Turmeric
Any of you like turmeric?
This spice is discussed in Anticancer: A New Way of Life, the book I reviewed yesterday. It has been shown in cell cultures to be effective against cancer cells. However, it must be mixed with pepper in order to be effective. Ideally, it should be dissolved in oil (olive, canola or linseed oil, preferably).
Anyone have some good ideas of what to do with turmeric? I mixed with some kasha (also had mushrooms and onions) that I made on Sunday night, and it tasted delicious.
Klara says
I used to put it in rice to make yellow rice - the kids liked that.
Now I use it when I make tofu scramble - saute vegetables (I like mushrooms, onions, zuchinni, but you could be creative with any veggies, take tofu and smush it up (sorry don't know English anymore), add to the vegetables, add some tumeric and soy sauce - not really scrambled eggs, for me, it's even better!!!!
Ilana-Davita says
I use it in chicken tagines, mainly to color the sauce.
BTW I like how you played with it at the top of your post.
Leora says
Klara, I believe 'smush' is perfectly good English, even if it is a bit informal.
Ilana-Davita, chicken tagines sounds yummy. I just experimented with a bean-kale-onion-yam soup. With turmeric. If it works, maybe I'll write it up.
Glad you like my playing in Photoshop; I think it looks a bit like turmeric.
Mi says
The Yemenite spice mix Hawaij is composed mostly of turmeric. I like to put Hawaij in soup, as the Yemenites do, in stews, in rice, in potatoes, and sprinkled over popcorn. Not every day, though. The family would get tired of it.
2 tsp. ground turmeric
1 tsp. ground black pepper
1 tsp. cumin
Robin says
It gives rice a lovely golden color too. My husband also just throws some into a green salad.
Ilana-Davita says
I have never cooked kasha (not so popular here, but I guess available in health stores). Your combination of ingredients looks great. Do you cook the kasha first or everything together?
Leora says
Ilana-Davita, we can buy kasha in both the supermarket (often in the kosher section) or in the butcher shop. I've never bought it at the health food store, but I suppose they must stock it.
See Mimi's recent post on kasha.
In brief (I'll make a post later):
- saute onions (and mushrooms)
- add salt and pepper (and turmeric, if desired)
- boil water in tea kettle
- add a cup of kasha to saute, stir, coat, make sure it doesn't burn
- add a cup of hot water
- cook until kasha is tender, stirring a bit here and there
Leora says
Robin, Dr. Servan-Schreiber suggests mixing the turmeric with olive oil and pepper in a salad dressing. So without knowing it, your husband is probably creating a very healthy, anti-cancer salad.
Mimi, adding turmeric to popcorn sounds like a unique idea! But I'm sure my kids would scream at me that I murdered the popcorn.
Sara says
Shalom Leora! Thank you for your comment. Yes, everyone in my circle of acquaintances is safe, though that is not true of others, sad to say.
Yes, I LOVE turmeric! It's very good with potatoes. A favorite dish I like to make is potatotes, cubed and sauteed in olive oil with onions, throw in some frozen peas, a big dash or two of turmeric and I also include some diced sausage sometimes. When the potatoes are tender, it's ready. A quick and perfect comfort food.
You can also add turmeric to your soups....it gives a lovely color to them.
Ann Duncan says
I am a big fan of turmeric and use it liberally in my Healing Soup as well as in a number of other dishes. I'm very happy about the new ideas I just got from this blog and the responses! My family is gonna be happy about this :)
Blessings!
Leora says
Ann, "Healing Soup" sounds wonderful. I would be interesting in learning more...
Please leave a comment! I love to hear from you.