What is Turmeric?
Turmeric has been one of the trendiest spices for centuries. People are keen to search out different angles to use it in their existing meals. If we talk about India, it has literally been used for thousands of years. Popular spice in terms of taste many think about what does turmeric taste like? It is the taste and distinctive properties of turmeric that make it the most used spice in the world. If you search you can find that it is used in Indian curries, which is not surprising, as India produces 80% of turmeric in the world’s supply. So it is very genuine that most of the cuisine in India uses turmeric.
Turmeric is a type of Rhizome meaning it grows under the ground, if you look at the raw form of turmeric you will confuse it with fresh ginger. In the initial growing days, it looks like knobby skin and interior flesh that is orange not like bright yellow which we find in dried spice. It is called Indian Saffron because of the abundance it is found in.
You can find this spice in lattes, pies, and curries, and also in teas, and roasted vegetables. If you mix it with other spices it really enhances the taste of the dish, Be with us and know how about its taste and use of turmeric.
What Does Turmeric Taste Like To The Tastebuds?
Turmeric gained popularity because of its bright yellow color. If you pay attention, you might find out that it will leave stains on everything. When it is used in curries it gives it a bright yellow color, and if we use it with tofu scruble, then it looks yellow egg-like. But at the same time, it has a distinct taste too.
As expected from an underground stem, this golden-hued Indian spice has a pungent, slightly bitter, earthly, and a little peppery taste. It is a good team player when added with other spices which enhances the flavor of other spices. It does best with other strong spices like ginger, black pepper, and cumin. The bitterness of turmeric usually gets balanced by the sweetness of other spices and makes a perfect balance. You can easily find it in dried, ground form in your supermarket.
Health Benefits of Turmeric:
Turmeric has been used for centuries not just for its color and taste, it has strong digestive, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. Antioxidants are molecules that help to fix the damaging cells in your body. Turmeric is also used from ancient times in Indian Ayurveda and in Chinese medicine.
The main element of turmeric is curcumin which is mainly responsible for its bright yellow color and also it is responsible for its antioxidant properties. But at the same time, it is not easily absorbed by the body. If we join it with Blackpepper it will enhance its bioavailability.
Why Turmeric is used?
Turmeric has been used in Indian and Southeast Asian cuisine for as long as the time runs back and for Medicinal purposes.
Turmeric is used in India for respiratory, discomfort, joint, digestive, and skin problems. The rest of the world is using it as a dietary supplement for the treatment of digestive, allergies, depression, liver, and respiratory issues. There is scientific evidence that turmeric is useful to reduce inflammation. If we take turmeric with the doctor’s advice it is generally safe. But make sure to take advice from your medical supporter for uses of turmeric supplements.
How to use Turmeric in your meal?
The distinct flavor of turmeric plays a key role in many curries like korma, jalfrezi, bhuna, and madras. On the other hand, it will boost the flavor of soups, sauces, stews, marinades, and many more. You can use fresh turmeric in place of ground one. The only thing you have to do is grate it before using and adding it to your dish. Again be conscious it will leave stains so be careful.
Benefits of using Turmeric with Honey:
When we use these two substances together it will be beneficial in many terms. We know turmeric has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and honey is a natural sweetener that has antifungal and antibacterial properties. When we use both together it will boost our digestion, and immune system and reduce inflammation. Here we are giving a few ways to use both to gain optimum benefits:
Use in paste form:
Half a spoonful of turmeric powder and one tablespoon of honey mix well and use once or twice a day.
Tea of Turmeric:
Mix one tablespoon of turmeric with honey as per your taste. Stir it and drink it slowly. If you find Tumeric too strong feel free to use lemon juice in it. You can use both in your recipes, like mixing one tablespoon of each in your morning oatmeal, smoothie, or orange juice[if you use a little fresh ginger it will taste excellent].
Turmeric and honey are safe to use when used in a moderate amount but on the safer side, you should ask your doctor in cae you are breastfeeding or pregnant or facing some medical issues or on some medication.
What are the Ways to Store Turmeric:
You can keep dried turmeric for up to 1 year. Be sure to keep it in a dark, cool place, like your pantry. Always use an airtight container if you do not purchase in a jar.
For fresh turmeric, you can keep it in the fridge for two weeks. If you want to keep it in the freezer, you can keep it for several months. But make sure it will be tightly wrapped in a plastic bag.
Comparison between fresh and powdered Turmeric:
In India turmeric is found in both forms fresh and dried grounded form but in Western countries, it is mostly found in dried form. Before choosing the right Turneric, you should take some things into consideration:
Taste: Both forms taste similar but the ground form is much stronger than the fresh one which is slightly citrusy in taste. If you want to use turmeric in fresh form you have to use a quantity four times greater than in grounded form.
Look: The fresh turmeric looks like ginger roots. Powdered turmeric has a bright yellow color.
Storing: Store fresh turmeric in the fridge, use cling film to pack it tightly for about a week, and in the case of the freezer you can keep it for three months. Use an airtight container for one-year storage. If you keep it loose and do not store it properly it will lose its taste and properties.
Different Recipies with Turmeric:
1. Turmeric, Ginger and Carrot Soup
We wish for a steaming bowl of comforting and healing soup on chilly days. It is perfect for those foggy days. It will give you a warm feeling and nutrition to fight seasonal diseases. Here we are going to learn a nourishing soup of turmeric, carrots, garlic, onions, and curry powder.
Ingredients:
- Coconut Oil: 2 tbs
- Yellow Onion: 1 medium, diced
- Garlic Cloves: 2, minced
- Grated Ginger: 1tbs
- Turmeric: 1tbs
- Curry Powder: 1tbs
- Carrots: 3 cups diced
- Sweet Potato: 1 cup, diced, unpeeled
- Vegetable broth: 4 cups
- Coconut Milk: 1 cup, canned
- Salt: 1 1/2 tbs
Preparation:
- Keep the large pot on medium flame, and heat the oil
- Add onion and garlic
- Saute for 10 mins while stirring frequently
- Add ginger, turmeric, and curry powder and saute for 2-3 minutes more
- Add carrots, sweet potatoes, and broth
- Bring it to a simmer
- Top the pot with a lid leaving space for steam release.
- Simmer for 20 mins and cool for 5 mins
- Blend the mixture of carrot-sweet potato mixture till a smooth mixture
- Pour into pot, add coconut milk and salt, and enjoy.
2. Turmeric-Pineapple juice
Ingredients:
- Pineapple: 1/2 medium, coarsely chopped
- Golden beets: 2, medium, peeled, and coarsely chopped
- Fresh Turmeric: 3 tbs coarsely chopped
- Fresh Ginger: 3 tbs coarsely chopped
- Caroot: 5 large, finely chopped
- orange: 4 peeled
- Lemon Juice: 2tbs
- Water:1 cup(if blending)
Preparation:
- Mix processed pineapple, beets, turmeric, ginger, carrots, and oranges in a juicer.
- Transfer into a glass,
- Add lemon juice and serve.
For the blending process:
- Blend pineapple, beets, turmeric, ginger, carrots, oranges, lemon juice, and water in a high-speed blender.
- Blend till smooth
- Pour all the mixture through a nut-milk-straining bag over a large bowl.
- Squeeze the contents with your hands.
- Pour into glass and serve.
3. Crispy-bottomed Yellow Rice
Ingredients(for 4 servings):
- Chicken Soup: 2 cup
- Saffron Thread: 2 pinches
- Ground Turmeric: 1 1/2
- Golden Raisins: 1/4 cup(about a handful)
- Butter: 1tbs
- Rice: 1 cup
- Dry Marcona Almonds: 1/4 cup for garnish
Preparation:
- Keep a Medium-sized non-stick pan on the flame
- Bring the chicken stock, saffron, turmerics, raisins, and butter up to a bubble
- Add rice to the pot
- Reduce heat to low and cover.
- Cook for 15 mins stirring occasionally
- Increase the flame to medium
- Remove the lid
- Cook until the bottom is light golden brown and crispy about 5 mins.
- Serve the rice garnished with Marcona almonds.
4. Turmeric Latte
Ingredients:
- Unsweetened Vanilla milk, or coconut milk: 1 cup
- Turmeric: 1/2 tbs
- Cinnamon: 1/3 tbs
- Cayenne: A dash
- Coconut Oil: 2tbs
- Maple Syrup or coconut sugar(optional): 1tbs
Preparation:
- Blend all the ingredients in a blender on medium
- Pour into saucepan
- Heat for 2-4 minutes
Conclusion:
Turmeric is all in all magic for us as it has both medicinal and taste-related value too. As many people think what does turmeric taste like? Here we got the answer. Turmeric has a little bitter and earthy taste but when we use it with other spices it enhances the taste of other spices. When we use it in the form of fresh raw form it looks like ginger as it comes from the same rhizome species.
