Do you have a jar of turmeric languishing in your spice cupboard? Or perhaps you're looking for ways to add it to your diet in response to all the recent studies indicating its health-promoting and disease-preventing properties. Turmeric has long been a staple in Indian curries as well as in foods like mustard (it provides that golden yellow color!), but there are lots of other ways to eat and drink this spice. Here are seven easy ideas.
  • 1. Add it to scrambles and frittatas. Use a pinch of turmeric in scrambled eggs, a frittata, or tofu scramble. If you or your family are new to turmeric, this is a great place to start because the color is familiar and the flavor subtle.
→ Recipe: Southwestern Tofu Scramble
  • 2. Toss it with roasted vegetables. Turmeric's slightly warm and peppery flavor works especially well with cauliflower, potatoes, and root vegetables.
→ Recipe: Cauliflower Steaks with Ginger, Turmeric, and Cumin
  • 3. Add it to rice. A dash of turmeric brings color and mild flavor to a pot of plain rice or a fancier pilaf.
→ Recipe: Fragrant Yellow Rice
  • 4. Try it with greens. Sprinkle turmeric into sautéed or braised greens like kale, collards, and cabbage.
→ Recipe: Cabbage in Mild Yogurt and Mustard Seed Curry
  • 5. Use it in soups. A bowl of vegetable or chicken soup feels even more warming when it's tinged with golden turmeric.
→ Recipe: Creamy Curried Cauliflower Soup
  • 6. Blend it into a smoothie. While fresh turmeric root is especially great in juices and smoothies, a pinch of ground spice is good, too. The slightly pungent flavor is usually well masked in smoothies.
→ Recipe: Superpower Morning Smoothie (the recipe doesn't call for turmeric but you can definitely add it!)
  • 7. Make tea. Simmer turmeric with milk and honey to make an earthy and comforting beverage.
→ Recipe: Turmeric-Ginger Tea
→ An additional tip: If you're looking to get the health benefits of turmeric, pair it with pepper. Herbalist Rosalee de la Forêt tells us, "To get the most out of your turmeric add 3% black pepper to the mix. Black pepper improves the bioavailability of turmeric, making smaller doses more effective." This works out to about 1/2 teaspoon of ground pepper to 1/4 cup of turmeric. To make it easy, I simply premix pepper into my jar of turmeric.