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Recipes

10 Ways to Eat Turmeric If You’re Unsure How to Use It

This article is written by a student writer from the Spoon University at MSU chapter.

Turmeric, also known as a spice touting the coolest name, the coolest color, and a plethora of health benefits. Curcumin is the active antioxidant in turmeric that reduces inflammation, strengthens the immune and digestive systems, increases energy, and clears skin. Turmeric rocks and you should ingest more of it. How? Here are 10 simple ways to eat turmeric and get all those health benefits.  

1. Turmeric Lattes (aka Golden Milk)

Turmeric milk soup
Amylou McBride

Golden milk is a latte colored with turmeric. The traditional Indian recipe for “golden milk” calls for half a cup of hot milk mixed with a tablespoon of ground turmeric and some black pepper. You can buy one at your local coffee shop or try it at home with this golden milk recipe.

2. Turmeric Smoothies

Turmeric adds a beautiful golden hue, a bit of spiciness, and some bitterness that balances out the sweetness of the fruit in smoothies. If you’re looking for a good recipe to start with, I recommend this turmeric smoothie recipe. 

3. Rice

one-pan shoyu garlic glazed salmon dinner rice cereal
Jocelyn Hsu

A simple way to make your rice prettier and more flavorful is by adding turmeric to it. Just make rice like you normally would but add in turmeric. Boom: brightly colored turmeric rice

4. Curries

ways to eat turmeric chicken rice
Kendra Valkema

Turmeric is a staple in Indian dishes like curry. Making a curry is a foolproof way to use turmeric and make your kitchen smell heavenly at the same time. 

5. Stir-Frys

ways to eat turmeric pasta stir-fry
Emily Sauchelli

Sauté some protein and vegetables, then add in some turmeric and a pinch of salt for a quick, simple, and healthy dinner. If you need more stir-fry inspiration, take a look at these 17 stir-fry recipes.

6. Eggs & Frittatas

Give your eggs, tofu scramble, or frittata some color and subtle flavor by adding turmeric. If you’re unsure where to start, try this turmeric scrambled egg recipe or this tofu turmeric scramble.

7. Soups

Add brightness and depth to soups like this chickpea soup with the addition of turmeric. A warm bowl of soup filled with anti-inflammatory turmeric will clear your sinuses and warm you up on the coldest of days. 

8. Popcorn

Nut Allergies popcorn corn
Kirby Barth

Add flair to your popcorn with this turmeric popcorn recipe. It’s more work to make than microwave popcorn, but it’s so much more fun to eat.

9. Energy Bars 

Want something quick and healthy to eat? These spice-filled energy bars are a great snack solution, as well as a great way to sneak some more turmeric into your life.

10. Hummus

sweet potato meal prep bread toast
Parisa Soraya

It’s easy to add turmeric into your diet when you blend it into homemade hummus. This golden hummus will become your new go-to snack dip. 

Turmeric might look a little scary, but it’s a fun spice to add to your reservoir. It’s a great way to sneakily add health benefits into your diet, as well as a fun way to dye everything you eat orange. Try out one of these ways to eat turmeric and see for yourself why so many people have fallen in love with it.

Ellie is a senior studying food science at Michigan State University. Her favorite foods are chocolate, peanut butter, and carrots. When she's not baking cupcakes or taking pictures of food, she's probably running with the MSU running club or practicing yoga. Check out her blog, "Peanut Butter & Ellie," if you love all things peanut butter!