Turmeric is one of the most beneficial spices for health and wellness, featuring regularly in my culinary creations. With its peppery, playful and somewhat bitter flavour, it comes into its element in a myriad of exciting dishes, especially when combined with other other gentle spices and elements. Turmeric is usually responsible for that rich, golden colour that you so often see in curries and spicy dishes. However, one of the reasons I rate it so highly, is for its powerful health benefits. It has been proven to be just as powerful as pharmaceutical drugs, but WITHOUT the side effects.

The health benefits of turmeric in brief

It’s well known that turmeric…

• promotes healthy joint function
• encourages glowing, clear skin
• works as a powerful anti-inflammatory
• encourages a healthy heart
• improves memory
• supports the digestive system
• is a powerful antioxidant

In fact, the list of benefits is remarkably long. There are reams of studies available online to show the effectiveness of turmeric (although unfortunately a lot of the studies have been done on animals). This amazing spice has been used successfully in Ayurvedic and Chinese traditions for thousands of years and more recently in many other traditional cultures. It is well and truly, tried and tested! For in depth reading on turmeric, along with studies and links, check out this free publication here:
Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects. 2nd edition.
Chapter 13: Turmeric, the Golden Spice by Sahdeo Prasad and Bharat B. Aggarwal.

Turmeric and curcumin

One of the primary healing agents in turmeric is thought to be derived from it’s yellow/orange pigment curcumin. Many people use curcumin in isolation with admirable benefits. However, in true holistic style, I feel that for daily purposes, using the ‘whole’ turmeric spice, in fresh or ground form, is optimal for on going health and wellness.

Turmeric recipes galore “Let Food Be Thy Medicine”

Hypocrates totally had the right idea when he said “Let food be thy medicine”… Personally, I love to know that every bite I eat is enriched with nutritional goodness. In this article I’ve gathered together a whole list of turmeric recipes from myself and other guest food bloggers, to show you how easy it is to incorporate this delicious spice into your daily cuisine. It seems that there is no limit to the imagination! Let the recipes inspire you to find ways to incorporate this golden spice into your life.

22 Plant-based Turmeric Recipes

Find each recipe by clicking on the image or corresponding link.

I’ve served these turmeric, sweet potato falafels on many retreats and they’ve always gone down a treat!
Turmeric Sweet Potato Falafels by Trinity from TrinitysKitchen.com

Hands up who loves ‘easy’ veggie burgers. Me! Especially when they are filled with so much goodness…
Easy Turmeric Bean Burgers with Spicy Secret Sauce by Kathy from Healthy Happy Life

I am a big fan oven baked sweet potato fries. With this ‘Cuban’ turmeric twist, these are amazing…
Cuban Sweet Potato Fries by Veganocity

A super easy vegan ‘cheeze’ sauce infused with turmeric. My mouth is watering!
Steamed Asparagus With Creamy Cheeze ‘Turmeric’ Sauce from Lucie from Win-winfood

A tasty mushroom side dish…
Turmeric Battered Mushrooms by Margaret from The Plant Strong Vegan

Turmeric rice is so simple and delicious. This sort of dish features in my weekly cuisine…
Turmeric & Mushroom Rice by Trinity from TrinitysKitchen.com

A really clever way to use turmeric – for the custard in these colourful looking desserts…
Portuguese Custard Tarts by Lucie from Win-Win Foods

Quinoa and turmeric makes for an incredibly nutritious meal…
Cheezy Roasted Vegetable Quinoa from Rebecca from Strength & Sunshine

Turmeric roasted chickpeas for a delicious high protein snack…
Turmeric Roasted Chickpeas by Laura from Chronicles of Passion

We all love easy curry recipes…
Curried Opo Squash by Anjali from Vegetarian Gastronomy

Here’s my favourite curry recipe. Turmeric dances with a medley of other warming spices…
Thai Coconut Curry by Trinity from TrinitysKitchen.com

A welcomed chickpea salad with a touch of turmeric to spice things up…
Tangy Curried Chickpea Salad with Turmeric by Amber from FettleVegan

Just the sort of salad I enjoy all year long to keep me super healthy!
Walnut, Turmeric & Sun-dried Tomato Detox Salad by Trinity from Trinitys Kitchen

If you like tofu, you’ll love this classic ‘egg-free’ scramble…
The Classic Egg-free Turmeric Scramble by Chysta from Noshed

Avocados and I’m in! Another tasty egg-free dish using turmeric and avocado…
“Eggless” avocado-egg salad by Nori from Nori’s Ingenious Cooking

Turmeric Inspired Drinks

A total superfood extravaganza with orange and goji berries…
Goji-Orange-Turmeric Smoothie “The Immunity Booster” by Emma from Coconuts & Berries

I absolutely love this recipe for a healing cup of herbal tea…
Freedom in a Cup of Turmeric Ginger Lemon Tea by Teenuja from VeganLovlie.com

An exciting tropical smoothie – decadent and healthy all rolled into one…
Turmeric Ginger Colada Smoothie by Alissa from Connoisseurusveg

Try mango with turmeric with this playful smoothie…
Turmeric Mango Lassi with Candied Black Pepper Almonds by Kate from Veggiedesserts

Another awesome tropical turmeric combination…
Tropical Turmeric Smoothie by Christina from The Beautiful Balance

A really clever way to make a healthy milk drink using turmeric…
Anti-Inflammatory Turmeric Milk by Laura from My Plant Based Kitchen

The perfect ‘mocktail’ alternative with turmeric and papaya…
Papaya Turmeric Mocktail by Kristina from Spabettie

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