Turmeric has been shown to be as effective or more effective than 14 major drugs. It is a fabulous anti-inflammatory agent and is the most researched and studied spice for it’s health giving benefits. It is used heavily in cooking in South East Asia, India and Mexico as it is used primarily in curries and chilli powders.
I have good memories of the stuff as my Dad would cook with it each Saturday lunchtime when he looked after us whilst my mum worked. He made us the most outrageous curries and stews, but everything was always yellow from his exuberant use of turmeric.
Here are 13 ways you can use it too:
Make your own curry powder by combining:
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- 1 tablespoon mustard seed
- ½ tablespoon coriander
- 1 teaspoon fenugreek
- 1 teaspoon fennel
- 1 teaspoon ginger
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
Mix cooked wholegrain rice with a handful of raisins, handful of chopped cashews a tablespoon olive oil and season with salt and ¼ – ½ teaspoon turmeric, cumin and coriander. Great for a packed lunch with some dark green leaves.
Add to any lentil or pulse dish for depth of flavour and colour.
Add to any curry or savoury mince dish (Shepherd’s Pie, meatballs etc) this is what my Dad did each week!
Add to egg mayonnaise – that will make your lunch shout “hello, look at me!”
Add to salad dressings.
Add to spicy lentil soup, tuna and sweetcorn soup.
Add to mashed potatoes, swede and carrot or cauliflower.
Add to bones when boiling them up after a roast. That broth will be a super food!
Failing all that – you can just take it as a pill. But where’s the fun in that?!
Here is a great article on 22 unusual things to do with turmeric.
Here’s a blog post about turmeric, but skip to the bottom for a recipe for turmeric tea — a real health booster.
And finally three recipes from Good Food that use it:
Enjoy some colour and health in your day with turmeric!
Hello! My name is Heidi Strickland-Clark and I run FastTrack Fit Camp, a health focussed bootcamp in the Wokingham area with venues in Swallowfield, Yateley, Winnersh, Wokingham, Twyford & Warfield. I have a love for all things food and health related and have more than a healthy preference for good, black coffee.