THECOSTCOCONNECTION
Kirkland Signature™ Ground Turmeric
and turmeric supplements are available
in your local Costco warehouse and on
Costco.com.
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BY JENNIFER BABISAK
“VARIETY IS the spice of life,” asserted
poet William Cowper. Ancient cultures
might urge us to consider the spice of life in
a more literal sense and give that title to
turmeric. The pungent spice imparts a
slightly bitter complexity to savory dishes,
and rounds out other spices, such as ginger
and pepper, that often accompany it.
Health benefits
Turmeric has been revered in Indian
culture as a medicinal aid, culinary spice,
beauty remedy and fabric dye for at least
;,;;; years. Chinese medicine has integrated the spice into remedies for a thousand years; traditional Brazilian medicine
utilizes turmeric as an anti-venom to counter the poison of pit vipers.
Turmeric has extended its reach to
modern scientific support for its value in a
number of applications. Many scientific
studies have reported that turmeric may
assist in the treatment of cancer, cardiovascular disease, arthritis, Crohn’s disease,
ulcerative colitis and renal conditions,
among many others.
Those looking to utilize turmeric as
a nutritional supplement can find it in
powdered form as well as in tablets and
liquid extracts. However, turmeric
can amplify the effects of blood
thinners, so anyone taking blood-thinning medication should avoid
the spice.
Costco member Sapna Punjabi-Gupta,
a registered dietitian and ayurvedic
practitioner ( naivedhya.com), teaches
ayurvedic cooking classes. She shows participants how easy it is to integrate turmeric into daily meals and advises them
that consuming the spice in culinary
applications allows potential benefit from
its healing properties.
Cooking essential
Turmeric is derived from the root of the
Curcuma longa plant, a relative of ginger
that grows in tropical regions of Asia. These
roots are dug up, dried and powdered.
From traditional curries, to intriguing takes on chicken salad to jazzed-up
mac and cheese, turmeric adds spark to
dishes of diverse cultures and tastes.
“Turmeric adds so much beautiful color,
flavor and vibrancy to your meals,” says
Punjabi-Gupta.
The spice also makes a
soothing bedtime drink when
mixed with milk. Called
golden milk, the beverage
has gained popularity lately,
Gupta allows that a soothing turmeric tea can serve
the same purpose for those
restricted by dairy intoler-
Ta st y
tu r mer ic
An ancient spice goes modern
FOR YOUR TABLE
ance. She also emphasizes that pairing the
spice with black pepper will increase the
bioavailability of turmeric’s beneficial
effect on body systems.
So whether you’re looking to enliven
your cooking with a dash of Far East flavor
or supplement with a potent anti-inflammatory, turmeric may be the spice of life
that’s been missing from your diet. C
Jennifer Babisak is a Dallas-based writer.
SPICED SAVORY OATS
2 tablespoons ghee or clari;ed butter
1 pinch asafetida (optional)
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
2 teaspoons minced ginger
2 cups kale
½ cup carrots
½ cup corn
½ cup peas
1 cup rolled oats
1 teaspoon turmeric
1 teaspoon roasted cumin seed powder
1 teaspoon coriander
3 cups water
Salt and black pepper, to taste
Heat ghee over medium in a pan and add asafetida, cumin seeds and minced ginger, heating
the spices for 10 to 15 seconds. Add vegetables
and sauté over medium heat for a couple of
minutes. Add oats and remaining spices. Add
water and cover the pan. Cook for 5 minutes or
until the oats absorb most of the water content.
Stir before serving. Makes 4 servings.
Recipe and photo courtesy of Sapna Punjabi-Gupta
OUR DIGITAL EDITIONS
Click here to watch Sapna Punjabi-Gupta share her recipe for savory oats.
(See page 10 for details.)
