Bright Flavors of India: What are the Uses of Turmeric in Indian Cuisine?
SUHEL AHMED • 9 December 2020
The flavorful and colourful world of Indian cuisine is bursting with flavorful, homegrown spices and herbs. These are the ingredients that build India’s palate with its mouth-burning kick and complex flavor pairings. Indian dishes also take pride in being a treasure trove of medicinal benefits, making their spices coveted worldwide.
One of the most iconic spices native to southwest India is turmeric (Haldi), which is a desi spice that originates from a leafy plant in the ginger family. It’s what gives most curries its unforgettable, bright yellow colour, aroma, and pleasant touches of bitterness that give the dish a well-rounded flavour profile.
What Makes Turmeric a Staple Spice in Indian Dishes?
Seeing as turmeric is made from the ground roots of Curcuma longa of the ginger family, it has a pungent and bitter taste with a hint of brightness. It’s not a strong spice compared to other aromatics, but it can do wonders in adding depth to dishes like chicken jalfrezi, Punjabi samosa, chicken kurma, and other Indian staples.
Turmeric is also widely used as a colouring agent in savoury dishes alongside other gastronomic delights like baked goods, dairy foods, cereal, and even ice cream. Beyond its crucial addition in several dishes, it’s widely used around the world for its health-boosting properties.
What are the Benefits of Turmeric?
Beyond its flavorful and colourful addition to Indian dishes, turmeric plays a pivotal role in the ancient Ayurveda practice, which focuses on enhancing one’s holistic health. Turmeric is chock-full of medicinal properties - from antioxidant, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal compounds working together to whip up a health-boosting meal.
Some of its health benefits include the following:
Benefit #1: Aids in Digestion
Thanks to its medicinal properties, turmeric can effectively improve digestion by triggering its bile production. This enhances the digestive process by smoothing out the tracts, which mitigate the development of gas and other bloating symptoms.
Benefit #2: Improve Healing
Beyond food, turmeric is also used as a tea to boost the body’s natural healing process thanks to its antiseptic and antibacterial properties. Older generations would even suggest sprinkling turmeric over burns or cuts, though indulging in hearty dishes with turmeric working behind all the magic can deliver the same benefits.
Benefit #3: Ease Arthritis Symptoms
Seeing as turmeric is packed with anti-inflammatory properties, including it in your daily diet can help soothe conditions like arthritis. It eases the swelling and manages the pain that comes with it, making it just as effective in providing relief in patients with similar chronic conditions.
The Bottom Line: A Historic Taste of Turmeric and How it Completes Staples in Indian Cuisine
Turmeric is a flavorful and health-boosting spice that can enhance almost any dish, beverage, or dessert, making it one of the best elixir that completes Indian staples.
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