How to Cook With Turmeric (+ Recipes)

Turmeric Hot Chocolate By Happy Foods Tube/Shutterstock

Everyone now seems to know how good turmeric is for your body and mind, but how do you use it in cooking?

When it comes to eating healthy, spices are many times overlooked. So if you want to supercharge the health benefits of the foods you’re already eating while adding more interest to your meals, head to the spice rack.

In the spice world, turmeric is the gold standard when it comes to healing properties — both in Eastern and Western medicine. Sadly, few people know how to use it and make it taste delicious. For sure, it has a unique flavor that’s not as approachable as cinnamon or some of the other spices you may be used too. It can range from fairly mild (white turmeric and turmeric from the Andes) to slightly bitter and astringent like the yellow Indian turmeric that you find in curry powder.

But even if you’re not a huge fan of its taste, the great news is that turmeric pairs well with almost any other spice like cinnamon, black pepper, nutmeg, and ginger — and tends to be a bit of a chameleon based of the flavors you mix in!

Science And Holistic Tradition

The healing benefits of turmeric are well documented and in fact there are several compelling studies done in recent years on obesity in animal trials and diabetes in a small human trial.

In ancient Ayurveda, turmeric is considered a curative panacea and yogis to this day eat plenty of turmeric and even bath in it. Its astringent nature is prized for “drawing out” poisons or infection in the body — but from the medical studies turmeric has the ability to quench inflammation (which is at the root of so many health issues). Ayurveda considers turmeric to be purifying in nature for both the skin and blood.

In Western medicine, the active ingredient in turmeric called curcumin (not to be confused with cumin) continues to wow the medical community because of its multi-faceted curative benefits.

From boosting your memory, to helping your body recover from neurodegenerative diseases, like Alzheimer’s and even wiping out ulcers in animal trials.

Turmeric Tarapong srichaiyos/Shutterstock

Shopping And Storage

Turmeric, like ginger, comes in a compact little root that’s simple to cook with if you can find the fresh root. Gourmet grocery chains like Whole Foods carry whole yellow turmeric root, and both yellow turmeric and white are quite easy to order over the internet and range from $10 to $20, a nice 1 pound supply that will last a month in your fridge if stored properly.

Ground yellow turmeric from India is a staple in the spice isle of any local grocery store. Store ground turmeric in a dark cool cabinet or spice rack (away from direct light that can damage the natural oils and pigment where the active compounds reside). For the fresh root, layer an air-tight container with clean dry paper towels. Arrange one layer of roots and top with another paper towel. Repeat and close. Keep refrigerated, changing the paper towels as they become damp, to keep the roots from molding.

Cooking With Turmeric

Turmeric is simple to cook with, but to unleash the full potency it has to be eaten warm in a dish that contains healthy fats — since many of the vital compounds are fat-soluble.

If you’re using the whole root, peel the skin off with a potato peeler and finely mince as you would with ginger root. Saute with carrots, onions, celery, for any recipes that use cooked vegetables (like soups, stir-frys, chilies, stews).

If you’re a fan of mashed potatoes or mashed sweet potatoes, simply add finely grated turmeric (1 teaspoon for every two potatoes). For the ground dried turmeric: add to your steak or chicken rub, add a pinch to salad dressings, or mix in to your marinara or hot sauce. Add dressing or sauce will easily accommodate a pinch without changing the flavor much.

If you’re a smoothie fan like me, turmeric is the ideal booster to add to your smoothie repertoire. Orange turmeric pairs well with orange, pink or red superfoods like carrot, pumpkin, red bell pepper, raspberries, goji berries and citrus. Add 1 teaspoon of the minced root or 1/8 teaspoon ground to your smoothie ingredient list and blend away. Add finely grated or powdered turmeric to hot teas, coffee drinks, and low-sugar fruit juices like grapefruit and unsweetened cranberry.

Turmeric Hot Chocolate

Enjoy this hot chocolate that’s bursting with antioxidant-rich cocoa and spices. Avoid though coco mixes since they contain less of the real ground cocoa beans and add preservatives and sugar.

Serves 1

• 1 cup whole milk preferably grass-fed, plain unsweetened coconut milk, or plain, unsweetened almond milk
• 1 tablespoon unsweetened cacao powder
• 2 teaspoons sweetener of your choice such as honey, brown sugar, or stevia
• 1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric or 1/2 teaspoon finely grated, peeled turmeric root
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Place the milk, cocoa powder, sweetener, turmeric, and cinnamon in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, whisking occasionally until the cocoa and spices are mixed well and the mixture is warm.

Nutritional stats per serving (1 cup made with whole milk and stevia): 164 calories, 8 g protein, 15 g carbohydrates, 12 g sugars, 17 g fat, 4 g saturated fat, 24 mg cholesterol, 2 g fiber, 106 mg sodium

Republished from: GreenMedInfo.com