Cloves are a pungent spice found in savory dishes, desserts, and drinks. Ground or whole cloves flavor meat, sauces, and rice dishes. Cloves are often used along with cinnamon and nutmeg in sweet dishes, especially "pumpkin pie" flavored items for the autumn and winter holidays, and in drinks such as mulled wine, cider, or chai.
Cloves can be used whole or ground, and they have a very strong, pungent flavor and aroma.
Health Benefit
Cloves have long been used in home remedies to treat for toothache pain.
The eugenol that provides the flavor of cloves is also a pain-reliever and can help relieve inflammation.
How To Cook With Cloves
Whole or ground cloves are used to flavor sauces, soups and rice dishes.
Whole cloves are either removed before serving or picked out of the dish. Even when cooked, whole cloves have a very hard, woody texture that would be unpleasant to bite into.
Cloves also feature in any number of desserts, especially ground cloves, and particularly around the holidays. Think eggnog or pumpkin pie spice. Cloves are often paired with cinamon or nutmeg but in general, it's a good idea to use cloves sparingly.
For a stronger flavor, grind the seeds either by using a pepper mill or spice grinder, or manually with a mortar and pestle until pulverized.
How To Store
Cloves should be stored in an airtight container, preferably in a cool and dark place. Whole cloves will retain their potency longer than ground cloves, remaining fresh for about a year compared to three months for ground cloves.