2016 is the year of turmeric. Related to ginger, this root is farmed throughout Asia and Africa and gives curry powders and mustards their golden yellow hue. Long an aid for digestion, skin issues and joint pain due to its active ingredient, curcumin, turmeric is now being studied for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Perhaps this is why turmeric was such a hot search term, according to Google’s recent food trends report.
You can use it in its harder-to-find root form, grating it like ginger, or in its more common powder form. Whether you’re adding it to your food for its potential health benefits or because you like the taste and color it imparts, you can’t go wrong adding it to a myriad of dishes.
Top Ten Favorite Turmeric-Flavored Recipes
1. Grilled Veggie Soft Tacos with Cilantro Slaw and Spiced Crema
Add a dash of the golden spice to, well, spice up your next Taco Tuesday.
2. Lamb Tikka Masala
An easy recipe for this classic Indian dish is kissed with the yellow goodness.
3. Golden Milk Ice Cream
Making coconut ice cream is perhaps the most creative way to use the spice, which has potential blood sugar-lowering properties.
4. Mango Turmeric Smoothie
Boost your metabolism in the morning while satisfying your sweet tooth.
5. Macro Bowl with Turmeric-Tahini Dressing
Tahini, another classic Middle Eastern ingredient, pairs wonderfully with the spice in this nutritious bowl.
6. Turmeric-Spiced Cauliflower with Toasted Almonds
Cauliflower and almonds pair well together and make a great side dish, especially dusted with the yellow spice.
7. Turmeric Egg Salad Sandwich
A twist on the classic egg salad recipe guaranteed to shake up your lunch rut.
8. Sfufs- Middle Eastern Turmeric Cake
With only a few simple ingredients and a tablespoon of the spice, you can make this vegan and gluten-free cake in almost no time at all.
9. Turmeric Chicken
Give a chicken a wake-up call with a hint of the spice.
10. Ginger Turmeric Spiced Spring Carrot Soup
This comforting soup with a velvety texture has an added benefit—it freezes well.
