When you’re looking to add some health-boosting ingredients to your staple recipes, choosing the right flavor palate can be difficult – especially if you’re working with an ingredient that might be unfamiliar to you, like turmeric. But it’s easier than you might think to create delicious and quick recipes that use turmeric as the hero ingredient!

If you’re looking for easy recipes to incorporate turmeric into your diet, look no further – we’ve put together our top three simple, delicious, and healthy turmeric recipes just for you.

What dishes can I use turmeric in?

Turmeric is often used in curries, but these dishes aren’t the only food this spice can liven up. Turmeric can be used in almost anything! From adding a little seasoning to plain roasted vegetables to pumping up the kick in your morning latte, there’s no shortage of options for this immune-boosting spice.

1. Vanilla golden milk latte

“Golden milk” is turmeric-based milk that you boil to help marry the flavors. In terms of taste, it resembles a chai latte because of its warmth and spice. While turmeric in latte form can be a bit bitter, if you’re already a coffee drinker, you shouldn’t be phased by the taste. Heating the ingredients, which you’ll do as the first step of this recipe, also helps to tame that bitterness for a less obvious punch in the finished product.

To make a vanilla golden milk latte, you will need:

• 1 cup unsweetened dairy-free milk of choice
• Honey, to taste (replace with maple syrup if you’re vegan!)
• ¼ teaspoon of ground turmeric
• ¼ teaspoon of ground ginger or 1–2 teaspoons of freshly grated ginger
• 1 cinnamon stick or 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon coconut oil

You can also add ground black pepper to the mix to help your body absorb the turmeric better. However, this will change how the latte tastes, depending on how much pepper you use.

To bring it all together for the best latte you’ve ever had, you will:

• Add your milk of choice, honey, turmeric, ginger, and cinnamon (plus black pepper, if using) to a small saucepan and heat on low, whisking until all the ingredients are combined.
• Once the mixture starts to steam, keep it at that temperature and stir occasionally. Do this for roughly ten minutes. (NOTE: Ensure the mixture does not boil or reach a simmer.)
• Once finished, remove from heat, take out the cinnamon stick, and stir in the vanilla and coconut oil.
• Froth the tea for extra oomph and serve in your favorite mug.

Image by Hilary Hahn on Unsplash: What is the best combination with turmeric?

2. Turmeric broth detox soup

If you’re looking for cozy turmeric recipes for an anti-inflammatory boost, look no further than turmeric broth detox soup. It’s the perfect cold-weather comfort to curl up with when you can’t fathom being anywhere else but on your couch in your PJs.

To make this soup, you will need:

• 1–2 tablespoons olive oil or ghee
• 1 diced onion
• 1 tablespoon fresh ginger (can be grated or finely minced)
• 4–5 grated or minced garlic cloves
• 1–2 teaspoons of turmeric powder or 2–3 teaspoons of finely grated fresh turmeric
• ¼ teaspoon mustard seeds
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon coriander
• Salt, to taste
• 4 cups water
• 4 cups broth of choice (veggie or chicken)
• ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1–2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar or the juice of half a lemon or lime
• ½ cup basmati rice
• 1 cup cooked chickpeas
• 1 can fire-roasted tomatoes

Start by sauteing the onion, ginger, garlic, and fresh turmeric in a pot for roughly five minutes. When it becomes fragrant, add mustard seeds, cumin, and coriander. If you’re using turmeric powder, add it here.

To finish the soup off:

• Add the water, broth, and salt to the pot and bring to a boil
• Add your citrus of choice
• Add the final ingredients (rice, chickpeas, and fire-roasted tomatoes) and allow them to cook until the rice and beans are tender.

This quick and easy turmeric soup can be frozen to be eaten whenever you’re in need of an anti-inflammatory boost.

Image by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels: What foods taste best with turmeric? There are tons of different options.

3. Turmeric and veggie omelet

Turmeric isn’t just for liquid-based foods – it can also be combined with eggs to add a touch of spice to your breakfast. To get your veggies in and take advantage of turmeric's anti-inflammatory boost, why not whip up a quick omelet?

To make this exceptionally healthy breakfast omelet, you will need:

• 4 eggs
• Salt, to taste
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ¼ teaspoon mustard seeds
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 2 finely chopped green onions
• ¼ cup fresh diced plum tomatoes
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• ¼ cup diced bell peppers of choice
• ¼ cup diced mushrooms of choice (optional)
• ¼ cup diced broccoli and cauliflower

After you’ve prepped all the veggies, crack the eggs, whisk together with salt, and set aside. Heat oil in a large skillet on medium-low heat and add your veggies and mustard seeds, stirring frequently. Once soft, pour the eggs directly into the pan and spread them around so that the veggie–egg distribution is even.

Cover and cook until the egg is cooked through. (If you do this on low heat with a lid on the pan, you won’t need to flip the omelet and risk a mess!) Once the egg is cooked to your liking, you can choose to add a little feta cheese to the middle before folding it, or simply fold it as is and transfer it to a plate. Voila! A turmeric omelet breakfast that will get your day off to a great start.

So, now that you know what foods taste best with turmeric and how to cook them, you’re ready to expand your home chef menu to include this delicious anti-inflammatory spice!

Featured image by Prchi Palwe on Unsplash