Young Ginger

This week we are bringing five pounds of our organically grown young ginger to Abundant Life Natural Foods in Hilo. Young ginger is the same species as regular ginger, just harvested before the plants go dormant. You can use it in any of the applications you would use regular ginger, but it is more sweet and tender. Because it lacks the fiber and tough skin of normal ginger it is a treat to work with. Our favorite way to use young ginger is pickled, to make Gari, the ginger pickle served alongside sushi. A basic brine of 1 cup rice vinegar, 1/3 cup sugar, and 1.5 teaspoons of sea salt is all you need. Stir rice vinegar and sugar and salt together in a sauce pan over low heat until sugar dissolves, and allow to cool. You can adjust the sweetness of the brine to your taste. Slice about 8 oz of peeled young ginger very thin with a knife or mandolin, cover with the brine, and refrigerate. You can start using it in a week or so and it will keep for many months.