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Galangal root...

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General fitness, health and nutrition
Published
26 March 2005
Last activity
30 March 2005
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Katra
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  1. Wierd.

    It's available fresh in the produce section at the asian market and a
    woman there told me it was similar in flavor to ginger and was most
    commonly used in roast duck marinades...

    I just did a quick google search looking for uses, and I mostly got hits
    for Metaphysical and some medicinal uses for it!

    Anyone here ever cooked with it? Would I prepare it like I do ginger?
    For fresh ginger, I usually grate it, or slice it and toss it in the
    food processer with some other marinade spices and liquids to get a
    finely minced result.

    Works for both marinades and stir fry's.

    Any precautions for using Galangal root?
    If it's an herbal medicinal, I'd tend be cautious with it!!!

    --
    K.

    Sprout the Mung Bean to reply...

    There is no need to change the world. All we have to do is toilet train the world and we'll never have to change it again. -- Swami Beyondanada

    Quoted message said:

    ,,<Cat's Haven Hobby Farm>,,<Katraatcenturyteldotnet>,,<

    http://cgi6.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewSellersOtherItems&include=0&userid=katra

  2. "Katra" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    Wierd.

    It's available fresh in the produce section at the asian market and a
    woman there told me it was similar in flavor to ginger and was most
    commonly used in roast duck marinades...

    I just did a quick google search looking for uses, and I mostly got hits
    for Metaphysical and some medicinal uses for it!

    Anyone here ever cooked with it? Would I prepare it like I do ginger?
    For fresh ginger, I usually grate it, or slice it and toss it in the
    food processer with some other marinade spices and liquids to get a
    finely minced result.

    Works for both marinades and stir fry's.

    Any precautions for using Galangal root?
    If it's an herbal medicinal, I'd tend be cautious with it!!!

    --

    use it like ginger, though it has a different flavour, a bit like camphor.
    It may have medicinal properties, then name a herb or spice that hasn't, at
    some, been suggested as the cure for anything. Just try it, especially in SE
    Asian cooking, its a component of Thai curry pastes. Hope you enjoy it.
    cheers
    Wazza

  3. Katra said:

    Wierd.

    It's available fresh in the produce section at the asian market and a
    woman there told me it was similar in flavor to ginger and was most
    commonly used in roast duck marinades...

    I just did a quick google search looking for uses, and I mostly got hits
    for Metaphysical and some medicinal uses for it!

    Anyone here ever cooked with it? Would I prepare it like I do ginger?
    For fresh ginger, I usually grate it, or slice it and toss it in the
    food processer with some other marinade spices and liquids to get a
    finely minced result.

    Works for both marinades and stir fry's.

    Any precautions for using Galangal root?
    If it's an herbal medicinal, I'd tend be cautious with it!!!


    I wouldn't just use it like ginger. Look for Indonesian, Thai,
    and other SE Asian recipes that incorporate this. Interestingly
    (to me, anyway), this was used in medieval Europe and then seems
    to have gotten lost to westerners until we started having access
    to more exotic cuisines and their ingredients.

    --
    Jean B.

  4. Jean B. said:
    Quoted message said:


    I wouldn't just use it like ginger. Look for Indonesian, Thai,
    and other SE Asian recipes that incorporate this. [snip]

    I agree with this. The taste is similar to ginger but different enough
    not to be interchangeable, imho. Also, if you use slices of it they
    are more fibrous--less edible--when cooked than ginger slices. -aem

  5. aem said:
    Jean B. said:
    Quoted message said:


    I wouldn't just use it like ginger. Look for Indonesian, Thai,
    and other SE Asian recipes that incorporate this. [snip]

    I agree with this. The taste is similar to ginger but different enough
    not to be interchangeable, imho. Also, if you use slices of it they
    are more fibrous--less edible--when cooked than ginger slices. -aem

    It is also available frozen in Asian markets...

    --
    Best
    Greg

  6. "Katra" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    Wierd.

    It's available fresh in the produce section at the asian market and a
    woman there told me it was similar in flavor to ginger and was most
    commonly used in roast duck marinades...

    I just did a quick google search looking for uses, and I mostly got hits
    for Metaphysical and some medicinal uses for it!

    Anyone here ever cooked with it? Would I prepare it like I do ginger?
    For fresh ginger, I usually grate it, or slice it and toss it in the
    food processer with some other marinade spices and liquids to get a
    finely minced result.

    Works for both marinades and stir fry's.

    Any precautions for using Galangal root?
    If it's an herbal medicinal, I'd tend be cautious with it!!!

    --
    K.

    Sprout the Mung Bean to reply...

    There is no need to change the world. All we have to do is toilet train


    the world and we'll never have to change it again. -- Swami Beyondanada

    Quoted message said:


    Quoted message said:

    ,,<Cat's Haven Hobby Farm>,,<Katraatcenturyteldotnet>,,<


    http://cgi6.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewSellersOtherItems&include=0&userid
    =katra

    In my Indonesian recipe book it is called "Kentjur". And described as the
    root of the Kamferia Galanga. To quote the book, Cooking the Indonesian Way
    by Alec Robeau: "Sometimes available in powdered form. Although a real
    substitute is not available I have used Chinese Five Spice which is freely
    available in Chinese stores. If you use Five Spice use it sparingly."

    Under "Laos" it states: "Root of the Greater Galingale." No further
    description.

    I have laos in powder form and on the little bottle it is described as
    galangal powder. "Laos has a pleasant flavor, suitable for Oriental dishes,
    stews, meat etc: Laos, djahe, djintan, ketoembar and koenjit are the 5 basic
    spices used in Oriental cuisine."

    Hope this helps.

    Elly

  7. "Katra" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    Wierd.

    It's available fresh in the produce section at the asian market and a
    woman there told me it was similar in flavor to ginger and was most
    commonly used in roast duck marinades...

    I just did a quick google search looking for uses, and I mostly got hits
    for Metaphysical and some medicinal uses for it!

    Anyone here ever cooked with it? Would I prepare it like I do ginger?
    For fresh ginger, I usually grate it, or slice it and toss it in the
    food processer with some other marinade spices and liquids to get a
    finely minced result.

    Works for both marinades and stir fry's.

    Any precautions for using Galangal root?
    If it's an herbal medicinal, I'd tend be cautious with it!!!

    --
    K.

    Try searching by "Laos powder" and you might get a few more recipe hits.
    BTW, Penzey's seels this dried.

    -T

  8. In article <[email hidden]>,

    Wazza said:

    "Katra" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    Wierd.

    It's available fresh in the produce section at the asian market and a
    woman there told me it was similar in flavor to ginger and was most
    commonly used in roast duck marinades...

    I just did a quick google search looking for uses, and I mostly got hits
    for Metaphysical and some medicinal uses for it!

    Anyone here ever cooked with it? Would I prepare it like I do ginger?
    For fresh ginger, I usually grate it, or slice it and toss it in the
    food processer with some other marinade spices and liquids to get a
    finely minced result.

    Works for both marinades and stir fry's.

    Any precautions for using Galangal root?
    If it's an herbal medicinal, I'd tend be cautious with it!!!

    --

    use it like ginger, though it has a different flavour, a bit like camphor.
    It may have medicinal properties, then name a herb or spice that hasn't, at
    some, been suggested as the cure for anything. Just try it, especially in SE
    Asian cooking, its a component of Thai curry pastes. Hope you enjoy it.
    cheers
    Wazza

    Thanks! :-)
    I did some further googling and this time specified "recipes" and it
    says it's slightly stronger. The root I have it starting to go bad, so
    I'm going to go ahead and trim it, then freeze it.

    I might go ahead and do a duck with it next weekend when I have time.
    --
    K.

  9. In article <[email hidden]>, "Jean B." <[email hidden]>

    Quoted message said:
    Katra said:

    Wierd.

    It's available fresh in the produce section at the asian market and a
    woman there told me it was similar in flavor to ginger and was most
    commonly used in roast duck marinades...

    I just did a quick google search looking for uses, and I mostly got hits
    for Metaphysical and some medicinal uses for it!

    Anyone here ever cooked with it? Would I prepare it like I do ginger?
    For fresh ginger, I usually grate it, or slice it and toss it in the
    food processer with some other marinade spices and liquids to get a
    finely minced result.

    Works for both marinades and stir fry's.

    Any precautions for using Galangal root?
    If it's an herbal medicinal, I'd tend be cautious with it!!!


    I wouldn't just use it like ginger. Look for Indonesian, Thai,
    and other SE Asian recipes that incorporate this. Interestingly
    (to me, anyway), this was used in medieval Europe and then seems
    to have gotten lost to westerners until we started having access
    to more exotic cuisines and their ingredients.

    I love the asian market...
    I try to fine a "new" food every time I go there that I've not tried yet.
    That is how I discovered how good "vieled lady" mushrooms were in soups!

    I plan to google for a Thai duck recipe using it and go from there.

    Thanks!
    --
    K.

  10. In article <[email hidden]>,

    aem said:
    Jean B. said:
    Quoted message said:


    I wouldn't just use it like ginger. Look for Indonesian, Thai,
    and other SE Asian recipes that incorporate this. [snip]

    I agree with this. The taste is similar to ginger but different enough
    not to be interchangeable, imho. Also, if you use slices of it they
    are more fibrous--less edible--when cooked than ginger slices. -aem

    So fine processing (grating) would be the best way to handle it?
    --
    K.

  11. In article <[email hidden]>,

    George Beasley said:

    In my Indonesian recipe book it is called "Kentjur". And described as the
    root of the Kamferia Galanga. To quote the book, Cooking the Indonesian Way
    by Alec Robeau: "Sometimes available in powdered form. Although a real
    substitute is not available I have used Chinese Five Spice which is freely
    available in Chinese stores. If you use Five Spice use it sparingly."

    Under "Laos" it states: "Root of the Greater Galingale." No further
    description.

    I have laos in powder form and on the little bottle it is described as
    galangal powder. "Laos has a pleasant flavor, suitable for Oriental dishes,
    stews, meat etc: Laos, djahe, djintan, ketoembar and koenjit are the 5 basic
    spices used in Oriental cuisine."

    Hope this helps.

    Elly

    Thank you! :-)
    I'd planned on going ahead and processing and freezing it, but I wonder
    how much difference their would be in flavor if I dried and powdered
    some?

    I know there is a _world_ of difference between dried and fresh ginger
    root!
    --
    K.

  12. In article <[email hidden]>,

    skoonj said:

    "Katra" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    Wierd.

    It's available fresh in the produce section at the asian market and a
    woman there told me it was similar in flavor to ginger and was most
    commonly used in roast duck marinades...

    I just did a quick google search looking for uses, and I mostly got hits
    for Metaphysical and some medicinal uses for it!

    Anyone here ever cooked with it? Would I prepare it like I do ginger?
    For fresh ginger, I usually grate it, or slice it and toss it in the
    food processer with some other marinade spices and liquids to get a
    finely minced result.

    Works for both marinades and stir fry's.

    Any precautions for using Galangal root?
    If it's an herbal medicinal, I'd tend be cautious with it!!!

    --
    K.

    Try searching by "Laos powder" and you might get a few more recipe hits.
    BTW, Penzey's sells this dried.

    -T

    Funny you should mention that. ;-)
    I ran across the Penzey's site when I was doing my searches!

    I'd never visited it before.
    --
    K.

  13. "Katra" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    In article <[email hidden]>,

    Wazza said:

    "Katra" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    Wierd.

    It's available fresh in the produce section at the asian market and a
    woman there told me it was similar in flavor to ginger and was most
    commonly used in roast duck marinades...

    I just did a quick google search looking for uses, and I mostly got


    hits

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    for Metaphysical and some medicinal uses for it!

    Anyone here ever cooked with it? Would I prepare it like I do ginger?
    For fresh ginger, I usually grate it, or slice it and toss it in the
    food processer with some other marinade spices and liquids to get a
    finely minced result.

    Works for both marinades and stir fry's.

    Any precautions for using Galangal root?
    If it's an herbal medicinal, I'd tend be cautious with it!!!

    --

    use it like ginger, though it has a different flavour, a bit like


    camphor.

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    It may have medicinal properties, then name a herb or spice that hasn't,


    at

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    some, been suggested as the cure for anything. Just try it, especially


    in SE

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    Asian cooking, its a component of Thai curry pastes. Hope you enjoy it.
    cheers
    Wazza

    Thanks! :-)
    I did some further googling and this time specified "recipes" and it
    says it's slightly stronger. The root I have it starting to go bad, so
    I'm going to go ahead and trim it, then freeze it.

    I might go ahead and do a duck with it next weekend when I have time.
    --


    the dried stuff is useless, nothing like the fresh stuff, its meant to be
    used fresh, or not at all, much like fresh root ginger. However, galagal is
    always (?) used in combination with other flavours like lemon grass, kaffir
    lime leaves and spices, so think how you are going to use it. Sometimes, its
    available in small packets with other Thai ingredients, this may be a better
    starting point. Hope you succeed, it is a special flavour.
    cheers
    Wazza

  14. "Katra" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    In article <[email hidden]>,

    George Beasley said:

    In my Indonesian recipe book it is called "Kentjur". And described as


    the

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    root of the Kamferia Galanga. To quote the book, Cooking the Indonesian


    Way

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    by Alec Robeau: "Sometimes available in powdered form. Although a real
    substitute is not available I have used Chinese Five Spice which is


    freely

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    available in Chinese stores. If you use Five Spice use it sparingly."

    Under "Laos" it states: "Root of the Greater Galingale." No further
    description.

    I have laos in powder form and on the little bottle it is described as
    galangal powder. "Laos has a pleasant flavor, suitable for Oriental


    dishes,

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    stews, meat etc: Laos, djahe, djintan, ketoembar and koenjit are the 5


    basic

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    spices used in Oriental cuisine."

    Hope this helps.

    Elly

    Thank you! :-)
    I'd planned on going ahead and processing and freezing it, but I wonder
    how much difference their would be in flavor if I dried and powdered
    some?

    I know there is a _world_ of difference between dried and fresh ginger
    root!
    --
    K.

    You are better off just freezing it in small portions. The loss of flavor
    and the work involved in drying, is not worth it. I have a little container
    of dried laos because I couldn't find the root. But now that you have found
    it, I will be looking for some too. :-) Let us know how you like it when you
    start using it in your cooking.

    Elly


  15. Quoted message said:

    Katra wrote:

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    Any precautions for using Galangal root?
    If it's an herbal medicinal, I'd tend be cautious with it!!!

    It is a root, not an herb. Try a google with galangal and recipe or
    galangal and thai. IME, anything rather aromatic is ascribed healing
    properties.

    Quoted message said:


    From delia smith's Winter Collection:

    Ingredients
    Main
    450 g cooked chicken , sliced into shreds
    600 ml coconut milk , you will need to buy two tins

    For the green curry paste
    8 green chillies , whole
    1 lemon grass stalk , 1 lemon grass stalk, sliced thinly and soaked for
    30 minutes in 2 tablespoons lime juice
    1 tsp kaffir lime peel , pared and thinly shredded
    7 pieces fresh galangal , Thai ginger
    1 tsp coriander stalks , chopped
    0.5 tsp cumin , roasted, ground
    0.5 tsp coriander seeds , roasted, ground
    3 garlic cloves
    5 Thai shallots , peeled, or normal shallots in not available
    1 tsp shrimp paste

    For the finished sauce
    4 tsp nam pla (Thai fish sauce)
    1 tsp palm sugar
    3 tsp fresh green peppercorns
    7 kaffir lime leaves
    0.5 mild red chilli , de-seeded and cut into hair-like shreds
    25 g Thai basil leaves

    The curry paste can be made well ahead of time and there’s absolutely no
    work involved if you have a food processor or a liquidiser because all
    you do is simply pop all the curry paste ingredients in and whiz it to a
    paste (stopping once or twice to push the mixture back down from the
    sides on to the blades). In Thailand, of course, all these would be
    pounded by hand with a pestle and mortar, but food processors do cut out
    all the hard work.

    What you need to end up with is a coarse paste but don’t worry if it
    doesn’t look very green – that’s because I have cut the chilli content;
    in Thailand they use about 35! If you want yours to be green, then this
    is the answer! Your next task is to prepare all the rest of the ingredients.

    To make the curry, first place the tins of coconut milk on a work
    surface, upside down. Then open them and inside you will see the whole
    thing has separated into thick cream and thin watery milk.

    Divide these by pouring the milk into one bowl and the cream into
    another. Next place a wok, without any oil in it, over a very high heat
    and then as soon as it becomes really hot, add three-quarters of the
    coconut cream.

    What you do now is literally fry it, stirring all the time so it doesn’t
    catch. What will happen is it will start to separate, the oil will begin
    to seep out and it will reduce. Ignore the curdled look – this is
    normal. You may also like to note that when the cream begins to separate
    you can actually hear it give off a crackling noise.

    Next add the curry paste and three-quarters of the coconut milk, which
    should be added a little at a time, keeping the heat high and letting it
    reduce down slightly. Stay with it and keep stirring to prevent it sticking.

    Then add the Thai fish sauce and palm sugar - stir these in and then add
    the chicken pieces and the peppercorns. Stir again and simmer everything
    for about 4-5 minutes until the chicken is heated through. Then just
    before serving, place the lime leaves one on top of the other, roll them
    up tightly and slice them into very fine shreds. Then add them along
    with the red chilli and torn basil leaves. Serve with Thai fragrant rice.

  16. George Beasley said:

    "Katra" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    Wierd.

    It's available fresh in the produce section at the asian market and a
    woman there told me it was similar in flavor to ginger and was most
    commonly used in roast duck marinades...

    I just did a quick google search looking for uses, and I mostly got hits
    for Metaphysical and some medicinal uses for it!

    Anyone here ever cooked with it? Would I prepare it like I do ginger?
    For fresh ginger, I usually grate it, or slice it and toss it in the
    food processer with some other marinade spices and liquids to get a
    finely minced result.

    Works for both marinades and stir fry's.

    Any precautions for using Galangal root?
    If it's an herbal medicinal, I'd tend be cautious with it!!!

    --
    K.

    Sprout the Mung Bean to reply...

    There is no need to change the world. All we have to do is toilet train

    the world and we'll never have to change it again. -- Swami Beyondanada

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    ,,<Cat's Haven Hobby Farm>,,<Katraatcenturyteldotnet>,,<


    http://cgi6.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewSellersOtherItems&include=0&userid
    =katra

    In my Indonesian recipe book it is called "Kentjur". And described as the
    root of the Kamferia Galanga. To quote the book, Cooking the Indonesian Way
    by Alec Robeau: "Sometimes available in powdered form. Although a real
    substitute is not available I have used Chinese Five Spice which is freely
    available in Chinese stores. If you use Five Spice use it sparingly."

    Under "Laos" it states: "Root of the Greater Galingale." No further
    description.

    I have laos in powder form and on the little bottle it is described as
    galangal powder. "Laos has a pleasant flavor, suitable for Oriental dishes,
    stews, meat etc: Laos, djahe, djintan, ketoembar and koenjit are the 5 basic
    spices used in Oriental cuisine."

    Hope this helps.

    Elly


    Laos and kentjur are very different. I assume the OP is talking
    about galangal/laos. Here's a nice picture of that (with some
    useful prose):

    http://starbulletin.com/2003/03/26/features/ingredient.html

    Here, OTOH, are some pics of lesser galangal/kencur:

    http://www-ang.kfunigraz.ac.at/~katzer/engl/generic_frame.html?Kaem_gal.html

    This has a markedly medicinal flavor.

    --
    Jean B.

  17. Katra said:

    Anyone here ever cooked with it?

    I've only used it in Thai soup recipes. (Tom Khar and Tom Yum, that I
    can remember.)

    serene
    --
    http://serenejournal.livejournal.com
    http://www.jhuger.com

  18. In article <[email hidden]>,

    Wazza said:

    the dried stuff is useless, nothing like the fresh stuff, its meant to be
    used fresh, or not at all, much like fresh root ginger. However, galagal is
    always (?) used in combination with other flavours like lemon grass, kaffir
    lime leaves and spices, so think how you are going to use it. Sometimes, its
    available in small packets with other Thai ingredients, this may be a better
    starting point. Hope you succeed, it is a special flavour.
    cheers
    Wazza

    Thank you! :-)
    I'm going to take that Thai lady's advice and try it in a duck marinade
    to start with.

    --
    K.

    Sprout the Mung Bean to reply...

    There is no need to change the world. All we have to do is toilet train the world and we'll never have to change it again. -- Swami Beyondanada

    Quoted message said:

    ,,<Cat's Haven Hobby Farm>,,<Katraatcenturyteldotnet>,,<

    http://cgi6.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewSellersOtherItems&include=0&userid=katra

  19. In article <[email hidden]>,

    George Beasley said:


    You are better off just freezing it in small portions.

    That is the current plan. ;-)
    I've not tasted it by itself yet and will judge portions by that.

    Quoted message said:

    The loss of flavor
    and the work involved in drying, is not worth it. I have a little container
    of dried laos because I couldn't find the root. But now that you have found
    it, I will be looking for some too. :-) Let us know how you like it when you
    start using it in your cooking.

    Elly

    I sure will, thank you!
    It's always at the oriental market (that caters mostly to Thai and
    chinese) in small packages back in the produce section.

    Quoted message said:


    --
    K.

    Sprout the Mung Bean to reply...

    There is no need to change the world. All we have to do is toilet train the world and we'll never have to change it again. -- Swami Beyondanada

    Quoted message said:

    ,,<Cat's Haven Hobby Farm>,,<Katraatcenturyteldotnet>,,<

    http://cgi6.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewSellersOtherItems&include=0&userid=katra

  20. In article <[email hidden]>,

    kalanamak said:
    Quoted message said:

    Katra wrote:

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    Any precautions for using Galangal root?
    If it's an herbal medicinal, I'd tend be cautious with it!!!

    It is a root, not an herb. Try a google with galangal and recipe or
    galangal and thai. IME, anything rather aromatic is ascribed healing
    properties.

    Quoted message said:


    From delia smith's Winter Collection:


    <snipped intriguing recipe>

    Thanks! :-)
    I've saved that to my nutrition files for later reference.
    I'll need to make a list and go back to the thai market......

    I'll probably substitute duck for chicken!

    Kat

    --
    K.

    Sprout the Mung Bean to reply...

    There is no need to change the world. All we have to do is toilet train the world and we'll never have to change it again. -- Swami Beyondanada

    Quoted message said:

    ,,<Cat's Haven Hobby Farm>,,<Katraatcenturyteldotnet>,,<

    http://cgi6.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewSellersOtherItems&include=0&userid=katra

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