A Vegan Guide To Cooking With Ginger

What is ginger?

The ginger we know, love and use is the root of a flowering plant that’s native to Southeast Asia. It’s an incredibly versatile ingredient, one of our favourites to cook with, and is really healthy. You’ll find it in a multitude of formats: fresh, dried, powdered, in an oil or even juice as it’s a surprisingly common ingredient.

It’s also not too distantly related to another one of our favourite roots, turmeric. Read all about turmeric and how to cook with it here.  

What are the health benefits of ginger? 

The term superfood is often attached to foods without much justification, however, we think that ginger is very deserving of this label. It’s small, mighty and gram-for-gram packs an impressive punch – it’s great at: 

• Countering nausea 
• Lowering cholesterol and aiding weight loss
• Easing menstrual pain
• Helping cases of osteoarthritis according to studies
• Lowering blood sugars and reducing heart disease-related risks 
• Treating chronic indigestion 
• Improving brain functionality 
• Helping to ease a hangover

How to cook vegan dishes using ginger

Not only is it beneficial to health, we think it tastes pretty great too. Whether you’re baking something sweet, making a fiery juice adding some fragrant spice to curries, cooking with it in any of its delicious forms brings with it a different angle on its complex flavour profile. From earthy notes when fresh to tangy and sweet when candied, ginger is the edible root version of a chameleon.  

We love Val’s ginger and maple roasted carrots, they're deeply rich, savoury, sticky, sweet and tangy and make the perfect side to any comforting and hearty meal.

Why not try Toni’s fragrant and creamy Jamaican sweet potato and black bean curry? It’s the ultimate homely dish, sweet with a hidden kick.

Another one of our favourites is this recipe for vegan crispy fried rice that’s packed full tofu, peas and of course ginger! We love to eat it by the bowlful. 

Photo credits: By The Forkful

We’re obsessed with this vegan ginger cake recipe from By The Forkful with its sticky treacle glaze. It’s gently spiced and perfect with a large cup of tea.

Photo credits: Loving It Vegan

We don’t think much is better in life than this recipe for vegan gingersnap cookies made by Loving It Vegan. They won’t stick around for long!