3 Reasons Why You Should Focus on Turmeric

Spices have been in kitchens for thousands of years. Today, consumer trends show that spices have become more popular than ever. Tasty spices are an excellent way to add flavor to basic recipes without relying on salt.

Nowadays, spices like allspice, cardamom, cayenne, cinnamon, coriander, cumin, curry powder, nutmeg, paprika, ginger, fennel seed, and turmeric top the list of common kitchen spices. Turmeric is a popular choice for Middle Eastern, Indian, and Caribbean dishes. Notwithstanding, this article explores three reasons why you should focus on turmeric.

1. It tastes great
One significant thing about turmeric is that it has a great taste. Turmeric spice originates from a root that bears a striking resemblance to ginger. The root tastes bitter on its own, which is why many recipes combine it with other sweeter spices.

Turmeric has a natural pungent, earthy-sweet taste. Powdered turmeric is more potent than fresh turmeric. If you decide to use fresh turmeric, make sure you add enough to achieve your desired flavor. More importantly, store your turmeric in an airtight container to prevent it from spoiling. Keep the container in the dark, cool place, preferably a cabinet or pantry.

You can opt for fresh or dried turmeric. Some stores sell different kinds of turmeric, including turmeric powder, turmeric supplements (great for healthy digestion!), and fresh turmeric. Fresh turmeric, however, is more common in Asian supermarkets.


2. It’s versatile for cooking
Turmeric’s great taste makes it ideal for many recipes. This unique spice is a critical component of many southeast Asia and Indian recipes. Indians add turmeric at the beginning of the cooking process. Sometimes, the spice is sautéed with onions, garlic, and ginger.

In many countries, turmeric is a major ingredient for making curry. It is also an excellent addition to salad dressings and veggies. Feel free to try it when making traditional dishes like grilled chicken breasts, roasted carrot, and mac and cheese.

Turmeric is also great for baked foods like cake, bread, and doughnuts. Today, turmeric forms a significant part of drink recipes. Turmeric lattes, tonics and teas have become quite popular in recent years.

3. It has a nice colour
One striking feature you cannot rule out is its distinctive color. Turmeric is referred to in many quarters as a natural food dye because of its vivid color. A spoonful of turmeric spice is enough to add a vibrant shade of golden yellow to any cuisine.

The golden yellow color of turmeric comes from curcumin. Just so you know; turmeric gives curry powder its color. The best part is that turmeric barely changes color no matter how long it stays, as long as you keep it away from light.

Turmeric’s color is more stable than its flavor because of the potency of the curcumin molecule. If you decide to get all handsy with turmeric, keep in mind that it can leave your fingers with a golden glow. More so, it can stain whatever it is you are putting on to cook.
 

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This article published on
25 September 2021

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