Cardamom is an ancient spice that is obtained from a ginger-like plant. Cardamom has small black seeds enclosed in a pod. Small cardamom is green in color while big cardamom is dark brown in color. It has a rough outer space that is also edible like seeds. The aromatic and pungent flavor of cardamom makes it a widely used flavoring spice in various dishes. In Indian and Pakistani cuisines, cardamom is popularly known as ‘Elaichi’. Some of the popular cardamom recipes are halwa, burfi and cardamom milk.

History of Cardamom 

Cardamom is believed to be a native of India. It is mentioned in the historical texts of India as a flavoring agent and medicine. Cardamom is originated from the wild plants of monsoon forests in Southern India. Kerala (Indian State) is the largest producer of cardamom. In India, cardamom is considered as the ‘queen of spices’. 

Culinary Use of Cardamom

Black cardamom and green cardamom both are widely used in cooking. It is a familiar component in sweets and drinks. The aroma and unique fragrance of cardamom gives a nice flavor to cardamom dishes. Very little quantity of cardamom seeds are required to make a flavorful cardamom dish. Especially, in baked sweet dishes, cardamom is extensively used. Whole cardamom is grounded to make cardamom powder that can be added to various savory dishes. 

Cardamom seeds are added to various meat and vegetable dishes while frying a little in the oil. To give flavor to the pickles, cardamom seeds are pounded and added. One of the best uses of cardamom is to chew it like nuts. Tea and coffee are also made with this aromatic cardamom. 

Popular Cardamom Recipes

Due to its extensive aroma, cardamom is considered a highly prized flavoring agent and often used in sweet dishes. Here are few popular cardamom recipes:

• Pulla – It’s a popular dessert bread in the cuisine of Finland. It is baked with crushed cardamom and raisins.

• Masala chai – It is an Indian hot beverage. This cardamom dish is made by boiling cardamom seeds in milk and water. ‘chai’ means tea and ‘masala’ means cardamom seeds and other such spices.

• Elaichi ka halwa – It is one o the most popular Indian cardamom dishes. Elaichi ka halwa is a famous Indian sweet made with semolina and cardamom powder that is used to give fragrance to the dish.

• Turkish coffee – A hot beverage served in Turkish cuisine made with ground cardamom seeds.

Cuisines Commonly Making Cardamom Dishes

The native place of cardamom is India; hence Indian cuisine makes wide variety of cardamom dishes. In India, cardamom is also extensively used in ‘festive’ dishes. Pulses, meat dishes, rice dishes and sweet dishes; almost all Indian dishes include cardamom seeds for flavoring. Even beverages and drinks are also flavored with cardamom.

Northern European and Northern Atlantic countries also consume various baked cardamom dishes. Cuisine of Finland, Denmark and Norway are popular among these. Middle Eastern and Pakistani cuisines are also not far behind in using cardamom. Russians use cardamom in flavoring liquors. 

Preferred Methods for Cooking Cardamom Dishes

Cardamom is a spice ingredient that is used in sweet as well as savory dishes. Here are the methods that are used to make several cardamom dishes:

• Grounded – cardamom seeds are grounded and added to various dishes such as puddings, sweets and drinks. Grounded cardamom is an essential component in making Indian ‘garam masala’.

• Baked – Cardamom dishes such as cookies, cakes, muffins and breads are baked and well-liked in international cuisines.

• Boiled – Tea, coffee and other hot and cold beverages are often made with cardamom seeds while boiling.

Nutritive Value of Cardamom

Apart from being an aromatic flavoring agent, cardamom has many nutritional and medicinal properties as well. Here are some of them:

• Cardamom is a rich source of calcium and potassium. Magnesium and phosphorous are also present in abundance in cardamom.

• Zinc, copper and iron are also some of the nutrients that are found in cardamom.

• As far as health benefits are concerned, consumption of cardamom dishes provides relief in constipation and in other digestive problems.

• Cardamom is also an effective remedy in treating gum infections. 

• In traditional medicines, cardamom was added to give relief from throat and lung congestion problems.

Buying and Storing Cardamom

Here are few points that should be kept in mind while buying cardamom:

• Always buy whole cardamoms. Seeds without pods are not suitable for buying.

• Powdered cardamom is not an ideal choice as it may loose the aroma and fragrance very soon.

• It is better to buy cardamoms that have fresh aroma and also look fresh.

• Cardamoms should be kept in an airtight jar so that its effective aroma doesn’t mix with other spices.

• Seeds should remain inside the pod until used.

• Cooked cardamom dishes should be kept covered until served so that they do not loose the flavor.

Types of Cardamom

Usually, cardamom has three varieties that are described below:

• Elettaria – Generally, known as small or green cardamom. 

• Amomum – This variety is also known as black cardamom. It is basically used as a spice.

• Aframomum – It is also called Madagascar cardamom and mainly used in African cuisine.

Cardamom Trivia

• Cardamom is as expensive as saffron and vanilla,  and is one of the highly expensive spices throughout the world.

• In some ancient tales, cardamom is considered as a ‘spice of paradise’.