What Are Cardamom pods and How Can I Use Them?

If cardamom pods have turned up in a recipe or caught your eye at the store, here's what you need to use them with confidence and how to choose them, cook them, store them, what to substitute, and 100 recipes to try them in.

What are cardamom pods?

Cardamom has a strong, unique taste, with an intensely aromatic fragrance. Black cardamom has a distinctly more astringent aroma, though not bitter, with a coolness similar to mint.

Green cardamom is one of the most expensive spices by weight but little is needed to impart the flavor. Cardamom is best stored in pod form because once the seeds are exposed or ground they quickly lose their flavor.

Cardamom pods

However, high-quality ground cardamom is often more readily (and cheaply) available and is an acceptable substitute.

For recipes requiring whole cardamom pods, a generally accepted equivalent is 10 pods equals 1½ teaspoons of ground cardamom.

In the Middle East, green cardamom powder is used as a spice for sweet dishes as well as traditional flavouring in coffee and tea. The cardamom pods are ground together with coffee beans to produce a powdered mixture of the two, which is boiled with water to make coffee.

Cardamom is also used in some extent in savoury dishes.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 tbsp, ground (5g)

Amount per Serving

Calories 15Calories from Fat 3

% Daily Value *

Total Fat 0.3g 1%

Saturated Fat 0.0g 0%

Trans Fat ~

Cholesterol 0mg 0%

Sodium 0mg 0%

Total Carbohydrate 3.4g 1%

Dietary Fiber 1g 6%

Sugars ~

Protein 0.5g

Vitamin A 0% Vitamin C 2%

Calcium 2% • Iron 4%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your caloric needs.

recipeland.com/nutrition

Where found

Cardamom pods are usually found in the spices section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group

Cardamom pods are a member of the Spices and Herbs US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

How much do cardamom pods weigh?

Amount	Weight
1 tbsp, ground	5 grams
1 tsp, ground	2 grams

Spices and Herbs

Allspice 904 Allspice berries 37 Star anise 178 Aniseed 23 Bay leaves 2049 Caraway seeds 321 Cardamom pods 100 Cardamom seeds 317 Celery seeds 283 Chervil 65

In Chinese:	豆蔻荚
British (UK) term:
en français:	gousses de cardamome
en español:	vainas de cardamomo

Recipes using cardamom pods

There are 100 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Adam's Chai Latte Ice Cream

My brother Adam loves this ice cream so much that I asked him for the recipe. It's a Chai Latte with chunks of gingerbread cookies hidden within.

Adam's Chai Latte Ice Cream

My brother Adam loves this ice cream so much that I asked him for the recipe. It's a Chai Latte with chunks of gingerbread cookies hidden within.

Shrimp Flavored Beef over Rice

My intention was to combine flavors of shrimp and beef inside the meat as well as inside the sauce..

South Indian Vegetable Biryani

Hi friends this is my first recipe hope you all like it.

Spicy, Tasty Chicken Tandoori

Chicken tandoori is basically a snack which can be eaten in the evening or at night. Chicken marinated in tandoori masala, grilled in the oven is a super tasty, mouthwatering dish. Try it now.

Spicy, Tasty Chicken Tandoori

Chicken tandoori is basically a snack which can be eaten in the evening or at night. Chicken marinated in tandoori masala, grilled in the oven is a super tasty, mouthwatering dish. Try it now.

Malabar Chicken Curry Recipe

Malabar chicken curry is a spicy and aromatic dish that hails from the Malabar region of India. This curry is made with a unique blend of spices that include cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, and fennel, which gives it a distinctive taste and aroma. The tender chicken pieces are simmered in a rich and flavorful coconut milk-based gravy, making it a perfect dish for any occasion. The curry can be adjusted to your preferred level of spiciness, making it versatile for all tastes. Whether you're looking to explore new flavors or simply want to add a bit of spice to your meals, Malabar chicken curry is a must-try recipe for any home cook.

Beet Raita

Diced cooked beets toss with cardamom and fresh mint, then layer with honey-sweetened Greek yogurt for a vibrant Indian raita that's tangy, earthy, and subtly sweet in every spoonful.

Andy's Murgh Kurma (Chicken Curry)

Andy's murgh kurma: Indian chicken curry with a yogurt marinade, whole cardamom and cloves, and a deeply spiced tomato sauce. Serve with rice and chapati for a fragrant home-cooked dinner.

Turkish Coffee

Traditional Turkish coffee brewed in an ibrik with cardamom and sugar. Triple-foamed, unfiltered, and rich with thick crema on top. Authentic 5-minute ritual.

Kashmiri Meatballs (Kashmiri Koftas)

Kashmiri lamb koftas shaped into spiced sausages, browned in whole cardamom and cinnamon, then simmered in yogurt sauce until tender and saucy. Aromatic Indian comfort food from the Himalayan foothills.

Tandoori Spice Mix

Very popular Indian spice mix best known for use on Tandoori chicken.

Masala Coffee (Spiced Coffee)

Masala coffee, the South Indian spiced coffee with cinnamon, cardamom, sugar, and milk. Boiled, strained, and pulled between pans for a thick, frothy cup.

Chana aur Sarson ka Saag Biryani (Basmati Rice & Curry Casserole)

This Indian dish is made with several kinds of spices, mustard greens, cauliflower and chickpeas; it's baked with basmati rice, topped with golden raisins and cashews. You can serve it as a side dish or a tasty main dish.

Garam Masala Lamb Kebabs

Garam masala lamb kebabs marinated in spiced yogurt with ginger, garlic, and fresh coriander, then grilled until charred and finished with a dusting of warm, toasted garam masala. Includes a from-scratch spice blend.

Lamb Rogan Josh

Lamb rogan josh, the Kashmiri curry, with lamb marinated in spiced yogurt overnight then pressure-cooked fork-tender in a fragrant tomato, ginger, and garam masala gravy. Deeply spiced, not just hot.

Strawberry Ricotta Phyllo Purses with Chocolate Syrup

These phyllo purses look so lovely, filled with fresh strawberries and creamy ricotta cheese, drizzling some chocolate syrup and dust powdered sugar on top. These are crispy and chocolaty outside, juicy, fruity and smooth inside. And they look so pretty!