My daughter has a project. Is there something that can be substituted for cardamon in case I can't find it??

Question

She has to make a dish from Afganistan and all the dessert recipes I can find call for cardamon, which I haven't been able to find.

Answer 1

Cardamon can usually be found in any spice aisle at the grocery stores. However, if you absolutely can't find it (and you might try a "world market" or ethinic store in the area), I would just leave it out all together. It honestly doesn't add that much to the recipe.

Answer 2

If you really can't find Cardamon pods, or powder, try buying some Cardamon infused Tea. Steep the tea bags in what ever liquid you need for the recipe. You'll pick up a nice Cardamon flavor, and just a slight Tea flavor.

I'd use the real deal, if you can find it, but if you can't, an infusion will work just as well.

Answer 3

I'm guessing that the recipes you are using also call for milk and also possibly grain. These dishes traditionally call for cardamom (also written as cardamon sometimes) because this spice has digestive properties for the body that specifically help with the digestion of milk. Therefore, if your recipes use milk, you might try ordering it online because it will taste better and the people who eat it will feel better in theory.

However, if you don't have time to wait for the mail, I would make a good go of it with cinnamon and powdered ginger and maybe a hint of nutmeg.

Good luck!

Answer 4

The name cardamom (sometimes written cardamon) is used for species within two genera of the ginger family.

CARDAMON (LOOG GRA-WAN) are small off-white capsules from a plant native to India, which contain black seeds. The seeds give off a cool, refreshing aroma and are used as a garnish for a special curry. Cardamon loses flavor very quickly.
Therefore it should be freshly ground each time it is used.

Answer 5

check out your local international food store for cardamon - it really does have a distinct flavor, and the dish will not be the same without it. there is no substitute. most likely it will come in pod form, to be toasted then ground, but you may find ground cardamon at the international food store.

Answer 6

With your daughter being as old as she is, I would ask her how she feels about it. It's kind of a good life lesson, really, in that even adults do things that aren't p.c. sometimes. Have a discussion with your daughter about why the teacher should not have "labeled" her, especially in front of her peers. Actually, I think all the kids are old enough to understand that what the teacher did was a "no-no". Once at the beginning of this school year my daughter, who has a flair for fashion, wore something to school that didn't break a single dress code rule, but just wasn't what you'd call "normal" school clothes. A volunteer working at the school that day was heading up a group of kids in the auditorium. She pulled my daughter aside and told her "you look like you're in a play. These are not appropriate school clothes" and even said it very judgmentally. My daughter and I had a great discussion about why what she said was not a fact, but her opinion, and that she did not have the right to judge what Ginny wore to school, as long as it didn't break any codes. I ask Ginny if she'd like me to report the person, and she said "No, Mom. I'll handle it." Hope this is helpful. I know it hurts you (probably worse than your daughter) but best to ask her what she wants you to do.

Answer 7

Actually I'd disagree with the above poster...I think it does have a distinct taste. Usually with cardamon you find other spices like cinnamon. If that is not one of your spices, I would put a touch of cinnamon in the dish.

Answer 8

Cardamon is from the same family as ginger.
It has a soft citric lemmon style flavor. so you may use a bit of ginger, or lemmon zest.

Answer 9

Cardamom is so unique and fantastic in taste and aroma it's really hard to substitute. Indian markets always carry it, ground or whole green or black pods. Another option might be a natural foods store or high-end supermarket.

Answer 10

Ground Ginger.