Candied Ginger

Sometimes I love to have a piece of candied ginger when I have ate too much. By chance I saw Alton Brown on TV showing how to make candied ginger, something which I will buy from the Chinese Medical Shop.   Then I thought, if we can make candied orange peel [quite similar to keat paeng] at home, perhaps I can also try candied ginger.  To know 'what is crystallized ginger?' check it out here.

Today, I saw a box of very fresh young ginger roots at the vegetable stall in the wet market.  I bought some to make these candied ginger.

Recipe Source - Candied Ginger from Alton Brown

Ingredients - Small Portion

250 gm young ginger roots - scrape the skin/peeled

1 and 1/2 cup water

200 gm sugar

1. Peel the ginger root and slice into 1/2 cm thick slices.
2. Place ginger and water in a saucepan. Bring to boil over medium heat and cover to cook for about 35 minutes or until ginger is tender.
3. Transfer the ginger to a colander to drain, reserving 30 ml of the cooking liquid.  Weigh the ginger and measure out an equal amount of sugar.  
4. Return the ginger and liquid to the saucepan.  Add in the sugar.  Bring to boil over medium heat, stirring frequently.  
5. Reduce the heat to low and cook until the sugar syrup looks dry [has almost evaporated and begins to re-crystallize, approximately 20-25 minutes.
6. Transfer the ginger immediately to the cooling rack and spread to separate the individual pieces.
7. Once cool, store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks or more.
   
   
   
   
   

Information on Uses of Candied Ginger or Crystallized Ginger from this site
Crystallized Ginger – dried slices of natural ginger root, cured and coated in sugar. Here are 10 great ideas for putting this sweet, spicy and comforting ingredient to work in your kitchen:

1. Chop and add to batter for cookies, such as ginger snaps, or quick breads like gingerbread, orange bread or banana bread.
2. Melt butter with diced Crystallized Ginger, fresh lemon juice and sliced green onions in a saucepan. Spoon over hot rice and serve with chicken or fish.
3. Sprinkle finely chopped pieces as a finishing touch on apple pie a la mode or a whipped cream-topped brownie.
4. Combine diced Crystallized Ginger with nuts, brown sugar and spices for a baked apple or pear filling.
5. Add chunks to a stir-fry for a sweet and spicy bite.
6. Dip Crystallized Ginger pieces in melted chocolate. Let cool and serve as a special after dinner treat.
7. Add to water and sugar mixture to make ginger-infused simple syrup. Strain before adding to drinks, such as iced tea.
8. Sprinkle diced Crystallized Ginger into fruit salad for a spicy, zesty flavor lift.
9. Add to a homemade cranberry sauce with orange zest.
10. Or, just snack on this sweet treat right out of the package. Crystallized Ginger is especially helpful for calming the stomach while traveling.