Please help me with coconut chicken!

[Nikki NYC]

My husband is annoyed that I don't make dinner every night, so I wanted to make the coconut chicken recipe from the NYT a few weeks back. However, I forgot to get ginger from the store and I can't go back because my toddler is asleep. What can I substitute for ginger?

[Nikki NYC]

Thanks everyone! I chickened out (about getting creative) and made breaded cutlets. The ginger coconut will happen, though, don't worry! :-)

[overthinkit]

I realize it's probably too late now, but on that link you posted there are two very simple alternative recipes, one with mustard and one with citrus. How about one of those?

[Selkie]

Your husband is annoyed that you don't cook dinner every night? Please purchase him a wooden spoon, a simple stockpot, a map leading to your faucet, stove, and refrigerator, and a clue. This is not just about marital roles and expectations: everyone of every gender should know how to cook well enough to get by for themselves. Or, you know, you're in NYC; he could pick up takeout on the way home.

Forgotten ginger notwithstanding -- I don't see how you could make this particular recipe without it, so maybe swap it up with some other chicken recipe on your meal plan for the week -- I applaud your choice of a quickly-prepped meal with a short list of ingredients. Maybe go with the citrus instead and swap out orange juice -- or even apple juice -- for the orange in the pan sauce?

[ludmilasdaughter]

That was my first reaction to reading the OP as well. And I agree that when a recipe only calls for four ingredients, and one of them is the spice, it's really hard to sub it out for something else.

[hawkeyeui93]

Common ginger substitutes include allspice, cinnamon, mace, or nutmeg ...

[wyogal]

Maybe for cookies, but those ingredient substitutes will really change the flavor.

[goodhealthgourmet]

they're also better substitutes for *dried* ginger, and the chicken recipe calls for fresh - big difference in flavor.

[goodhealthgourmet]

there's really no substitute for fresh ginger, and since that recipe only contains 4 ingredients, a substitution will really change the flavor. could you make a different chicken recipe tonight and save that one for another time?

[Nikki NYC]

I was supposed to make it last night but there was no time. Yikes!

[hotoynoodle]

i haven't seen the recipe, but you don't "need" ginger for coconut chicken.

[goodhealthgourmet]

you do for this one:
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/20...

[hotoynoodle]

ok, well, other flavors complement coconut, like lime or orange zest, cumin, sesame, red chile, etc.

[wyogal]

Thanks for the link, those look good and easy!

[goodhealthgourmet]

you're welcome :) the funny thing is that i'd typically rather stab myself in the eye with a fork than watch morning shows, but i happened to catch Bittman demoing those recipes on TV last week when Mom & Sis had it on (don't know if it was The Today Show, GMA, or something else)....and i just kept thinking that he wasn't making them look nearly as appetizing as they probably tasted!