People have been eating it for thousands of years, yet still no one can tell me why it should be peeled. So I don’t, and neither should you.
“It” being fresh ginger, the gnarly brown root that lives amongst the grocer’s Asian produce. And the flavor is so much better than dried, you must get to know it.
Fresh ginger packs tons of warm, pungent, peppery flavor that works so well with meats and vegetables.
Though they can be used interchangeably, the flavor of fresh ginger is more pronounced than dried, sporting heavy citrus, even acidic notes. In Asia, fresh ginger is an essential part of numerous classic dishes, including stir-fries, soups, sauces and marinades, as well as Indian curries.
When cooking with fresh ginger, keep in mind a couple of things.
First, cooking mellows the flavor. So if you want to really taste it, add some ginger at the beginning of cooking, and a bit more at the end.
Second, the strength of the ginger can vary widely by the piece. So if you’re looking for a serious hit of ginger, taste it before you add it.
Now, about that peeling. Watch cooking shows and read recipes, and you’ll be told again and again to peel your ginger before chopping, slicing or grating it. I have no idea why. The skin is entirely edible and doesn’t change the flavor. So save yourself the time and effort, and just use your ginger as is.
And the best tool for the job is a wand-style grater, such as a Microplane. These graters quickly reduce ginger root to fine shavings or pulp ideal for cooking.
When shopping for fresh ginger, look for firm, tan roots with no signs of mold or shriveling. It can be stored in the refrigerator for several weeks. But I prefer to freeze my fresh ginger. Frozen ginger lasts for months and is easier to grate than fresh.
Ginger-orange chicken cutlets
1cup orange juice
12-inch chunk fresh ginger
1clove garlic
1teaspoon salt
2boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/2cup all-purpose flour
1teaspoon garlic powder
1egg
1 1/4cups panko breadcrumbs
1/4cup heavy cream
In a blender, combine the orange juice, ginger, garlic and salt. Puree until smooth, then set aside.
Carefully slice each chicken breast in half horizontally to create 2 thin halves. Place the chicken in a zip-close plastic bag, then add the orange juice mixture. Refrigerate the chicken for at least 30 minutes.
When ready to cook, heat the oven to 400 degrees. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray.
In a wide, shallow bowl, mix together the flour and garlic powder. Beat the egg in a second bowl, and pour the panko into a third.
One at a time, remove the chicken pieces from the marinade, reserving the marinade. Dredge each piece of chicken first through the flour, then the egg, then the panko. Arrange them on the prepared baking sheet.
Spritz the tops of the chicken with cooking spray, then bake for 25 minutes.
Meanwhile, transfer the marinade to a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil and cook for 3 minutes. Stir in the cream.
Serve the chicken with the sauce.
Makes 4 servings. Per serving: 340 calories; 70 calories from fat (21 percent of total calories); 8 g fat (4 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 100 mg cholesterol; 46 g carbohydrate; 21 g protein; 1 g fiber; 620 mg sodium.
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