Uses for Fresh Turmeric

Asian and Middle Eastern

• Turmeric is an important ingredient in these cultures, used for flavor, color and health benefits. It flavors dishes with duck, turkey, chicken and vegetables, as well as salad dresses, chutney and curry mixes. Persian cooking uses turmeric for coloring the bottom of rice dishes and Iranian fry-ups. In South Africa, turmeric is traditionally used to give boiled white rice a golden color.

Used for Color

• In non-South Asian recipes like in Western countries, turmeric is sometimes used as a component to provide a rich, custard-like yellow color. It is added to canned beverages, pastries, orange juice, ice cream, cheese, margarine, liquor, cakes, jellies, yogurt, popcorn, icings, cereals, gelatin and sauces, to name a few. It is used in not only savory and hearty dishes, but in sweet dessert dishes as well.

Health Benefits

• Turmeric has been used for medicinal purposes in India for more than 2,000 years. Adding fresh turmeric to your diet can provide many health benefits. The root is a natural antiseptic and antibacterial agent, speeds up wound healing, promotes skin health and is a natural liver detox. It has also been shown in research to prevent cancer and possibly kill cancerous cells. According to Health Diaries, when combined with cauliflower, tumeric can help prevent prostate cancer and stop the growth of existing cancer, as well as prevent breast cancer and melanoma from spreading. Turmeric is also a natural painkiller and has been shown to slow the development of multiple sclerosis in mice. As a spice, it may aid in speeding up the metabolism. It has also been used in Chinese medicine for a long time to treat depression.