What Are Cloves, whole and How Can I Use Them?

If cloves, whole 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 112 recipes to try them in.

What is cloves, whole?

Cloves can be used in cooking either whole or in a ground form, but as they are extremely strong, they are used sparingly.

Dried cloves are also a key ingredient in Indian masala chai, spiced tea, a special variation of tea popular in some regions, notably Gujarat. In the US, it is often sold under the name of "chai" or "chai tea", as a way of differentiating it from other types of teas sold in the US.

Due to the Indonesian influence, the use of cloves is widespread in the Netherlands. Cloves are used in cheeses, often in combination with cumin. Cloves are an essential ingredient for making Dutch speculaas. Furthermore, cloves are used in traditional Dutch stews like hachee.

Nutrition

Quick facts

Where to find cloves, whole: Cloves, whole is usually found in the spices section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group: Cloves, whole is a member of the Spices and Herbs US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

In Chinese

丁香，全

British (UK) term

Cloves, whole

en français

clous de girofle, ensemble

en español

clavo de olor, todo

How much does cloves, whole weigh?

Related

Spices and Herbs

Recipes using cloves, whole

There are 112 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.

Paneer Basmati Pilaf--Paneer Pulao

Paneer Pulao is a delightful and mildly aromatic Indian rice dish that combines basmati rice with paneer, which is a type of Indian cottage cheese.

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.

Beef & Vegetable Soup No. 2 (Instant Pot or not)

A beef vegetable soup made with homemade stock made one day ahead, featuring tender shredded beef, diced vegetables, and fresh herbs. A comforting and flavorful meal loaded with beefy goodness.

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.

Baklava 2

Three-nut baklava layers buttered phyllo with walnuts, pistachios, and toasted almonds, then drinks in a citrus-clove honey syrup overnight. The Greek dessert pulled out for big celebrations and bigger family gatherings.

Baklava (Papadakis Taverna)

Baklava layers buttered phyllo with cinnamon-spiced walnuts, bakes until golden, then drinks in a citrus-honey syrup steeped with cloves. Greek taverna classic finished with whole cloves studded into each diamond.

Spiced Pickles

Spiced gherkin pickles layered with whole cloves and cinnamon, then bathed in a hot apple cider vinegar brine sweetened with sugar and dry mustard. An old Pennsylvania Dutch crock-pickle recipe with a sweet-tart bite.

Pickled Salmon as Appetizer (Gravad Lax style)

An easy way to create a tasteful appetizer, similar to the way it is done in Scandinavia or Northern Germany. Preferably you want to use wild caught salmon when it is available or catch-it yourself. The usual caveats when you deal with fresh fish apply. Process it immediately. I had good experience with wild Alaska sockeye salmon which is frozen for a while before it comes into the shop.

Tandoori Spice Mix

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

Baked Ham

Very pleasing to the eye and the palate. Easy recipe. I used honey instead of maple syrup and cinnamon instead of mustard. Don't use water when there is all that pineapple juice!

Suss-Saures Rotkraut (Sweet-And-Sour Red Cabbage)

Traditional German sweet-and-sour red cabbage braised with apples, red wine, brown sugar, and vinegar. Simmered in a Dutch oven for an hour until tender and glossy. The classic side dish for sauerbraten, pork roast, or schnitzel.

Quick & Easy Pickled Beets

A quick and easy way to make pickled beets, you don't have to wait for days, or do the canning process. Within 30 minutes, you will be able to enjoy these delicious picked beets.

Bier Fisch (German Beer Fish)

Add a European taste to your summer with this succulent dish that is made with beer to give it a unique flavor.

Wassail

Nice warm spiced cider with citrus fruit. One sip and my belly warmed up so much I had to go turn the heat down!

South African Vegetable Biryani

Fragrant basmati rice layered with spiced vegetables, golden onions, and aromatic mint in this South African twist on classic biryani that feeds a crowd.

Sopa De Entulho

Hearty Portuguese rubble soup (sopa de entulho) loaded with red kidney beans, pumpkin, turnips, carrots, potatoes, and hand-torn cabbage. A warming, rustic one-pot meal.

Spice Mix: Garam Masala

Homemade garam masala from whole roasted cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, and mace ground fresh. This essential Indian spice blend takes 20 minutes and blows store-bought versions out of the water.

Best Sweet & Hot Corned Beef

Sweet and hot corned beef brisket simmered with cloves, garlic, and chilies, then glazed with bitter orange marmalade and baked until burnished. The piquant cousin to the classic St. Patrick's Day boil.

Mole De Guajolote (Turkey in Mole Sauce)

Mole de guajolote is a traditional Mexican turkey in mole sauce made from scratch with ancho, mulato, and pasilla chilies, chocolate, sesame seeds, peanuts, and warm spices.

Cafe Mexicano

Spiced Mexican coffee simmered with dark brown sugar, unsweetened chocolate, cinnamon, cloves, and vanilla. Includes a flambeed Cafe Diablo variation with brandy and Kahlua.

Bo-Peeps-A-Crock

Slow cooker lamb breast seasoned with nutmeg, ginger, and whole cloves, braised with seedless grapes and chicken broth. A warm-spiced crockpot lamb recipe with just 10 minutes of prep.

Crema De Laurel

Silky bay leaf custard draped in clove-spiked caramel with a splash of amaretto. This slow-baked Spanish-style flan is elegant, aromatic, and unforgettable.

Orange-Pecan Couscous

Orange-pecan couscous cooked in orange juice with cinnamon sticks, cloves, turmeric, and raisins. A fragrant, Moroccan-inspired side dish ready in under 30 minutes.

Badam Diyea Mangsha (Beef in Rich Cashew Sauce)

Indian beef curry with whole aromatic spices, deeply browned onions, and a rich cashew-yogurt sauce. Badam Diyea Mangsha simmers with potatoes and finishes with garam masala.

Best Vegan Gumbo

Slow cooker vegan gumbo loaded with okra, lima beans, corn, and tomatoes in a clove and allspice-spiked vegetable broth. No roux, no oil, no fuss.

Moghlai Chicken

Moghlai chicken braised with whole cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, and bay leaves in a spiced yogurt sauce with toasted almonds and raisins. A rich Mughal-style curry.

Chilled Cream of Vegetable Soup

Chilled cream of vegetable soup with spinach, carrots, celery, and green pepper, pureed and enriched with egg yolks and half-and-half. Served cold with sour cream and fresh herbs.

Crockery Ham

Slow cooker spiral ham glazed with currant jelly, dry mustard, cinnamon, and clove. Studded with whole cloves for that holiday-table look without heating up the oven.

Daube De Boeufs Aux Champignons Et a L'Orange

Daube De Boeufs Aux Champignons Et a L'Orange recipe

Peach Pickle

Old-fashioned peach pickle, a Southern heritage recipe with whole peaches studded with cloves and steeped in cinnamon-spiced sweet vinegar syrup over three days. The classic holiday ham accompaniment.

Warm Beer Soup

Old-world warm beer soup spiced with cloves, cinnamon, and lemon zest, thickened with milk, flour, and egg yolk. A traditional European comfort drink-meets-soup.

Spiced Peaches

Old-fashioned spiced peaches preserved whole in a brown sugar and vinegar syrup with cinnamon, cloves, and allspice. A Pennsylvania Dutch canning tradition.

Perfect Poached Chicken

Poached chicken breasts cooked gently in an aromatic broth with carrot, onion, celery, and peppercorns, then left to cool in the pot for juicy, sliceable meat. The base for chicken salad, sandwiches, and casseroles.

Kettle Roast

Pennsylvania-style kettle roast with rump beef seared in bacon drippings, then braised low and slow with ginger, cloves, bay leaves, and onion. Fork-tender after a long simmer.

Tangy Chicken

Slow cooker tangy chicken simmered in a sweet pineapple-orange and ketchup sauce with warm spices. A dump-and-go crockpot dinner served over fluffy couscous. Set it and forget it.

Apple Knockers

Warm spiced apple cider punch infused with cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, and fresh nutmeg, blended with orange and lemon juice for holiday gatherings.

Korma

This simple but delicious dish is perfect for dinner and it will satisfy both your tastebuds and hunger!

Karydopita

Karydopita is a traditional Greek walnut cake made with crushed zwieback, cognac, and cinnamon, soaked in orange-clove syrup and cut into diamonds. Flourless and intensely nutty.

Stuffed Veal Breast

German-style veal breast stuffed with seasoned ground beef, pork, lemon, and nutmeg, braised low and slow with paprika, cloves, rosemary, and bay leaves until fork-tender.

Smoked Salmon Rolls with Oysters

Smoked salmon wrapped around plump oysters, napped with a reduced wine-cream-tomato sauce, crowned with sauteed mushrooms and broiled Swiss cheese. French elegance in 40 minutes.

Bean & Beef Soup

Bean and beef soup with navy beans, stewing beef, prunes, and root vegetables, scented with whole cloves. An old-world soup where dried fruit adds unexpected sweet depth to a long, hearty simmer.

Pickled Eggs & Red Beets

Pennsylvania Dutch pickled eggs and red beets steeped in a brown sugar, vinegar, cinnamon, and clove brine. The bright magenta deviled egg base every diner counter in PA Dutch country swears by.

Sauerbraten Mit Ingwer Kuchen Sosse

Traditional German sauerbraten with a four-day vinegar marinade, slow-braised rump roast, and a tangy gingersnap-and-sour-cream gravy. An old-world Sunday dinner worth the wait.

Crusty Scrapple

Crusty Pennsylvania Dutch scrapple from scratch: pork ribs and liver simmered with sage, thyme, and cayenne, then bound with coarse cornmeal, set in pans, sliced and pan-fried for breakfast.

Spicy Pickled Plums

Spicy pickled plums in malt-vinegar brine with red chilies, cinnamon, cloves, allspice, and mace. A British-style preserve for cold meats, cheese boards, or holiday ham.

Pappardelle Ii (Duck)

Tuscan-style duck ragu for pappardelle with boneless duck, pancetta, chicken livers, porcini mushrooms, rosemary, and white wine. A rich, slow-simmered Italian meat sauce.

Pressure Cooker Rogan Josh with Coconut & Almonds

Pressure cooker rogan josh simmers tender mutton in a rich, nutty gravy of freshly roasted and ground coconut, almonds, and whole spices, with yogurt stirred in gradually. An aromatic Indian curry made fast in the pressure cooker.

Sindhi Chicken

Sindhi chicken curry with deeply caramelized onions, whole cinnamon and cloves, yogurt, tomatoes, and aromatic ground spices. An authentic Pakistani one-pot chicken thigh curry.

Pickled Peaches

Old-fashioned pickled peaches: small ripe peaches studded with cloves and put up in a sweet, spiced cider vinegar syrup. The Southern relish tray classic that bridges canning season and Christmas dinner.

All 112 recipes