25 Tasty Turmeric Recipes to Spice Up Your Life (2024)

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Ariel Knutson

Ariel Knutson

Arie was the Features Director at Kitchn. She lives in Los Angeles.

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updated Mar 5, 2021

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Have you fallen in love with turmeric yet? This potent and aromatic spice, which comes fresh or dried, adds a ton of flavor and color to everything from curries to cakes. You don’t need a lot of turmeric for it to have a powerful impact. So whether you have a jar of it lurking in the back of your pantry and want to use it up, or simply have a strong desire to add more spice to your life, these 25 recipes will help you in your mission.

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Roasted Cauliflower in Turmeric Kefir

Enjoy this spicy, stew-y dinner over rice or with parathas.

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Roasted Eggplant and Brown Rice Bowl with Turmeric Tahini

This vibrant grain bowl is topped with chickpeas, roasted eggplant, and a vibrant turmeric tahini sauce.

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25

Heirloom Tomato Salad with Turmeric Yogurt

Turmeric yogurt is topped with a variety of different types of heirloom tomatoes in this summer recipe. The whole dish is drizzled with a homemade green goddess sauce.

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25

Creamy Turmeric Chicken Skillet

This creamy one-skillet chicken dinner gets a double dose of vibrant turmeric and is finished with a lush sauce.

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Smashed Cucumbers with Turmeric, Coconut, and Peanuts

Turmeric-spiked coconut oil travels into the nooks and crannies of smashed cucumbers, while toasted coconut flakes and peanuts add a welcome crunch to the mix.

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Fire Cider

Your cold won't know what hit it.

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25

Curried Corn and Coconut Rice

This vegan side dish uses a heaping 2 tablespoons of turmeric. Put that over luscious coconut rice and find true happiness.

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8

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25

Cauliflower Cake

This Insta-famous cauliflower cake from Yotam Ottolenghi is good hot or at room temperature.

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25

Kerala Coconut Chicken Curry

This gorgeous chicken recipe comes together with the help of your pressure cooker. There's only one teaspoon of turmeric in this recipe, but it melds super well with the other spices.

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Kitchari

This recipe transforms a mess of beans and rice into something dinner-worthy. If you want something cheap and delicious and full of spices, this is the meal for you.

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25

Vegan Creamy Curried Cauliflower Soup

Everyone knows cauliflower is the most magical vegetable. Like tofu, it takes on all the stuff around it and makes it better. Only 1/2 a teaspoon of turmeric makes this soup a golden yellow-orange.

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Legume (Noodle) Soup

Ottolgenhi was inspired by Persian cuisine for this recipe. The soup is thick enough by itself that you can skip the noodles and it would still be delightful.

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Cauliflower Steaks with Ginger, Turmeric, and Cumin

Turmeric and cauliflower are BFF, and this recipe proves the relationship. You sear the steak on the stovetop, sprinkle it with a spice mixture, and then roast. So easy, right? Serve with cilantro and quinoa.

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Sunshine Smoothie with Coconut, Clementine and Turmeric

Feeling a little under the weather? This smoothie packed with vitamin C and turmeric will help you survive the storm.

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15

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Persian Herb Frittata (Kuku Sabzi)

Fresh parsley, cilantro, chives, and dill are the stars of this recipe, although you can substitute leeks, scallions, tarragon, spinach, or other tender greens you have on hand. Turmeric adds a nice touch of color to the whole dish.

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25

Moroccan Chicken with Preserved Lemons

This deeply satisfying chicken recipe is full of preserved lemons, olives, and a ton of spices.

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The next time you have a giant squash staring at you in your kitchen, turn it into this flavorful curry.

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18

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Wild Rice Bowl with Red Lentil-Coconut Curry and Spinach

Lunch, is that you? This grain bowl is not messing around. You can't go wrong with lentil curry.

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19

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Southwestern Tofu Scramble

Tofu scrambles are a great recipe to have in your back pocket because they're so darn simple and can often trick even the most ardent tofu-hater into sitting down to a hearty, vegetarian breakfast.

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20

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The Superfood Baked Potato

That yellow sauce oozing from the potato? That's turmeric mixed with yogurt.

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21

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Turmeric-Ginger Tea

This is the easiest recipe that features turmeric. Just combine water, turmeric, ginger, and maybe some milk and honey if you're into that kind of thing. Perfect for flu season.

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22

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25

Paneer Mughlai Curry

This recipe is incredibly adaptable. If you're pressed for time, or if you want a lighter version of the recipe, there are directions for how to make it happen.

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23

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Popeye Pesto Tofu Scramble

This delicious tofu scramble includes homemade pesto and turmeric for added flavor and color. Serve it in a tortilla or eat it straight.

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24

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Lamb Korma

Combine lamb, coconut milk, and all the spices in your apartment, and this is the end result.

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25

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Turmeric Switchel

For a brighter, more lively flavor, opt for fresh over dried turmeric here.

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25 Tasty Turmeric Recipes to Spice Up Your Life (2024)

FAQs

What is the best ingredient to mix with turmeric? ›

It's also found in chutneys, as well as the spice mixture garam masala. Some studies have shown that combining turmeric with both black pepper and a fat source, such as olive or coconut oil can improve the absorption of curcumin by the body. The culinary uses for turmeric are endless!

How do you use turmeric as a spice? ›

A half a teaspoon of ground turmeric is usually plenty for seasoning bean dishes, rice dishes, whole grains, soups, stews, sauces, marinades, and pickling brines. Ground turmeric can also be used to add appetizing color to a breakfast scramble, a creamy batch of mac and cheese, and even cakes and desserts.

What is the best way to consume turmeric? ›

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.

What are the side effects of taking turmeric? ›

Turmeric in food is considered safe. However, taking large amounts of turmeric and curcumin in supplement form for long periods of time may cause stomach upset and, in extreme cases, ulcers. People who have gallstones or obstruction of the bile passages should talk to their doctor before taking turmeric.

What Cannot be mixed with turmeric? ›

Avoid using turmeric together with other herbal/health supplements that can also affect blood-clotting. This includes angelica (dong quai), capsicum, clove, dandelion, danshen, evening primrose, garlic, ginger, ginkgo, horse chestnut, Panax ginseng, poplar, red clover, saw palmetto, and willow.

What should not be taken with turmeric? ›

Taking turmeric supplements may put you at a higher risk of getting kidney stones. Don't take turmeric supplements if: You're taking aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil , Motrin ), or Acetaminophen (Tylenol ). Turmeric may lessen the effects of these medications.

What foods taste best with turmeric? ›

I've got 7 different ways to use turmeric, but keep in mind, there are a million more possibilities!
  • Soup. My favorite way to use turmeric is in soups. ...
  • Curry. Since turmeric is traditionally used in Indian and South Asian cuisine, it pairs super well with curries. ...
  • Oatmeal. ...
  • Eggs. ...
  • Dressing. ...
  • Sweet Treats. ...
  • Golden Milk.
Mar 9, 2020

What makes turmeric taste better? ›

Although turmeric can be used by itself, the best thought is always to use it as a background to other flavours: if you find you have added too much and created unwanted bitterness, counteract this with lime or lemon juice rather than with any sweetness.

How to use turmeric to lose belly fat? ›

Add a dash of turmeric and ginger to the water and bring it to a boil. Once boiled, turn off the heat and let it cool to room temperature. Drink the tea daily to see effective results. Ginger acts as a natural appetite suppressant, which is one of the best ways to lose weight.

Can I just sprinkle turmeric on my food? ›

You can add turmeric powder to food. It's often used to flavor dishes like curry, soups, and roasted meat. One of the most traditional ways to consume turmeric is in a warm drink known as golden milk. While tasty, your body doesn't absorb turmeric very well from food.

Is 1 teaspoon of turmeric a day enough? ›

How much turmeric should you consume to retain the health benefits? Here are a few helpful tips to get you started. Sayer uses 1/2 - 1.5 teaspoons per day of the dried root powder, certified organic. A typical dose of supplemental curcumin is about 250mg per day, and often increased when dealing with a condition.

Should I drink turmeric in the morning or night? ›

A study that looked at urine markers of oxidative stress found no difference between night-time or day-time turmeric consumption. Researchers do recommend taking turmeric with a meal, since that can support easier absorption.

What organ does turmeric affect? ›

Turmeric might harm the liver. Some medications can also harm the liver. Taking turmeric along with a medication that can harm the liver might increase the risk of liver damage.

Is it OK to have turmeric everyday? ›

High doses of turmeric and curcumin are not recommended long-term since research confirming their safety is lacking. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) has determined 1.4 mg per pound (0–3 mg per kilogram) of body weight an acceptable daily intake ( 14 ).

Is turmeric bad for your kidneys or liver? ›

Curcumin, which is the main bioactive component in turmeric, is a powerful antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties. However, while turmeric and curcumin are generally safe to consume, too much of a good thing can be dangerous. One of the risks is that large doses can be bad for your kidneys.

How much turmeric should you take a day? ›

High doses of turmeric and curcumin are not recommended long-term since research confirming their safety is lacking. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) has determined 1.4 mg per pound (0–3 mg per kilogram) of body weight an acceptable daily intake ( 14 ).

How many teaspoons of turmeric should I use? ›

How much turmeric should you consume to retain the health benefits? Here are a few helpful tips to get you started. Sayer uses 1/2 - 1.5 teaspoons per day of the dried root powder, certified organic. A typical dose of supplemental curcumin is about 250mg per day, and often increased when dealing with a condition.

Can I mix turmeric powder with hot water and drink it? ›

Turmeric water, an ancient Ayurvedic remedy, is a traditional beverage composed of turmeric and boiling hot water. Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is the root of a flowering plant in the ginger family native to Southeast Asia. It has been used medicinally for centuries due to its powerful anti-inflammatory effects.

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