3 Surprising Culinary Uses for Cinnamon

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One of winter’s most popular spices is cinnamon. It’s very common to see cinnamon-flavored sweets and drinks during the coldest months of the year.

Not only is cinnamon tasty, but it also has numerous health benefits, as it’s loaded with antioxidants and also works as to regulate blood sugar levels and as an anti-inflammatory.

We all know how delicious cinnamon rolls and cinnamon tea are, but here are 3 uses for cinnamon in the kitchen that you might not know.

A seasoning for meat dishes

Surprisingly, cinnamon can be a delicious component to the seasoning for various meat dishes.

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Cinnamon is can be used in combination with other spices to season oven-roasted pork and chicken, and is even a crucial ingredient in dishes like Indian Butter Chicken and Moroccan meatballs.

An ingredient in cold drinks

Typically, we associate cinnamon as an ingredient in drinks that are hot, such as in tea and coffee-based beverages.

However, it’s also possible to use cinnamon in cold drinks. A cinnamon-flavored cashew or almond milk can be a refreshing treat, and the classic Spanish and Mexican beverage horchata also contains cinnamon.

A delicious addition to pasta dishes

What? Cinnamon in pasta?

It might seem strange, but cinnamon can be used to give your pasta dishes a delicious twist. You can add cinnamon to a classic meat sauce to add pizazz to a boring pasta recipe, or in conjunction with walnuts or almonds and goat cheese to make a great fall or winter pasta dish.