Black cardamom is a flowering plant of the Ginger family. It looks similar to ginger tree but it is much bigger. Trees can be up to 2 – 3m tall, trunk diameter can be up to 4cm. The fruit grows in the root into red clusters. Normally, people mainly collect seeds, each of which contains about 20 seeds. The seeds have a characteristic aroma because it contains up to 1.5% essential oil.
1. Ways to choose
Currently, in Vietnam and in the world there are two types: Red Cardamom and Green Cardamom. Red Cardamom is the familiar type of Vietnam , because of its aromatic and pungent properties. But its productivity is not high and it is easy to die when it is cold. Green cardamom is a type of cardamom from India. It is not fragrant and its quality is inferior.
Red Cardamom’s fruit grows on the ground. It has a characteristic red color and belongs to the Ginger Zingiberaceae. This plant depends on the humidity and temperature. If they change, it will quickly die. After being harvested, it will be dried for storage so many types of cardamom on the market will be black, but doing so will have a smoky smell and lose the familiar aroma.
2. Nutrients of cardamom
The main chemical composition is essential oil (1-1.5%).
Cardamom contains a large number of nutrients such as: Carbohydrates; protein; fiber; vitamins such as vitamin C, niacin, pyridoxine, riboflavin and thiamin; minerals like phosphorus, copper, iron, calcium, magnesium, manganese and zinc; essential oils (volatile oils) …
Black cardamom
3. Ways to use cardamom in cooking
The part used to make medicine is its seeds. In winter (November, December, or January), people pick ripe fruits, bring them to dry, then remove the pods to get seeds.
Cardamom is an herb that is widely used in many dishes. Thanks to its aromatic, sweet and spicy properties, cardamom is considered as the “queen” of spices. Cardamom is distilled into essential oils for flavoring and spice in dishes and for making candies.
3.1. Stewed pork ribs with black cardamom
a. Materials
300 g of pork ribs; 80 g of lotus root; 80 g of tubers; 80 g carrots; 1 cardamom fruit; 1 teaspoon of wolfberries.
b. Ways to make
Step 1: Pork ribs are stewed for 2 hours to soften and remove bubbles.
Step 2: Add the cardamom to the pot.
Step 3: Peel lotus root and carrots
Step 4: When the broth is finished, pour the vegetables to boil again for 10 minutes;
3.2. Vietnamese beef noodle
a. Materials
2kg of cow bones; 500g of beef; 5 star anise petals; 3 cardamom fruits; 1 piece of cinnamon; 4 shallots; 1 ginger root; 1kg of noodles; 1/2 onion.
b. Ways to make
Step 1: Wash beef bones with salt and alcohol.
Step 2: After adding water to the pot, fill the bones with water and simmer for at least 2 hours. Then you can also let beef to boil softly is you want to eat cooked beef.
Roast ginger, dried onions, cardamom, anise and cinnamon and then wash.
Put all the roasted ingredients into a pot of boiling broth, simmer for at least an hour then addsome spices.
Step 3:
Scald out noodles and then put into bowl.
Arrange the beef on top, pour the hot broth and sprinkle onions and herbs.
