Turmeric is a wonderful spice known in Indian Cuisine and Ayurvedic Medicine, and is taken daily as part of a healthy diet by some cultures. It is best known for it's rich yellow color in curry dishes and is a flavorful addition to any food.
We make a lovely extract of turmeric in coconut oil and use it on our toast. Did you know turmeric isn't highly available to the body without at least one of these three things: heat, oil and black pepper? Now you can see why we cook with it. That is the simplest thing to do, but if you want some extra turmeric in your life, making an oil extract is a lovely way to get that heat and oil going for you. Add a pinch of black pepper if you want. What you'll need:
1 oz. organic turmeric powder
1 cup organic coconut oil
1 pinch of black pepper (optional)
honey (optional)
First, I measure the ingredients into a small sauce pan and turn it on medium-low heat. I simmer it below the boiling point for 1 hour, stirring occasionally and thinking loving thoughts about the mixture and it supporting the body.
If you let it sit in a warm room overnight after simmering, it's possible to just decant (pour slowly) the liquid off the top with a little powder getting in which is fine. The warm room part is key otherwise you'll wake up in the winter with it hardened. You can strain it right then through some unbleached cotton muslin, but I'd wear gloves, as it will stain your hands yellow and your clothes, and the kitchen, lol. I've left the powder in there before too and just stirred it up while cooling so it would suspend. In the winter time, it will stay suspended in there. In the summer, not so much.
If I wanna get fancy with it, I set the cooling oil in a cold water bath and as it is forming up, stir in some honey. If you can get that to suspend..... my goodness. It's amazing. You can cook with the oil in a stirfry, or even mix it with apple cider vinegar for a dressing or marinade. You can also add a spoon to your morning coffee or tea.
For more nourishing ways to cook and add herbs to your life, schedule a consultation with Andi-K or Jenny and see what adding some real nutrition can do for you.