This month our trip along The Spice Trail takes us to the Land of Ginger. But our destination could be just about anywhere on the planet. From gingerbread men to ginger beer, from curries to cakes, ginger is an ingredient used the whole world over. And that’s precisely why I am so excited about seeing your ginger-inspired dishes, as who knows what you might come up with.

Fresh or dried, preserved in syrup or crystallised, ginger must surely be one of our most popular spices and is used in savoury and sweet dishes in equal measure. As usual, I turn to the Leon book of Ingredients & Recipes to see what they have to say on the subject of ginger…

Zingiber officinale is a rhizome that was indigenous to South East Asia before the Chinese made it world-wide popular. A natural remedy, specifically for warding off colds, most of the power is concentrated in the outermost 2mm, so best not to peel, just give it a good wash and as long as it’s good and fresh you can grate it just like that. Elizabeth David used to swear by keeping it in foil in the fridge but I think our supply and fridges are better these days. Ferocious in its intensity, historically ginger has been used in many ways, both medicinal and culinary, savoury and sweet. A vital part of all Asian cooking, it was being ground and transported to Europe by the Romans, but more for health reasons. It wasn’t for about another 1,000 years that it started to be used in cookery, but then things really took off (candied ginger became a favourite ingredient in medieval England.) Good for dodgy tums, as well as clearing the paths and passages in your body.

But what I really want to know is, what’s your favourite way to cook with ginger?

Win a set of spice tins from Dotcomgiftshop

This month’s winner of The Spice Trail challenge will be lucky enough to receive a gorgeous set of six Pantry Design spice tins, thanks to the kind people at Dotcomgiftshop.

Dotcomgiftshop is home to delightfully quirky, often kitsch but always stylish gifts. Designed and sourced by their in-house team, they offer a large range of stylish home accessories, as well as cute gifts to suit every personality. Whether you’re celebrating a birthday, planning a wedding, or simply want to treat yourself to something fabulous, you won’t fail to find what you’re looking for. With an eclectic mix of products, spread out across a simple to navigate website, it’s easy to find gift inspiration at Dotcomgiftshop.

How to enter The Spice Trail

• Display the The Spice Trail badge (above and also available here) on your recipe post, and link back to this challenge post.
• You may enter as many recipe links as you like, so long as they feature this month’s key ingredient, ginger.
• Send your recipe URL to me at vanesther-at-reescommunications-dot-co-dot-uk, including your own email address and the title of your recipe or post. The closing date this month is Friday 28 March 2014.
• If you tweet your post, please mention #TheSpiceTrail and me @BangerMashChat in your tweet and I’ll retweet each one I see.
• Feel free to republish old recipe posts, but please add the information about this challenge and The Spice Trail badge.
• As entries come in, links to these will be added to the bottom of this page.
• At the end of the month a guest judge will choose a winning recipe and the winner this month will receive a set of spice tins from Dotcomgiftshop.
• The winner will be announced in a monthly round-up of all the entries.
• All entries will be added to The Spice Trail Pinterest Board.

So what ginger goodies will you come up with for this month’s Spice Trail? Any questions, please tweet or email me.

And thanks to everyone who entered February’s caraway challenge – you’ll find the round-up of recipes here.

March’s entries

1. Chicken in Ginger and Spring Onion Sauce from The Spicy Pear
2. Methi Vegetable Malai from Home Cook Food
3. Baked Sea Bass with Ginger, Garlic & Chilli and Miso Rice from Bangers & Mash
4. Kala Chana Aur Methi Curry from Home Cook Food
5. Apricot, Gingers & Pecan Breakfast Bars from The Hedge Combers

6. Chicken & Veggie Chow Mein from Eat Your Veg

7. Ginger Parkin from Mamacook
8. Carrot, Ginger & Pumpkin Soup from Mamacook
9. Gingerbread Men from Mamacook
10. Sugar Free Date & Ginger Muffins from Mamacook
11. Quick Ginger Biscuits from Mamacook
12. Lettuce Wrapped Pork from Mamacook
13. Spicy Chickpeas from Spicy, Quirky and Serendipitous
14. Tomato & Lentil Soupy Broth from Slice Off Me
15. Goan Shrimp Curry from Cooking for Kishore
16. Chickpea & Kabocha Squash Lemongrass Curry from The Taste Space
17. Curried Carrot Soup from Recipes From A Pantry
18. Mushrooms, Tamarind, Ginger and Spice from Spicy, Quirky and Serendipitous
19. Spiced Teacakes from The Garden Deli
20. Slow Cooked Pork in Tonkatsu Sauce (Japanese Barbecue Sauce) from Searching for Spice
21. Ginger Simnel Cupcakes from The Lass in the Apron
22. Lamb Kofta Curry from My Golden Pear
23. Coconut & Ginger Cake Pops from Chocolate Log Blog
24. Speculoos Ice Cream from Edible Things
25. Broccoli Ginger Stir Fry from Spicy, Quirky and Serendipitous
26. Fresh Ginger Cake from The Fig Tree
27. Dutch Ginger Cake Squares from Family – Friends – Food
28. Ginger Cookies from Family – Friends – Food
29. Ginger Wine Zabaglione with Mango from Lapin d’Or and More
30. Homemade Pickled Ginger for Sushi from Vohn’s Vittles
31. Steamed Crispy Shanghai Bok Choy in Ginger Garlic Sauce from Nasifriet @ By The Way
32. Gingerade from Edible Things
33. Ginger Chutney from The Odd Pantry
34. Soy & Ginger Glazed Salmon & Courgette Kebabs from Eat Your Veg