. Drain well and return to saucepan. Add softened butter, vanilla, cardamom, and salt; mash until well blended and smooth. Spoon into lightly greased 1 1/2-quart casserole dish
5. Bake 30 minutes or until lightly browned and heated through
6. Tip: This delicious side dish can also be served as breakfast or a dessert Granny smith apples hold up well and lend a slightly tart taste to what might otherwise be a very sweet dish Serves 8

Beverage: Chai Tea

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup milk Maple hill https://maplehill.com/product/2-reduced-fat-milk/
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 Tbsp honey
• 1/8 tsp ground cardamom
• 1/8 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp ground cloves
• Pinch white pepper
• 2 black tea bags

Directions

1. Bring milk, water, honey, and spices to simmer in medium saucepan. Be sure not to heat the milk too fast or it will curdle. Stir frequently, then let simmer 1 minute
2. Place tea bags in milk mixture. Remove from heat; cover. Let steep 5 minutes (this will help build a robust flavor). Remove tea bags. Serve hot. Or, refrigerate until chilled; serve over ice Makes 1 cup

Dressings: Chai Vinaigrette

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 1/3 cup orange juice
• 1 Tbsp honey
• 1/4 tsp ground cardamom
• 1/4 tsp ground clove
• 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp salt
• Pinch ground white pepper

Directions

1. Mix all ingredients in small bowl with wire whisk until well blended Tip: Pairs perfectly over a simple bed of greens with orange and strawberry slices

Dinner: Indian Style Chicken and vegetables

Ingredients

• 1 Tbsp avocado or Olive oil
• 4 chicken breast halves (about 2 pounds)
• 1 large onion, thinly sliced
• 2 medium tomatoes, chopped (about 1 1/2 cups)
• 1 large carrot, peeled and cut into 2-inch julienne strips (about 1 cup)
• 2 tsp garam masala
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 cup water

Directions

1. Heat oil in large nonstick skillet on medium-high heat. Add chicken, and cook 5 to 6 minutes or until lightly browned. Turn chicken; add onion. Cook and stir onions 3 to 4 minutes longer
2. Stir in tomatoes, carrot, 1 1/2 teaspoons of the garam masala, garlic powder, sea salt and water, submerging carrot into cooking liquid. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 20 to 25 minutes or until chicken and vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally. Remove chicken to serving platter; cover with foil to keep warm
3. Stir remaining 1/2 teaspoon garam masala into vegetable mixture. Bring to boil. Cook and stir 2 to 4 minutes to reduce liquid and thicken vegetable mixture. Spoon over chicken. Garnish with chopped fresh cilantro. Serve with cooked rice, if desired

Beverage: Cardamom and Coffee

Ingredients

• Fresh coffee beans
• 1-2 green cardamom pods

Directions

1. Add a pod or two of green cardamom to beans before grinding.
2. Prepare coffee as usual.

Smoothie: Cardamom Pear Smoothie

Ingredients

• 1 ripe pear
• ⅛ tsp ground cardamom
• 8oz Maple Hill milk https://maplehill.com/product/2-reduced-fat-milk/ (more or less to desired
• thickness)
• ¼ cup yogurt Maple Hill https://maplehill.com/product/greek-plain/
• 2 tsp honey

Directions

1. The night before you want to make your smoothie, peel and core pear and place in freezer.
2. Add cardamom, frozen pear, milk, yogurt and honey to the blender and blend until smooth. The frozen pear will add a nice thickness, so be sure to add more or milk to your desired thickness.

The Spartan Guide to Cardamom

The Claim This warm, earthy spice is made from the seeds of plants native to India, Bhutan, Indonesia, and Nepal. Ayurvedic practitioners love it for its ability to physically cool the body and treat gastrointestinal disorders.

The Evidence Small studies conducted in New Delhi suggest that an extract from cardamom indeed helps soothe acid reflux, gas, and stomach cramps. “And because it’s considered a cooling herb, it’s used especially in the summer months by people who get very frustrated with the heat,” says Svetlana Kogan, M.D., a family physician in New York City and author of Diet Slave No More. “It works especially well with coriander, another cooling herb, and both are considered mildly anti-inflammatory.” (Which is to say, they may fight disease.)

Many people with gastritis find that their acid reflux worsens in the summer, so cardamom and coriander offer a way to spice up food without adding on to their digestive issues, Dr. Kogan says. (They won’t necessarily treat acid reflux the way a drug would, she adds, but they’re guaranteed to not be aggravating.)

How to Use It Cooking with it is by far the easiest way to time it to your meals. Buy the spice ground or whole and get used to sprinkling it into everything from vegetables to dry rubs to glazes for pork. It’s a common ingredient in Indian dishes, and it’s great in masala chai or golden milk.