My mom used turmeric in many of my favorite childhood dishes, the most beloved by far was her cauliflower dish, which was dipped in eggs, fried and then cooked in turmeric sauce. It was bright yellow and delicious. Turmeric played a star role in our cuisine, which was a mixture of Israeli, Yemenite and Moroccan.
Turmeric has been used for thousands of years in many traditional cuisines, and it has been in the spot light recently because of it’s tremendous claims to health.
The active ingredient in turmeric is curcumin which is responsible to it’s bright yellow color, in fact, in Hebrew we call turmeric curcum. It is a powerful antioxidant with a long list of health benefits backed by many researches and studies.
• Turmeric is a powerful anti-inflammatory. It’s excellent for reducing joint pain, arthritis, inflamed knees and autoimmune diseases. It has also been shown to slow down Alzheimer’s disease.
• It is an effective liver detoxifier, helping to nourish our liver and cleanse our blood.
• It improves digestion and helps relive stomach upsets and nausea.
• Turmeric is anti-septic, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal. It is used in pastes to treat skin conditions, wounds and sprains.
• It helps to balance our cholesterol.
• It helps to clear the skin and has been used in many beauty products.
• Turmeric has been shown to fight many types of cancers and stop the growth of cancer cells.
In traditional Ayurveda turmeric is known to have a drying and heating properties.
It is therefore recommended to combine it with cooling foods like vegetables, lentils, chickpeas and grains and with cooling spices like cumin, fennel and coriander. Also use turmeric in combination with healthy oils like coconut oil and ghee because the active ingredients in turmeric are fat-soluble and won’t be properly absorbed otherwise.
When using turmeric powder please choose organic and high quality product like this one. Many of the commercial spices are filled with chemicals, additives, fillers and colors. I have been using fresh turmeric root more frequently, it is the most potent way to enjoy this amazing spice.
You can use turmeric in many different ways. Here are some delicious and easy ideas to integrate turmeric into your daily cuisine.
CURRIES
You can easily make curries using vegetables, legumes and animal proteins.
Start by heating up some coconut oil or ghee.
Add grated fresh turmeric (or ground), grated fresh ginger, cumin seeds/ground, coriander seeds/ground, chopped onions, chopped garlic, salt, pepper and cook in the oil for a few minutes.
Add vegetables, chicken, meet, fish, lentils or chickpeas.
You can add some coconut milk and a little water.
Cover and simmer until the food is cooked through.
Serve with chopped fresh coriander.
Try this wonderful curried cauliflower recipe:
Aloo Gobi
SOUPS
Sauté grated fresh turmeric (or ground) in a little coconut oil or ghee and add your favorite herbs and spices.
Add your soup ingredients like vegetables, lentils or diced chicken.
Add water or broth.
Bring to a boil, cover and simmer until cooked.
Try this creamy sweet vegetable soup:
Beta Goddess Soup
SALAD DRESSINGS
Create golden salad dressings by combining
Fresh grated turmeric (or ground)
Fats like olive oil, sesame oil or mashed avocado
Lemon juice, lime juice or vinegar
Fresh chopped herbs
Grated ginger
Mustard
Honey
The possibilities are endless, have fun and be creative.
SMOOTHIES
Making a smoothie using vegetables, fruit and super foods is a refreshing way to provide our bodies with lots of nutrients.
I recommend to use a high power blender that can liquefy and break the plants cell walls and make all those wonderful nutrients highly absorbable. I swear by my Vitamix and use it multiple times a day. Don’t have one and want to purchase it? Use this link to get free shipping on your Vitamix and even deeply discounted refurbished models.
To make a smoothie
Start with fruit: apple, pear, berries, banana, mango, pineapple…
Add greens: spinach, kale, parsley, collards…
Add other veggies: cucumber, celery, carrot, beet…
Add a 1/2-1 inch piece of peeled fresh turmeric and ginger
Add some healthy fats from: avocado, coconut oil, flax seeds, almonds…
Add water and ice to desired thickness
Blend until liquified
GOLDEN MILK
This Ayurvedic remedy is often prescribed to relieve arthritis pain and reduce inflammation. It is very soothing and helps wind down and sleep at the end of the day.
Put the following ingredients in a small saucepan:
2 cups of milk (organic cows milk, goat’s milk, almond milk, soy milk…)
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Pinch of cardamom
Pinch of freshly ground black pepper
Drop of grated fresh ginger
Bring to a boil, lower heat and simmer for about 20 minutes.
Add a teaspoon of coconut oil and dissolve.
Pour into a cup and let’s tend for a minute.
If you’d like it sweetened add a teaspoon of raw organic honey.
Sip slowly
Word of caution: turmeric stains! It has been traditionally used as a clothes dye and will stain your skin, dishes and clothes! If your skin got stains, wash it off, the stain will fade in a few hours.
Hop over to my Facebook page and let me know how you have been using the terrific turmeric.
xoxo
Rachel
