29 cardamom recipes

Cardamom and apricot tarte tatin

Cardamom provides ample spice in this super juicy apricot tarte tatin, tempered by a side of no-churn chai ice cream.

Cardamom buns

Flavoured with fragrant cardamom, make this cheat’s version of a classic spiced Swedish bun for a teatime treat.

Firni

This refined cousin of rice pudding scented with cardamom and pandan is made for special occasions. Served chilled scattered with rose petals and pistachios.

Cardamom custard buns (skolebrød)

If you love cardamom buns but think they’re too complicated to make, check out these traditional custard buns from Norway, known as skolebrød or ‘school bread’.

Nankhatai (cardamom biscuits)

Prove your baking skills this weekend with aromatic, cardamom-infused biscuits baked with pistachio and ghee. Serve with hot masala chai for best results.

Fragrant rice with ghee and whole spices (shada pulao)

The scent of onions caramelising is universally regarded as wonderful – in this case, it’s made even more so with ghee coating the rice with its nutty aroma.

Spatchcock cardamom poussin with lentils and harissa

Try chef Rosie Healey's aromatic poussin dish with cardamom for a dinner party main with serious wow factor. You'll find this dish on the menu at Glasgow's Gloriosa.

Mutton keema

Cardamom, Indian bay leaves and cumin seeds are key in this meaty mutton keema, brought to you by Asma Khan of Darjeeling Express.

Honey baklava

Four types of nut, cardamom and cinnamon make up this baklava, made sweeter and stickier with the addition of salted honey sauce.

Lamb koftas with jewelled rice

These impressive lamb koftas, presented on a bed of vibrant jewelled rice, use a fragrant blend of cardamon pods, cumin, coriander, saffron and pistachios.

Cardamom chicken curry

This low-calorie chicken curry is packed with plenty of flavour thanks to cardamom, ginger and chillies, making a perfect comfort meal for all the family.

Spiced chai banana bread

This exciting masala chai twist on a classic offers warming, aromatic flavours thanks to cardamom, nutmeg and ginger.

For more bakes and recipe inspiration, check out our banana recipes.

Lemon and pistachio bakewell tart

This gently warming pistachio bakewell tart, flavoured with cardamom and studded with pistachios, is a zingy spin on a classic.

Black sesame and cardamom tacos

These indulgent black sesame and cardamom tacos make an impressive dessert fit for a special family treat. This recipe comes from chef Jackson Berg from moveable restaurant Xiringuito in Liverpool.

Syrian chicken with bulgur wheat (burghul bl jaj)

Cardamon and cinnamon add a fragrant edge to these Syrian chicken thighs, served on top of raisin-studded bulgur wheat for a colourful dinner. This recipe comes from Imad’s Syrian Kitchen in London.

Saffron and cardamom rice pudding

Romy Gill’s delicately spiced, aromatic rice pudding makes brilliant use of cardamom and saffron, and would make a special dessert for any occasion.

Sea salt and cardamom pretzels

The perfect balance of sweet and savoury, have a go at making these moreish sea salt pretzels using fragrant cardamom for a subtle spiced finish. Serve with soft cheese and wild honey, if you like.

Spiced coffee kulfi

Make the most of coffee granules with Nik Sharma's Indian frozen dessert, flavoured with cardamom, cinnamon and star anise.

Filo pastry with strawberries, rosewater and cardamom cream

This subtly floral filo pastry with strawberries, rosewater and cardamom cream is a lovely and light dessert for summer evenings. This recipe comes from Morito, Hackney.

No-churn Vietnamese coffee ice cream

This quick condensed milk ice cream is made extra fragrant thanks to cardamom and cinnamon, inspired by Vietnamese-style iced coffee.

Melon granita with cardamom cream

A brilliant make-ahead summer dessert, whip up this melon granita with cardamom cream in 30 minutes for your next dinner party.

Mango and cardamom shrikhand

This recipe for shrikhand, a traditional Indian dessert made from strained yogurt, is flavoured with mango and cardamom, and topped with a crunchy pistachio garnish.

Bitter orange and cardamom martinis

Martinis never fail to impress. For your next drinks party, give these bitter orange and cardamom cocktails a go, with added marmalade and lemon juice for an extra kick of flavour.

Cardamom and raspberry Swedish buns

These Scandinavian-style buns are flavoured with cardamom and filled with raspberries to make a sweet and moreish treat which family and friends will love.

Cardamom rice pudding

Creamy baked rice pudding is one of our favourite comfort foods, and this subtly spiced cardamom version is no different. It makes a great easy sharing dessert to serve up to the family after Sunday lunch.

Kashmiri saffron baba

This saffron baba comes soaked in a fragrant cardamom-spiked syrup.

Slow-braised lamb shanks with coconut and cardamom

In this special meal for two, slow-braised lamb shanks are flavoured with coconut and cardamom to make a delicious, fall-off-the-bone meat in a lightly spiced sauce.

Homemade shrubs

Grapefruit and cardamom mix to make a tangy fruity shrub – the perfect non-alcoholic thirst quencher at summer get-togethers.