Turmeric Paste

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My healthy homemade turmeric paste recipe makes it easy to add turmeric to your diet with very little effort. In just 15 minutes, you'll have a delicious, nutrient packed paste to add to golden milk, smoothies or curries.

Jump to:

• What is turmeric paste?
• Why should you try this recipe?
• Ingredients
• Recipe Variations
• Instructions
• Equipment
• FAQs
• How To Serve
• Similar Recipes
• More on turmeric
• Turmeric Paste

What is turmeric paste?

Turmeric paste is also known as turmeric powder paste or golden paste. It's made from a combination of water, turmeric, oil ground black pepper, and spices. These ingredients are heated on the stovetop until they're reduced into a paste that can be refrigerated and used at a later time in golden milk, smoothies and curries.

Why should you try this recipe?

Here's why you'll love these turmeric paste:

• It's easy to make. With only 15 minutes of prep time and 8 ingredients, you'll be able to make this golden paste recipe.
• It will save you time when making golden milk: Golden milk has been used in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine for centuries to help promote a good night's rest. It's also just a delicious drink. Making a cup of golden milk from scratch takes about 15 minutes as you need to let the ingredients simmer to build the flavour. If you pre-make this turmeric paste, you cut out all that simmer time. Instead, you'll can combine one teaspoon of paste with warmed milk and be on your merry way.
• It's healthier than store bought: You can find golden paste in health food stores, but I make my own so I can control the ingredients that are added. Many condiments have added sugars and chemicals for taste and preservation. My rule: if it's easy to make at home, I do. And this recipe falls in that camp.
• It helps reduce inflammation: Research shows that curcumin — the active ingredient in turmeric — has strong anti-inflammatory properties. This matters because chronic inflammation can suppress your immune system and lead to a host of health issues.
• It can boost immunity: That's thanks to the antibacterial properties in turmeric and ginger.
• The recipe is designed with health in mind: The main ingredient in turmeric - curcumin- cannot be absorbed in the body without a little help. Black pepper and a healthy fat are needed to help us get the most out of turmeric. Both are included in this recipe.
• It's delicious: There are lots of flavour variations in turmeric pastes. My recipe is a dreamy blend of turmeric, ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, black pepper and coconut oil. Together, these give a warming flavour that you'll want to eat again and again.

Scroll down to see the printable recipe with nutritional information.

Ingredients

Here's what you'll need for this golden paste recipe:

• Water: You'll need this to boil and reduce the paste.
• Turmeric: The star ingredient that offers an earthy taste and myriad of health benefits. You can use ground or fresh turmeric. But, ground will be much easier in this recipe.
  • Dried Turmeric: Will make a slightly grittier paste, with more intense flavor and colour.
  • Fresh Turmeric: Will makes a smoother paste, with a less intense flavor and color. Be careful of stains if you go this direction.
• Cinnamon: A warming spice and anti-inflammatory.
• Black Pepper: Our bodies can't absorb curcumin - the key component in turrmeric - without a little help. That's where black pepper comes in. One of its active ingredients, called piperine, aids our body in absorbing curcumin.
• Coconut oil: This ingredient also plays a role in helping our body absorb curcumin. Because it's not water soluble, it binds to the fat so it can be absorbed more easily.
• Ginger: An optional add in that gives the turmeric paste a sweet and spicy flavouring. Ginger also offers up its own health benefits.
• Cardamom: An optional add in. Cardamom is another warming spice that pairs perfectly with cinnamon and ginger.

Scroll down to find the printable recipe with ingredient measurements.

Recipe Variations

• Remove the flavour add-ins: Although turmeric can be effective on its own, by mixing it with other good-for-you ingredients like cinnamon and ginger we get to enhance its healing properties. With that being said, you can make this paste just by using turmeric powder, coconut oil, black pepper, and water.
• Adjust the flavour add-ins: The most popular golden paste add-ins are ginger, cardamom, nutmeg and vanilla. Feel free to play with the amount of ginger and cardamom in my recipe (or remove it entirely). You can also add in vanilla extract, vanilla bean and cardamom.
• Sweeten it up: You can add a natural sweetener like honey or maple syrup directly into the paste. This doesn’t need to be heated, so stir it in at the end.
• Use a different healthy fat: If you're not a fan of coconut oil, swap in ghee, which was used in the traditional Ayurvedic recipe. You can also use any other neutral oil.

Instructions

This recipe is prepared on the stovetop in a few easy steps. Here's how to make golden paste.

• If using fresh turmeric, then you’ll need to prepare it. It should be peeled, chopped and blended into a powder. This can be done using a blender, coffee grinder or food processor. If you're using store bought turmeric powder, then simply move on to the next step.

• Combine the water, turmeric, ground ginger and cinnamon in a small saucepan and heat on medium to until it just begins to boil.

• Turn the burner down to medium-low. Stir the mixture for 8-10 minutes until it reduces to form a thick paste.
• Remove from heat and stir in coconut oil and freshly ground black pepper.

• Transfer to a jar with a lid. Let it cool to room temperature and store in the fridge up to 2 weeks.

Recipe Notes

• If the paste is too thick, add a little extra water.
• If the paste is too thin, add a little extra turmeric.
• It’s best to use freshly ground whole black pepper, as the active ingredient in pepper oxidizes when exposed to light and air. This means it loses is effects over time. So fresh is best.
• Turmeric will stain kitchen tools, cutting boards, and you. Use baking soda and lemon to clean any stains as soon as possible. Using ground turmeric powder is a little cleaner too.

How To Store

• Fridge: If using fresh ingredients, store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. If using dry ingredients, store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four weeks.
• Freezer: This turmeric paste can also be frozen into single serve portions. To do so, line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Then spoon teaspoon portions onto the tray and place in freezer. Once frozen, transfer to a freezer-friendly container and store for up to three months. You can freeze bigger portions, but the teaspoon portions are used to make golden milk, so I find them most convenient for me.

For the full ingredient list and step-by-step directions, scroll down to view the recipe card.

Equipment

Here's what you need to make this golden paste recipe.

• Small saucepan: This recipe is made on the stovetop, so this is a must.
• Baking sheet: If freezing individual portions, you'll need a baking sheet.
• Parchment paper: If freezing individual portions, you'll need to line the baking sheet with parchment paper. This will prevent staining.

FAQs

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about golden milk paste.

How To Serve

Now that you have turmeric paste, it’s time to enjoy it. While I most often use turmeric paste to make golden milk, here are some other ideas.

• The perk of turmeric paste is that you can make ayurveda golden milk in just a minute without having to get any other ingredients out. You simply mix one teaspoon with warmed milk.
• Spoon it into your favourite breakfast bowl with some homemade granola.
• Mix it in your salad dressings.
• Add it to your smoothies.
• Drizzle it over roasted vegetables.
• Spread it on toast. Even better if you combine it with a homemade almond butter.
• Spread it on a sandwich.
• Add a dollop into your soups.

Similar Recipes

If you enjoyed this recipe for turmeric, I invite you to check out my collection of other healthy condiments or check out some of my other turmeric recipes that I hand selected for you below.

More on turmeric

If you're new to the world of turmeric, check out the resources below.

If you make these healthier pumpkin chocolate chips cookies, please consider leaving a star rating and a comment. Don't forget to tag @caiteyjay on Instagram or @caiteyjay on Pinterest so I can see your creations.

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