Ginger 101: Health Benefits and Easy Recipes!
coconut ginger gelatin gummies, fermented ginger bug, prepped lemon ginger shots, minced ready-to-use ginger cubes, and more!
Ginger is one of my all-time favorite kitchen staples. Its warm, slightly spicy flavor adds depth to both sweet and savory dishes — from cozy curries to gelatinous desserts.
But beyond its flavor-boosting powers, ginger is packed with health benefits. As someone who deals with tummy troubles, it’s been a go-to for me when it comes to soothing digestion naturally. It’s also known for its anti-inflammatory properties and ability to ease nausea — truly a multitasking root.
For more on why I love ginger — and the science-backed benefits of everyday staple ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen — check out this post from earlier this month:
Organic, quality ginger is hard to come by so when I find a good looking organic ginger, I am buying it!! In fact, I am probably buying too much and then I have to think of ways to use the ginger while it is in its prime.
Whether you’re using it to support digestion, fight inflammation, ease nausea, or simply flavor your food without being extra, ginger is a functional food MVP. The trick? Knowing how to use it before it dries up, molds, or gets weird and shriveled.
So today I’m sharing:
🌿 A quick rundown of ginger’s biggest health perks
🧡 Simple ways to preserve + extend ginger’s shelf life
🍵 Easy, functional recipes to infuse it into your daily routine
🌿 Why Bother With More Ginger?
Besides the fact that it tastes amazing and adds depth to both sweet and savory dishes, ginger is:
🔥 Anti-inflammatory – thanks to compounds like gingerol and shogaol
🧠 Anti-nausea + brain-boosting – shown to reduce motion sickness and improve memory
🦠 Immune-supportive – antimicrobial, antiviral, and antifungal properties
🍽️ Digestive-friendly – promotes bile flow and helps reduce bloating
🩸 Blood sugar–balancing – may improve insulin sensitivity
TL;DR: Ginger is that girl !! She is going to make your meal taste 10x better and help your body at the same time.
⛔️ Please always check the contraindications of a certain ingredient or herb before adding it to your diet, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or taking medication.
6 of My Favorite Ways to Prep/Use Ginger
🧄 1. Prepped Minced Ginger (Meal Prep MVP)
You know those little cubes of ginger that you can buy in the store to make your life so much easier. Well, we can make those at home with quality organic ginger, for a fraction of the price!
Use for: Quick cooking, sauces, teas, or smoothies.
Ingredients:
1 large hand of organic fresh ginger, roughly chopped
Directions:
Add the ginger to a food processor and blend until finely minced.
Divide into ice cube trays or silicone molds.
Freeze, then pop into a bag or container to store. Use cubes as needed!
💡 Bonus tip: No need to peel ginger if organic and scrubbed well — especially when freezing.
🍋 2. Lemon/Lime Ginger Bombs
A little ginger shot from the store is a fun way to add this beneficial ingredient to your diet but they are way overpriced. Prep these ginger cubes for a quick and easy way to have a warm ginger & lemon water in the morning to support digestion.
Use for: Digestion, immune support, morning tonic, cold remedy.
Ingredients:
1 hand of fresh ginger, roughly chopped (peeled or unpeeled)
2-3 lemons or 3-4 limes (rind removed if you like less bitter
1 cup filtered water
Optional: ¼ tsp ground turmeric and fresh cracked pepper
Directions:
Blend the ginger, lemon and limes, and water in a high-speed blender until smooth. Add more water if needed.
Strain through a fine mesh sieve if you prefer no pulp.
Pour into silicone ice cube trays or molds and freeze for up to 3 months.
Pop one into hot water for tea. Add raw honey if you like added sweetness!
🍏 3. Gut-Healthy Ginger Applesauce
Did you know cooked apples have science-backed benefits for your gut health? Apples are rich in pectin which acts as a prebiotic that feeds our good gut bugs. So snack on this gingery applesauce for a healthy gut microbiome!
Use for: Gut healthy snacking, chia seed pudding, topping yogurt/oatmeal/pancakes.
Ingredients:
4 medium apples, cored, and chopped
3 tbsp fresh grated ginger
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup filtered water
Optional: 1 tbsp maple syrup or raw honey (if apples aren’t sweet enough)
Directions:
Add apples, ginger, cinnamon, and water to a small saucepan.
Simmer over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, for 15–20 minutes or until apples are very soft.
Mash with a fork for chunky applesauce, or blend until smooth.
Taste and sweeten if desired.
Let cool and store in the fridge for up to 7 days.
🥥 4. Coconut Ginger Gelatin Gummies
Gelatin + ginger = a dream for digestion and gut health. I love a gelatin gummy of any flavor but these coconut ginger gummies are extra delicious - creamy, a little spice from the ginger, and slightly sweet from a bit of raw honey!
Ingredients:
1 can full-fat coconut milk
1/4 cup fresh ginger, finely chopped or grated
3 tbsp grass-fed gelatin powder (discount code: OLIVIA)
¼ cup cold water (for blooming gelatin)
2–3 tbsp raw honey (adjust to taste)
1 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
1 tsp ground cinnamon (optional)
Pinch of sea salt
Directions:
Add the coconut milk and ginger to a saucepan and cook covered over low heat until steaming (not boiling). Simmer for 5–7 mins.
Remove from the heat and let steep 5 mins more.
In a small bowl, sprinkle gelatin over cold water, whisk and let it bloom for about 5 mins).
Strain the ginger out of the coconut milk. Whisk the bloomed gelatin into warm coconut milk until fully dissolved. Stir in the honey, vanilla, cinnamon and sea salt.
Pour into silicone molds or a glass dish. Chill in the fridge for 2–3 hours until set.
Slice or pop out, and store refrigerated for up to a week.
🥤 5. Ginger Bug (Fermented Soda Starter)
If you want to make homemade fermented sodas, start a ginger bug! This is probably the easiest way to make fermented sodas that are naturally bubbly from the carbonation produced during fermentation. So easy and so worth the little bit of effort for DIY fizzy ferments.
Use for: As a probiotic starter for homemade soda, lemonade, or herbal tonics.
Ingredients:
2 tbsp fresh organic grated ginger
2 tbsp maple syrup or organic cane sugar
1 cup filtered water
(You’ll also need more ginger + sugar to “feed” it daily.)
Directions:
Combine ginger, sugar, and water in a clean glass jar. Stir well.
Cover loosely with a cloth or paper towel and secure with a rubber band.
Leave at room temp. Stir once daily.
Each day for 5–7 days, add 1 tbsp ginger + 1 tbsp sugar to feed the bug.
Once bubbly and slightly tangy-smelling, it’s ready to use as a soda starter!
When you are not using it to make sodas you can store it in the fridge. When you want to reactivate it to make sodas, feed it for 2-3 days and let it sit on the counter until it is bubbly again.
🧪 Use it: Add ¼ cup to sweetened tea, juice, or herbal infusions. Bottle, cap tightly, and ferment 2–4 days until fizzy.
⚠️ Note: This is a living ferment — keep it away from direct sun and watch for mold.
🌴 6. Creamy Ginger Lime Coconut Water Elixir
This creamy coconut ginger limeade is a powerful tonic for digestion & hydration! Coconut water = electrolytes. Lime = vitamin C. Ginger = digestion & anti-inflammatory power. Perfect for hydration, post-workout recovery, and glowing skin.
Ingredients:
1 cup coconut water
1 frozen ginger-lemon/lime bomb (see recipe above)
Pinch of sea salt
Dash of maple syrup or honey (optional)
1/2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend briefly.
Strain if you want a smooth drink (or leave it pulpy for extra fiber).
Chill or pour over ice and enjoy.
Ginger Storage Tips
Fridge (short-term): Wrap peeled or unpeeled ginger in a paper towel, then in a zip bag or airtight container
Freezer (long-term): Freeze whole or chopped ginger — no need to peel before grating when frozen
Preserve in oil or vinegar: Store minced ginger in a clean jar submerged in vinegar or oil (like garlic confit vibes)
Dry it: Dehydrate slices to make your own ginger tea or spice blend
I hope this inspires you to add more ginger to your daily routine — and that these recipes help you enjoy both its flavor and health benefits. I’m always on the lookout for natural ways to support my health and simple strategies that make life in the kitchen easier. Prepping staple ingredients like minced ginger makes it easy to use throughout the week, and having a go-to list of tasty recipes means I actually use up what I buy (instead of letting it shrivel up in the veggie drawer — we've all been there).
And just know: I fully support always buying too much ginger… especially if you ever stumble upon a pile of fresh, local, organic roots at the market.
So go grab that knob of ginger hiding in your fridge and try one of these recipes this week. Your gut (and your taste buds) will thank you. 🫚✨
📩 If you try one of these, send me an email or leave a comment and tell me how it went — or tag me on IG with your creations! If you loved this info and the recipes, make sure you subscribe for future emails and considering sharing this, since it’s free to read <3