Can I use green cardamomm pods and ground cardamom interchangeably?
I have some green cardamom and would like to use it in dishes such as Indian-style rice pudding. Can it be used in place of the standard ground cardamom bought in an American grocery store?
Best Answer
If by green you mean green cardamom pods, the short answer is yes. You will have to remove the outer green shell and grind the black seeds inside. The black powder available in stores is made from the same black seeds. It is always preferable to grind cardamom seeds fresh because ground cardamom tends to lose flavor with time.
I get an acceptable result if I grind the seeds with a mortar and pestle.
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Can I substitute ground cardamom for green cardamom pods?
There's nothing to it. One cardamom pod is the equivalent of 1/6 teaspoon of ground cardamom. That means you'll need to buy six pods for every teaspoon of cardamom that your recipe calls for. If the recipe calls for one teaspoon of cardamom, start with a quarter teaspoon of cloves and quarter teaspoon cinnamon.Is green cardamom the same as ground cardamom?
If you're using green cardamom in a recipe, ideally you'd start with whole cardamom pods. If you buy ground cardamom (i.e. cardamom powder) from the spice section, it won't be as flavorful since the essential oils of the cardamom seed will lose their flavor relatively quickly after the seeds are ground.Can you replace cardamom pods with powder?
If you don't have cardamon pods you can use one of these substitutes: For 10 whole cardamom pods substitute 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom. OR - For an alternate flavor use 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon. OR - Combine 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon + 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg.When grinding cardamom do you use the pods?
Simply squeeze the pods and remove the seeds. Place them in the mortar (bowl) and begin to grind the seeds with the pestle. Continue grinding until the seeds are ground down to a fine powder and then proceed with your recipe.How to use cardamom pods
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Answer 2
There is a caveat: Some green cardamom powders have a strong greenish colouring effect that can be avoided by using the pods cracked but whole.
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