Turmeric is a Colorful Way to Beat Winter

Don’t ignore the most brightly hued jar in your spice drawer. Turmeric isn’t just for making homemade curry powder any more. As more and more of its health benefits surface, winter is the time to enjoy turmeric’s sunshiny quality in everything from teas to egg dishes to lamb.

In the cold and snowy months, everyone wants a little health boost, whether it’s to keep energy up for a skiing outing – or to help fight off a cold. The nice thing about this little spice is that it has a high antioxidant value, which helps boosts the body’s immune system. Also, curcumin (the most active substance in turmeric) acts as an anti-inflammatory, helping to fight rheumatoid arthritis, and to keep us warm and active in the cold winter months.

Hello, gorgeous health!

Here are some of our favorite ways to use turmeric in cooking:

Lemon Turmeric Tea

This is a beautiful drink to warm up with.

Ingredients:

1. 1 cup boiling water

2. 1 tablespoon of lemon juice

3. ¼ teaspoon of ground turmeric

4. ¼ teaspoon ground ginger

5. Honey (optional)

Add the lemon juice, turmeric and ginger to the water. Add honey if you have a sweet tooth.

Yield: 1 cup

Turmeric Rice with Chilies and Pepitas

This stunning dish will be a family favorite.

Ingredients:

1. 1 tablespoon olive oil

2. 1 small onion, diced

3. 1 cup basmati rice

4. 2 cups chicken or vegetable broth

5. 1 teaspoon ground turmeric

6. ½ teaspoon chili powder

7. ½ teaspoon chipotle powder

8. 1 tablespoon pepitas, roughly chopped

Instructions:

Saute the onion in olive oil over medium heat in a small saucepan. When the onion is translucent, add the rice and stir for 1 minute. Add the broth, turmeric, chili powder and chipotle powder. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat, and let steam for 15 minutes. Gently stir in the pepitas.

Serves 4.

Additional Ideas:

1. Sprinkle turmeric into scrambled eggs, or a vegetable frittata.

2. Whisk into a meat marinade for lamb or chicken.

3. Add into lemon hummus to brighten color.

Once you start playing with this gorgeous little spice, you’ll find lots of ways to incorporate it into your menu for both taste and health.