cardamom Cardamom is a spice used in making sweets, baked goods, and many Indian savory dishes. Cardamom seeds, freshly ground, are an important ingredient in many masala (or curry powder) blends. The cardamom called for in the recipes in this book is green cardamom, either whole pods or seeds. There are a few black seeds in each small pod. White cardamom is a bleached version of green cardamom; if you have a choice, buy the green, since it is generally more aromatic. Do not buy ground cardamom, since it often has very little flavor. Cardamom is available in many large grocery stores, as well as from South Asian shops and well-stocked specialty stores. (Black cardamom is a different spice, also used in India; brown cardamom is used in Ethiopian cuisine.)