Everyone likes a little spice right? And what better way to get that than with ginger!
I’m one of those health-nuts that swears by ginger root. The minute I see someone get a sore throat or itchy nose around me, I say “run -don’t walk- to your health food store and get some ginger! STAT”
Mostly because I don’t want to get sick, but also because it works!
Ginger is an incredible medicinal root that fights anything from infection to muscle pain.
It’s remarkable really that such a tiny and innocuous-looking root can do so much; ginger root has been shown to:
- Fight inflammation
- Reduce nausea
- Help mitigate morning sickness
- Improve digestion
- Relieve abdominal bloating
- Strengthen the immune system
- Alleviate muscle pain
- Regulate blood sugar levels
- Fight respiratory infections
- Lower cholesterol
- And more!
It’s been used in Ayurveda and traditional Eastern medicine for centuries and it’s a kitchen must-have in modern cuisine all over the world. My favorite thing about ginger root is that you can get the health benefits of ginger by adding it to your meals!
Because it’s actually rich and flavorful this spice can be as gentle or mighty as you like while keeping all the nutritional and health value it has. I add it to pretty much anything, so I put together a list of twenty summer recipes that let you reap all the healthy goodness of ginger in every meal!
20 Recipes to Reap the Health Benefits of Ginger - in Style!
Sizzling Ginger Breakfast Ideas
Now I’m not saying “eat a piece of ginger for breakfast,” that’s probably very healthy, but even I don’t do that. Instead:
#1 Start Your Morning With Ginger Tea
Whether you just steep it for fifteen minutes and add lemon to it, or mix it with coconut milk and ice for a frothy wake-up call, ginger tea and ginger water help you boost the immune system and kick-start the metabolism (better on an empty stomach!) It’s a great way to cleanse, prep for digestion, and burn fat in your morning workout.
#2 Try Ginger Turmeric Oatmeal
A surprising mix that sounds weird and may make you want to run for the hills, but that’s actually delicious and super healthy. Ginger is only grounded in a little bit, so it adds just enough health and spice without making you stick your tongue out and go “wah.”
Recipe from Soul in the Raw
#3 Have a Creamy Green Ginger Smoothie
The perfect combination of healthy fats, potassium, and ginger to wake you up your brain. It has bananas, avocados, ginger root, dates, and two handfuls of spinach to power-up your day like a boss.
Recipe from Nutrition Stripped
#4 Consider Ginger Coffee
This traditional Yemeni drink called Qishr is usually served hot, but I’ve been blasphemous enough to turn it into iced coffee - and it worked. It’s lighter on the caffeine than a regular cup of joe but will satisfy your craving if you can’t live without it. Spice it up - literally!
Recipe from The Spruce Eats
#5 Brunch it Up With Swanky Ginger Waffles
It’s the weekend and you feel like getting pampered, you’re in luck because these gluten-free, ginger oatmeal waffles with cinnamon yogurt cream are the real deal.
Recipe from Healthy Nibbles
#6 Make Vegan and Gluten-Free Fluffy Ginger Pancakes
If you have kids (or want to pamper your inner child) pancakes are good year-round. This healthy ginger version benefits your body as much as it does your soul. Fluffy and fun, it uses molasses instead of sugar, buckwheat flour, and even a shot of apple cider vinegar.
Don’t judge it until you tried it!
Recipe by From My Bowl
Savory Ginger Lunch or Dinner Recipes
You can also add ginger to your lunch or dinner with simple recipes, you can always add more or tame the flavor by pulling back. Fresh ginger is always best, but powder works too. Here are my favorites:
#7 Crispy Ginger Tofu with Broccoli
Vegan, gluten-free, only 518 calories and ripe with ginger benefits for your health! Not to mention yummy and broccoli! This glazed beauty takes time to cook -80 minutes! But it’s so worth it, leave it for the weekend while you catch up on a favorite show.
Recipe by One Green Planet
#8 Cold Noodle with Miso Lime and Ginger
Perfect for the hotter months, this summer killer is also vegan could be made gluten-free (depending on the noodles you find) and takes about 25 minutes to prep and serve!
Recipe by Smitten Kitchen
#9 Garlic Dressing for Roasted Potato Salad
Roasted potatoes are delicious, everyone’s favorite potluck side dish, and we have a perfect way to make them summery and healthy with this golden ginger and turmeric dressing.
Recipe by Organifi
#10 Ginger Citrus Carrot and Edamame Salad
Keeping it light black sesame, carrots, and edamame salad is a perfect quick lunch or side dish. Love it because it’s a healthy immune-system-boosting meal featuring half a cup of fresh orange juice, lime, and of course ginger.
If you want to up the ante, add some quinoa or lean protein of your choice.
Recipe by The First Mess
#11 Ginger Chicken Tostadas with Pomegranate Salsa
Did your mouth just water? Because mine did. The benefits of ginger with lean protein (substitute for tofu or tempeh for a vegan version) with a spicy lime-cilantro-pomegranate dressing. It’s too crunchy, tasty, and savory for words. Try it!
Recipe by How Sweet Eats
#12 Miso and Ginger Glazed Salmon
We like to give you plant-based options, but in case you want something in the lean meats and Omega-3-rich department this salmon is just what you need. The health benefits of ginger are mixed with the healthy fats of this precious fish. It only takes 20-minutes to make!
Recipe by Mom’s Kitchen Handbook
Ginger Benefits in Dessert Form
I’m not even cheating you out of sugar! In moderation, it’s still good.
#13 Chai Ginger Ice Cream Sandwich
It’s gluten-free, vegan, and stores for two weeks. The ginger is in the cookie, the chai is in the homemade ice cream. Fantastic. Not a fan of chai? Substitute the ice cream for our chocolate chip nice cream.
Recipe from Minimalist Baker
#14 Candied Ginger and Sea Salt Chocolate Chip
Can you tell I love chocolate chips? These are a bit fancier and take a little bit longer, but you still have some healthy ginger benefits in it, and you can give these to kids - they’ll love it. They’re soft and gooey with lots of goodies!
Recipe by Minimalist Baker
#15 Decadent Vegan Ginger Ice Cream
“Irresistibly creamy” is how they describe it. Made with ginger, maple syrup, coconut milk, and cinnamon the wonderful flavors of autumn are refreshed for the summer! Easy to make and healthy to boot!
Recipe by My Goodness Kitchen
Drink Your Ginger
It’s not all tea and infusions! Drinking this marvelous root gets the benefits of ginger straight up in your bloodstream, so - why not make it fun? Ginger tea, but make it fashion.
#16 Lemon Ginger Mocktail
No cold will stand in your way with this fashionable drink in your hand, ginger health benefits mixed with the mighty lemon, in a cocktail glass. Soda water makes it fizzle and spark!
Recipe by Always Use Butter
#17 Bed Time Ginger-Turmeric Inflammation Buster
This special brew is designed to help you with digestion, get a good night sleep and wake up with energy. As always, turmeric and ginger blend well together and superpower your system.
Recipe by Organifi
#18 Wind Down GOLD Tea
Our unique take on the ancient secret, Organifi’s Gold is not just ginger-rich, it has eight other herbs, adaptogens, and powerfully antioxidant foods that replenish, relax, and rejuvenate.
No Recipe Needed: Add Water to Gold Tea and go!
#19 Pineapple, Ginger, Protein Smoothie
In the mood for a meal replacement or a post-workout pick me up? Ginger-it-up! We recommend using complete protein powder for this recipe as instructed, but you can replace with greek yogurt for similar results.
Recipe by Just J. Faye
#20 Golden Milk Latte with Ginger and Turmeric
This is a year-round favorite at Organifi. Just add ice to make it into an iced-golden-milk-latte! It’s very ginger healthy, frothy, delicious, and easy to prepare.
Recipe by Organifi
Eat it up!
Get the health benefits of ginger in every meal -and drink- with these tasty recipes that cover you for all summer events (we even have that mocktail!) and make it easy to add this healthy spice to your daily life.
Do you have a ginger-rich recipe you’d like us to feature? We love adding your input so send it our way, and we’ll update this post with your handy work.
