1. Make Stir-Fry

Stir-fry is an ideal dish for using both powdered ginger and fresh ginger. It’s a matter of preference, but it’s one of the easiest things to do with ginger. If you’re using fresh, simply slice it up and toss into the wok with your other ingredients. If you prefer the ground version, stir it into a sauce made with soy sauce, sesame oil, minced garlic and sliced green onions.

2. Sprinkle It on Fish

Ginger pairs especially well with salmon and gives it a fresh flavor you’ll love. Sprinkle a bit of ground ginger on a fillet along with soy or teriyaki sauce. Bake it until the fish flakes with a fork. Season the salmon with salt and pepper and serve it with rice or mashed potatoes and gravy.

3. Bake Cookies

It might sound weird to use ginger in cookies when it works so well in entrees, but ginger lends a unique taste to cookies that blends well with sweet ingredients. Simply add a ¼ to a ½ teaspoon to the dry ingredients. Use it in cookies that call for chocolate chips, dried fruit or nuts for a yummy baked treat that will leave people perplexed as to what your secret ingredient is.

4. Season Roasted Vegetables

Roasted vegetables are a great side dish because they are low in fat, but high in nutrients. Just before putting broccoli, cauliflower, potatoes or bell peppers into the oven to roast, sprinkle them lightly with ground ginger. Add some salt and pepper and when the veggies are cooked, you’ll be delighted with the delicious flavor they have. This side pairs well with grilled chicken and steak.

5. Spice up Soup

Ginger pairs well with many soup ingredients and its an effortless way to ramp up the flavor of your next pot of soup. Add fresh ginger to pureed squash soup or add minced fresh ginger to chicken rice soup. It also works great in carrot and sweet potato soups. Of course, you can always add it to miso or egg drop soup for a new twist on a favorite recipe.

6. Brew Hot Tea

For times when you feel under the weather, adding ginger to your tea can help relieve symptoms that include stuffiness and congestion. As you brew a pot of hot tea, toss in fresh ginger slices. As the tea steeps, it takes on the ginger’s properties while also adding a unique flavor to your drink.

7. Whip up Some Jelly

If you prefer homemade jelly to store bought versions, ginger is an easy way to mix up the flavors and make your toast sing. Use minced fresh ginger as you prepare your jelly, but strain out any chunks before you can it or you might end up with a mouthful that won’t taste very good. Ginger works well in citrus, rhubarb and berry jelly. Use it on waffles, pancakes and in sandwiches too.

Have you ever cooked with ginger? I really like the way it tastes with chicken. If the only ginger you’ve ever had is the pickled version in your sushi, it’s time to try something new. What do you think of ginger in food?