There are a lot of spices that you can use in your cooking, but cardamom pods are one of the most unique and flavorful. This is a spice that has been used for thousands of years, and for good reason. We love using it to make our coffee or tea taste better, or even to add a kick to our favorite cookie recipe! Here are 15 ways to use cardamom pods!

1. Pumpkin Spice Lattes

Cardamom pods have a great flavor that works well with pumpkin, so try adding some to your pumpkin spice latte! You can also use this spice in other drinks like chai tea or hot cocoa. What a great way to warm up during the winter months 🙂

2. Cookies and Pastries

Ground cardamom seeds can be used in any kind of cookie recipe; it adds an amazing flavor! We especially love adding this spice to our snickerdoodles because they already have cinnamon, which pairs well with cardamom pods. Plus these cookies will smell delicious while they’re baking in the oven 🙂

3. Cake Frosting Recipe

Add ground cardamom seeds to your favorite cake frosting recipe for an extra kick of flavor! This spice works well on all types of cakes but

Cardamom is a spice that’s been around for thousands of years, originating in the rainforests of India. It was used in Ancient Egypt not only as a spice and medicine, but also as a perfume. Cardamom is still used today in both food and drink, such as chai tea or Scandinavian breads, and even as a breath freshener!

In this blog post I will discuss 15 different ways to use cardamom pods. I’ll cover how to crack them open, how to store them, and what dishes to use them in. Let’s get started!

1. Add a few pods to your pumpkin pie or spice cake recipes.

2. Sprinkle into your coffee grounds before brewing for a subtle yet flavorful, homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte.

3. Make your own chai tea!

4. Blend into smoothies for an unexpected flavor twist!

5. Place a few pods in your brown sugar container to infuse your baked goods with a warm, spicy aroma and taste.

6. Use as an all-natural breath freshener by chewing on the pod like gum!

7. Infuse vodka with cardamom pods and use to make cocktails or bloody marys!

8. Add a few pods to your rice while it is cooking for an exotic bite!

9. Add whole cardamom pods to rice pudding recipes for an unusual burst of flavor in each bite!

10. Grind up and use as a rub for meat or fish dishes (especially lamb).

11. Place inside the cavity of a chicken before roasting for another twist on traditional poultry seasonings.

12. Brew up a batch of cardamom tea using both the pod and seeds from the pod, which can be found in any Indian market or online at World Spice Merchants (http://www.world

Cardamom is a spice that I have been using for years in Indian cooking. But, let me tell you, it is much more than just a spice to go in curry! There are many uses for cardamom pods and I am going to show you how you can use it in your cooking.

1. Add cardamom pods to your coffee grounds before brewing to give your java that little extra something special.

2. Brew cardamom pods in hot water to make chai tea, add milk and a little sugar if desired.

3. Make pumpkin spice lattes using my recipe from the blog Daydream Kitchen by adding 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom to the latte mixture along with the other spices and follow the heating instructions as directed.

4. Make a yummy chai ice cream by boiling 1 cup of heavy cream with 2 tablespoons crushed green cardamom pods and 4 tablespoons of loose black tea (or 4 tea bags). Simmer for 5 minutes and then allow to cool before straining the mixture into a bowl and then refrigerating until cold. Then, follow your ice cream maker’s instructions for freezing!

5. Add crushed cardamom pods directly

A few days ago, I posted a recipe for a homemade pumpkin spice latte. In it, I mentioned that the recipe called for cardamom pods. Since I posted that, several people have asked me what cardamom is and where they could find it. So today, let’s talk a little bit about cardamom and some of my favorite uses for it!

Cardamom comes from the seeds of a plant in the ginger family. It has been used for thousands of years as both a medicinal herb and a cooking spice. The flavor of cardamom is warm, minty and slightly sweet. It is one of the most expensive spices in the world, mainly due to how labor intensive it is to harvest. Cardamom is native to India but also grows in other tropical countries such as Sri Lanka, Guatemala and Tanzania.

Cardamom is commonly used in Indian cuisine and Scandinavian baking. But I also like to use it in coffee and tea, rice dishes, cookies and cakes. If you are having trouble finding cardamom pods at your local grocery store, try an Indian or Middle Eastern market or online at Amazon or Penzeys.*

Cardamom is a spice with a sweet, minty-like aroma and warm, slightly bitter flavor. It comes from the seeds of the cardamom plant and its use dates back thousands of years. Sometimes referred to as “the queen of spices,” cardamom is popular in many parts of the world, including the Middle East and India.

Cardamom pods are typically sold whole with their seeds still inside. Indian cooks often add whole pods to dishes such as curries or pilafs and remove them before serving. The pods are also used in tea blends, coffee, chai and mulled wine.

The seeds can be removed from the pod by crushing the pod lightly with a mallet or rolling pin. They can then be ground in a spice grinder before using or added to foods whole.

Cardamom is an ingredient in many Indian spice blends such as garam masala, baharat and ras el hanout. It is most likely one of the spices you find in pumpkin pie spice and chai tea blends as well.

In addition to tasting great, this medicinal herb has been linked to digestive benefits and contains antioxidant properties that help fight free radicals in your body.

Yield: 1 drink

Ingredients

8 ounces strong black tea

1 cup milk, any kind you like (I used vanilla soy)

1 tablespoon pumpkin puree

¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

¼ teaspoon ground cardamom

⅛ teaspoon ground cloves

Pinch of nutmeg

2 tablespoons maple syrup, divided (or use brown sugar or sweetener of choice)

Instructions

Add pumpkin, spices and 1 tablespoon maple syrup to a mug and stir. Heat the tea and milk in a small saucepan or in the microwave until hot. Pour into the mug and stir. Top with a drizzle of maple syrup (or add more, to taste).