7 Ways With Ginger

Long revered as a medicinal remedy, ginger is used in some cultures to relieve nausea and upset stomachs, and features in many types of dishes. This pungent root comes in many forms—fresh, crystallized, and ground—but they all add a special flavor to everything from cookies to soups.

Fresh minced ginger simmers with cranberry juice to build an underlying base for this sweet-spicy brew that's perfect for cold winter nights. Lime juice and sugar are then stirred in to add a tart-sweet note that brightens flavor.Recipe: Hot Cranberry-Ginger Punch

Flavored with both ground and crystallized ginger these spicy little cookies are bound to disappear fast. If you don't have crystallized ginger, check out the guidelines for substituting powdered ginger.Recipe: Ginger Crinkles

Not your typical upside down cake, this one showcases a deeply spiced cake rich with ground ginger, cinnamon, and molasses. Delicate Bosc pears melt into a mixture of sugar, butter, and sweet crystallized ginger to make a glorious cake top.Recipe: Pear and Ginger Upside-Down Cake

Sesame oil and rice wine vinegar help soften the pungent flavor of ground ginger and mustard to make a stand-out vinaigrette for this simple side salad. Fresh or canned mandarin oranges and buttery slices of avocado add contrasting color and flavor.Recipe: Romaine Salad with Mandarins and Asian Dressing

Possibly one the fastest meals on the planet, this seven-ingredient stir fry uses minced fresh ginger, minced garlic, and chopped green onions to punch up the flavor of shrimp. Serve it over cooked rice, rice noodles or soba.Recipe: Ginger-Garlic Shrimp

In just 30 minutes, grouper simmers in a broth laced with minced fresh ginger, chilies and Asian vegetables to build a soul-satisfying one-bowl dinner. If you can't find grouper, use another firm white fish such as cod, halibut or tilapia.Recipe: Braised Grouper with Ginger, Shiitake Mushrooms, and Chiles

Caramelized onions and sautéed ginger help round out the sweetness of pumpkin in this long simmering soup. Pie spices (ground ginger, cloves, nutmeg and cardamom), and a finishing touch of melted brown ginger butter, elevate flavor another notch.Recipe: Spiced Pumpkin Soup with Ginger Browned Butter

Watch this video and see how to mince and grate fresh ginger.