A Cardamom Primer
Cardamom is a "spice of many colors" - it's hard to figure out. It is used worldwide in both savory and sweet cooking. It isn't cheap - and beware of its less expensive (and less flavorful) cousin sold as "black" cardamom.Indian cooking employs cardamom in curries; all over the Middle East it is used to flavor coffee, and Scandinavians use it (bleached white whole pods, mostly) in baked goods, particularly at Christmas time. At Lula's for Lunch...and More! Catering, we use cardamom as a "secret" ingredient in many savory as well as sweet dishes...Cardamom can sell for upwards of $60/pound for the good stuff - Whole, Fancy Green Pods. You will more likely find the ground inner seeds (Ground Cardamom) in your every day grocery store, for about the same price per pound - so look to spend about $8-10 for a jar...if you're paying less, you're probably getting the "not so fancy" black cousin. It will not impart the depth or mystery that the good stuff does. Happy Cooking! - Lula
Lori Pierce (Lula)
Lula's for Lunch...and More! Catering
859-360-0251 (p,f)