What is cardamom powder, elaichi powder?

Ground cardamom is very fine, almost like a powder. It is a common ingredient in Indian cooking. While cardamom is one of the most expensive spices by weight, only a little of its powder is needed to impart its flavour to a dish.

To make cardamom powder, first crack the pods and remove the seeds. Then grind them finely or coarsely. The skins are either discarded or mixed into tea leaves, to give a faint fragrance to the tea. When making slightly larger quantities of crushed cardamom in a spice grinder or mixer, some people like to crush it with the pods in order to ensure a better grind and to prevent the powder from caking.

How to Select cardamom powder, elaichi powder

• If making cardamom powder at home, choose the greener cardamoms as they have the best flavour and aroma.

• If buying readymade, choose a tightly-sealed package, and check the use-by date to ensure freshness.

• Avoid old stocks, as ground cardamom tends to lose its flavour and aroma soon.

Culinary Uses of cardamom powder, elaichi powder

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10 Indian desserts using cardamom powder

The most common use of cardamom powder would be to flavor desserts. In India almost all sweets have a hint of cardamom in them which makes them so rich in taste. It is added in sweets that are served at festivals like

1. Moong dal sheera : This coarse-textured, hot sweet takes a long time to cook—as slow cooking with continuous stirring is a must for this recipe—but is definitely a rewarding effort! soak the saffron in warm milk for at least 20 minutes as it adds colour and enhances the aroma.

2. One of the most well-known of Gujarati desserts, Lapsi (fada ni lapsi | dalia sheera) is a very appealing sweet dish of roasted and cooked broken wheat sweetened with sugar and flavoured pleasantly with cardamom powder. Roasting the broken wheat in ghee gives the Gujarati broken wheat sweet a rich brown colour, intense aroma and nice flavour.

3. Shrikhand | It is simply amazing how the humble dahi transforms into a mouth-watering shrikhand dessert in just a few simple steps. Here is the easiest and best way to make yummy shrikhand out of everyday curds. It does not even require any cooking.

4. And its different varieties like Kesar Kulfi Falooda because of the unique taste it provides.

5. Besan ladoo : besan ladoo is one of the most popular mithai in Indian cuisine. It might be known by various names, but this delicious laddoos of spiced and sweetened besan is famous all over the country.

6. Malai Kulfi : Of the many varieties of kulfi, this traditional Malai Kulfi stands out with an extra rich and intense flavour and creaminess, all thanks to the slow but rewarding process of condensing full-fat milk till it gets an irresistible texture and aroma.

7. Basundi

8. Rice kheer : There are innumerable varieties of kheer, and one or the other is prepared for every puja, festival or wedding. Rice kheer is undoubtedly the King of Kheers! It is made all over India. Known as Paal Payasam in South India, it is a must-serve item at weddings.

9. Atta ka sheera

10. Malai Peda : One of the most well-known of Indian mithai, the Malai Peda is as rich as a sweet can get. A special process of curdling full-fat milk turns it into a richly textured product like khoya, which when flavoured with cardamom and saffron becomes an intensely aromatic dessert that nobody can resist.

Cardamom powder is widely used in Indian sweet dishes, ice creams, milk specialities, and hot masala milk.

• It adds flavour and aroma to many rice dishes, vegetables and other richly-flavoured dishes.

• It is used as a traditional flavouring in coffee and tea.

How to Store cardamom powder, elaichi powder

• Ground cardamom tends to lose its flavour and aroma soon as it loses its volatile oils.

• Hence, prepare in small quantities and store in an airtight jar in a cool, dry place.

• Also, a small amount of it can be stored in a bottle for daily use and the rest can be kept in a refrigerator.

• It is best used within three months.

Health Benefits of cardamom powder, elaichi powder

• It stimulates the digestive system and reduces gas.

• Its expectorant action improves circulation to the lungs and thus considered good for asthma and bronchitis.

• Can counteract excess acidity in the stomach.