Ginger has long been used since ancient times in Asia, but it’s not often used in Western cooking. It lends a bit of a peppery taste that’s slightly spicy, a bit lemony, and pungent with a little sweetness. If that sounds complex, it is, but the good news is cooking with ginger is quite easy to do.

Even if you’ve never made anything with an Asian flair, adding ginger to your recipes can benefit your health in many ways. Plus, it will give your dishes a new zing to them that makes them seem refreshed and new. Ginger has been used for ages, revered for its anti-inflammatory benefits and helping with digestive health, including keeping nausea at bay.

You’ll find ginger root in your supermarket’s produce section. You can simply peel off the outer brown layer with your peeler and then grate it into your dishes. Chopping it is fine too. If you can’t find fresh ginger, you can always use the powdered version which still has health benefits though not as strong.

So what can you make with ginger? Here are some suggestions!

1. Try it in coffee

If you love coffee but want something more standout, try adding no more than 1 teaspoon of ground ginger to your morning (or even afternoon) cup of coffee. It gives a spicy kick that will transport you to a far and away land…until your boss comes in looking for those reports that is!

2. Or make tea

Slice up fresh ginger and add it to boiling water for a tea that will calm your stomach and settle it after meals. It’s also good for pregnant women to curb nausea. And you can also keep the ginger water around to add to other creations, like simmer some fresh vegetables for a spicy twist.

3. Make fresh salad dressing

If you love the ginger dressing at your favorite Japanese restaurant, you can easily make it yourself with fresh ginger, carrots, soy sauce, sesame oil, and a few other ingredients. You can also make a simple version by grating ginger into soy sauce and then mixing it with sesame oil and chili flakes for a light and Asian-inspired dressing or marinade.

4. Put it in your smoothies

Remember that ginger tea you made? Save some of it for the morning and add it to your favorite smoothies. This is especially effective for those that want the health benefits of ginger but would prefer not to taste it.

5. Add some zing to your wings

A little raw organic honey and fresh ginger make the perfect pair for wings that will have everyone squawking with delight. Plus, you get the healthy benefits of eating honey and ginger, a total win-win!

Don’t forget you can add ginger to desserts too. Poaching pears or apples in ginger water is a deliciously healthy way to make a dessert everyone will love. Then again, there’s also gingerbread cookies, ginger beer, ginger ice cream, and other gingery delights. With ginger, the sky is the limit when it comes to exploring the flavor pairings you can create!