14 Gloriously Golden Turmeric Ideas!

Turmeric Curcumin, native to southeast India, and once a secret known primarily to the Indian culture, has rapidly risen in popularity in the more recent years; and for obvious reasons. In Okinawa, Japan, where people tend to live very long lives, large quantities of turmeric tea is ingested daily. It is often taken on its own or with ginger to aid healing, both internal and external. One of its active ingredient is curcumin, a naturally occurring phenol (plant antioxidant) that gives it that gorgeous, rich orange color. Having been used for thousands of years ceremoniously and medicinally, many of us are left wondering how to incorporate this sacred, aromatic rhizome into our daily lives. If you have never experimented with turmeric, you are in for a wonderful surprise!

Turmeric has a peppery, warm and slightly bitter flavor with a fragrance slightly reminiscent of orange and ginger. This herb can easily and tastefully be added to many dressings, dishes, and drinks. Are you looking for creative ways to experience the vast benefits of this herb, and easily incorporate into your daily life? Well, look no further, we have put together some tips for easily doing so and it’s even more delicious than you can imagine!

#1 Basting, Braising & Marinating Meats & Fish with a pinch of Turmeric adds a sharp and earthy flavor complementing any kind of poultry or seafood giving a warm color while accenting the natural flavor of the meat. Simply add Turmeric to your favorite sauces, juices, and fats for added flavor and aroma. Works especially well combined with garlic, ginger, cumin and coriander.

#2 Stir-Fry shrimp or scallops in a spicy blend of turmeric, cayenne, salt, minced garlic and green onions.    Add a pinch to coconut milk “cream” sauce for vegetables or seafood.

#3 Salad Dressings can be easily combined with a small amount of turmeric for added flavor along with many other benefits. Play around with it, and assess how much is the right amount of flavor for your taste

#4 Flavorful Vegetables can be achieved by sautéing a pinch of turmeric in ghee for a few seconds before adding in your favorite vegetables. No need to stop there, for even more flavor try adding in some of your favorite spices. I find that garlic, ginger, cumin and coriander compliment the flavor quite nicely.

#5 Golden Milk is a traditional Ayurvedic concoction- simple and soothing. Combine hot milk (dairy free substitute: coconut milk or almond milk) with 1 teaspoon powdered Turmeric, 2 teaspoons of ghee.

Optional: add 1 tablespoon of raw honey. If you’re drinking before bed, add ½ teaspoon each of nutmeg, cinnamon, and cardamom for extra benefits.

#6 Rejuvenating Almond Drink; soak 12(approx.) almonds in one cup of water along with a chopped date and a sprinkling of turmeric and cardamom overnight.  The next morning, peel the almonds, toss into the blender and drink-up!

#7 Smoothies can be made even more healthful by adding a sprinkle of turmeric. To begin, test it out with a small amount and build from there. Many find that it works well in smoothies, even in larger amounts.

#8 Turmeric Tea will provide a quick, healthy “pick-me-up”: Dissolve 1 teaspoon powdered turmeric in a cup of boiling water, and add 1 teaspoon of raw honey, the juice of a lemon wedge. Drink up! If desired, add cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, and coconut milk.

#9 Eggs have never been so delicious!  Combine a pinch with dried or fresh parsley or cilantro and sprinkle over poached eggs for added flavor. Scrambled eggs will benefit equally- Simply beat 4 eggs with 2 tablespoons of coconut milk and add a healthy pinch of turmeric powder along with sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste.  Scramble the eggs in one tablespoon of organic virgin coconut oil or organic virgin sesame oil.  Serves 2.

#10 Make creamy golden parsnip soup:  Simmer chopped parsnips in vegetable or chicken stock with turmeric and other favorite seasonings, then puree.  For extra creaminess, add a splash of coconut milk.

#11 Make golden mashed rutabagas:  Sauté chopped onions and rutabaga in extra virgin olive oil or virgin coconut oil with a pinch of turmeric and sea salt for 3 to 5 minutes.  Add a little chicken stock and simmer until vegetables are tender, adding more stock if needed to prevent sticking or burning.  Mash with coconut milk and serve with chopped fresh chives.

#12 Enhance Coffee with ghee, turmeric, and cinnamon. Blend it well with a hand blender for one powerful morning beverage!

It has been shown that curcumin is more easily absorbed into the bloodstream when consumed alongside black pepper, which contains piperine, a natural substance that enhances the absorption of curcumin by 2000%. With that being said, work to include black pepper into any Turmeric dishes to enhance the benefits. Additionally, for maximum benefits, cook it in Pure Indian Foods Grassfed Organic Ghee.

Unlike the yellow color of the turmeric powder commonly available, our organic premium quality Turmeric powder has a beautiful orange color. Why? It is made from a special variety of turmeric root that is naturally high in curcumin (minimum 5%). 100% Pure and USDA Certified Organic.  Non-GMO, No Additives, No Preservatives, No Fillers. Non-Irradiated. The only bulk organic turmeric powder freshly packed in glass jars.

Turmeric translates as ‘The Golden Goddess’, and has no problem living up to its strong name. We hope that you are taking measures to enjoy all of the benefits of this herb in your daily life.