Picture this: you're trying to impress your mate with a new (and rather adventurous) recipe. You've got a thumb of ginger on the chopping board in front of you, your knife is sharp and ready for action, so far so good...
But wait, what on earth do you do now?
Because of it's unusual shape, ginger is pretty difficult to peel with a knife or vegetable peeler. Instead, Chef James suggests peeling it with a teaspoon.
"It's super simple, you can get the kids to do it, and it doesn't take a lot of time," he explains.
He then adds that the benefit of this particular method is that it doesn't waste any excess ginger.
Once you've peeled the ginger, chop it into a square shape and slice in any way you want.
15 Benefits Of Ginger
It's Related To This Spice (01 of15)
Ginger as we use it in food is actually the root or rhizome of the plant Zingiber officinale. The plant is in the Zingiberaceae family, along with galangal, turmeric and cardamom. (credit:Shutterstock / cybervelvet)
Ginger Has An Old History (02 of15)
In India and China, ginger was produced for its medicinal properties for more than 5,000 years. India continues to be the largest producer of ginger today. It has also been used as a cooking spice in these countries for at least 4,400 years. Words for ginger date back at least 3,000 years to the Sanskrit word srngaveram, which means “horn root.” It was called ziggiberis in Greek and zinziberi in Latin, and its current English name is derived from the Middle English word gingivere. (credit:maceofoto)
It Was A Major Article Of Trade(03 of15)
Thanks to its medicinal and culinary uses, ginger was a major article of trade for many parts of the world, according to the book Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects. More than two centuries ago, ginger was imported from India to the Roman Empire. After the fall of the empire, the trade in ginger was largely controlled by Arab merchants. (credit:shutterstock)
What Provides The Spice?(04 of15)
The warmth and spiciness of ginger comes largely from the ketones it contains, specifically gingerol. Gingerol is related to capsaicin and piperine, which are the compounds that provide the heat to chili peppers and black pepper respectively. When ginger is cooking, gingerol changes to zingerone, which is sweeter and less pungent; however, when ginger is dried, shogaols are formed and these are about twice as pungent as gingerol. (credit:shutterstock)
Why Is Pickled Ginger Pink?(05 of15)
Sushi fans are familiar with pickled ginger — the pink slices you place on top of pieces of sushi before eating. But if ginger root is pale yellow when peeled, why are these slices rosy pink? That’s just a dye, used simply for the aesthetic benefits. Some ginger is dyed pink with artificial dyes; others are dyed naturally with beet juice. Young ginger roots do take on a natural pinkness when pickled, however. (credit:igorr1 via Getty Images)
Colon Inflammation (06 of15)
One 2011 study of 30 patients that compared the effect of a placebo or a ginger root supplement on colon inflammation markers found that the patients experienced reductions in the markers. The researchers said a phase two study was required, but the results were promising because colon inflammation may be a precursor to colon cancer. (credit:shutterstock)
Chemotherapy Nausea(07 of15)
Many people experience nausea while receiving chemotherapy treatment for cancer. Some research shows that ginger may help relieve those symptoms. A 2009 study found that taking ginger with standard nausea-fighting drugs before receiving chemotherapy could cut the nausea symptoms by 40 per cent. Talk to your oncologist before taking ginger ahead of chemotherapy to make sure there are no drug interactions to worry about. (credit:shutterstock)
Motion Sickness(08 of15)
Your mother probably made you drink flat ginger ale when you had a bad stomach as a kid — she had good intentions. There are some studies showing that ginger works better than a placebo in relieving motion sickness. Other research, however, indicates that ginger doesn’t make a difference. If ginger is effective, then it’s thought it’s because the 6-gingerol found in it relaxes the gastrointestinal muscles. (credit:shutterstock)
Arthritis(09 of15)
Traditional medicine has a long history of using ginger as a treatment for various types of arthritis, thanks to its purported anti-inflammatory properties. One study from the University of Miami found that a highly concentrated ginger extract reduced inflammation in the knee joints for patients with osteoarthritis of the knee, as compared to a placebo. However, the research is still early. (credit:shutterstock)
Morning Sickness(10 of15)
Some research shows that ginger, when used for a short duration, can help relieve morning sickness during pregnancy. A review published in Obstetrics and Gynecology showed that four of the six studies involved found that ginger was more effective than a placebo, and none of the studies showed side effects. (credit:shutterstock)
Taking Doses(11 of15)
It’s advised that pregnant women stick to one gram of ginger daily, while most adults can safely take up to four. Don’t give ginger to children under the age of two, and talk to your doctor to get the right dose for relieving nausea. (credit:shutterstock)
Interactions With Other Medications(12 of15)
As with other herbal treatments, ginger can interact with more traditional medications. If you are taking blood-thinning medication, diabetes medication, or blood pressure medications, talk to your doctor before taking ginger in therapeutic quantities. (credit:shutterstock)
Make Your Own Ginger Ale(13 of15)
You can buy a bottle of ginger ale at any convenience store, but when you make your own you get the benefit of probiotics as well. That’s because natural ginger ale is fermented, which means it contains healthy bacteria that could be good for your gut. (credit:Holger Feroudj via Getty Images)
... And Tea(14 of15)
And while you are at it, make your own tea as well. When you've got a bad stomach, or when you just need to feel warm and cozy, this homemade tea will hit the spot. The cinnamon is a nice counterpart to ginger’s spice, and honey adds a welcome bit of sweetness. (credit:Olgaorly via Getty Images)
Grow Your Own!(15 of15)
Did you know you can grow your own ginger at home? It’s a root, after all. (credit:lessismoregraph via Getty Images)