Homemade Turmeric Powder

Turmeric powder is a popular spice used primarily in Asian cuisines. It also comes with many health benefits. Making it at home is easy and cost-effective.

What is turmeric?

It is a spice that comes from the turmeric plant. It is commonly used in Asian food and is known as Haldi in Hindi. Turmeric can be found in the stem of the Curcuma Longa plant.

The root resembles ginger and is bitter to taste if eaten raw. It's the most popular form of consumption is in its powder form. 

Curcumin, the main active ingredient in Haldi has powerful anti-inflammatory effects and is a very strong antioxidant. 

What does it taste like?

It is mildly aromatic and has scents of orange or ginger. It has a pungent, bitter flavor. It's slightly warm and peppery flavor, works well with most vegetables and fruits. It’s also gluten- and dairy-free.

Be it sweet or savory, you can use it in any recipe.

It's used extensively in cooking and even a small amount aids in digestion.

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It's not just a spice

It can be used in many different ways and not just in the kitchen.

• It is also used during religious functions in India and is considered very pious in Hindu tradition.
• It's also used as a natural dye.
• It does wonders on the skin and is used in many beauty treatments.
• It has a lot of medicinal properties.
• It's applied over cuts and burns because it has strong antibacterial properties, which can help heal cuts and protect from infection.
• Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, it helps heal cold and cough.
• In Hinduism, we use it even at our weddings. Because turmeric is associated with fertility and prosperity, it is used during the Haldi ceremony at our weddings. The powder is mixed with water to form a thick paste and family members apply it to the bride and groom's face and body. It's a fun-filled pre-wedding ceremony. 
• In Hindu worship ceremonies, Haldi is used to symbolize both inner purity and inner pride. Turmeric water is offered to the gods in the temples as part of a Hindu ritual called Abhishekam.

Why make it at home?

Back home, it is a common practice to make spice mixes at home. I have seen my grandma, mom, MIL, aunts do this and now I do it too.

Back then, there were large families staying together, so these spice powders would be made in bulk and stored. Today, however, I make it in small batches based on consumption.

Besides Haldi, some other frequently made ones are Sambhar Powder, Molagapodi, Garam Masala, and Coriander Cumin Powder

Most store-bought spice mixes can be:

• Processed
• Of poor quality
• Unnaturally enhanced by adding food color to make it look more authentic
• Not organic
• Expensive

How is it made?

It is one of the easiest things to prepare this recipe at home.

• Needs just 1 ingredient - Fresh turmeric root
• It literally is just a 4 step process - Wash - Boil - Dry - Grind
• However, the process takes a week

Step-by-step instructions

1. Wash the roots thoroughly under running water for a minute.
   • Boil water in a pan and then immerse these roots in it.
   • Let it boil for 45 minutes on low-medium flame. Froth will begin to appear at the top.
2. Drain the water. Roughly chop the roots after they have cooled down completely.
3. Place a kitchen towel over a disposable plate to soak in the excess water.
   • Spread the chopped roots over it.
   • Do not crowd them, use multiple plates if needed. Spread them out evenly.
   • You need not keep it in direct sunlight all the time. A well-lit, ventilated area by the window should do the job.
   • Leave it there for a week. Keep tossing it every other day to ensure even drying. 
   • Over the week, you will notice that the roots will begin to shrink and get dried up. That is what we want.
4. Grind into a fine powder.
   • Depending on the power of your food processor or blender, you may want to sift the powder through a sieve and return large pieces to your food mill.
   • Store the freshly prepared spice powder in an airtight container.

Fresh turmeric has a short shelf life and you have to immediately dry and powder it. It also takes longer to dry but will give you the most authentic spice mix!

Important tips

• Where to buy turmeric from?
  • You can find fresh and dried roots in Asian/Indian grocery stores and even leading grocery stores like Publix. You can buy from Amazon as well.
• Picking the right kind of fresh turmeric roots
  • Choosing good quality turmeric is critical.
  • Get organic, chemical-free fresh roots.
  • Choose big, smooth roots that are mold-free.
• Why boil the turmeric roots first?
  • Turmeric rhizomes cannot be dried just like that. They need to be boiled first. Boiling softens the roots & makes the drying process quicker.
  • It helps remove the raw odor coming from these roots & helps kill germs present in the soil. 
  • No need to cover the pan while it's boiling.
• How to make turmeric powder without boiling?
  • Directly use dried turmeric.
  • Grind it to a fine powder using a high power blender.
• Work with gloves, paper towels and disposable plates to avoid staining your hands and crockery.
  • Tip - In case you do stain your hands while working with it, make a paste with lemon juice and baking soda and apply over your hands. It’s super effective at removing these stains. 
• How to dry turmeric? Sun-drying method
  • It is a week-long process.
  • It depends on the weather and temperature.
  • Place them by the window sill where there is ample sunlight and ventilation.
  • You can even dry it under direct sunlight or use an electric food dehydrator.
  • Sun dry until the roots become crisp or else the powder will spoil easily.
  • The desired texture is dry and crisp, almost brittle to the touch.
• How to grind dry turmeric?
  • Use a high powered blender like a coffee grinder or an Indian Blender.
  • Steel or glass jar blenders are preferred because it's easy to clean the stains.
  • Grind when it's still crisp. This will ensure fine grinding.
• How to store turmeric powder?
  • It stays good easily for 6 months if stored properly in an airtight container.
  • Use a glass jar instead of plastic as it's easy to clean and remove stains.
  • Store it in a cool place.
• We spoke about this spice mix in our 2nd episode of Cookilicious Kitchen Stories Podcast. You can listen to it here. 

Ways to use it in cooking

Homemade Haldi has a natural dark yellow-orange color. It is very aromatic and has a strong earthy flavor that you will love.

Enjoy this non-adulterated homemade spice mix in any recipe. Here are some of my recommendations:

• Use it in smoothies.
• Make the famous Golden Milk. This one is dairy-free.
• Add them to Dal.
• Flavor curries, gravies, and chili with it.
• Add color to boring looking dishes like rice, quinoa, cauliflower rice, etc.
• Pancakes and crepes.
• Add them to soups.
• Flavor salads.
• Pump up the pasta.
• Use as a natural food color.
• Sprinkle over Avocado toast.
• Feel free to experiment with it in any sweet or savory recipe.

Remember, just a teaspoon can go a long way!

So you see, it's easy to make this spice mix from the fresh, raw root. This freshly prepared homemade Haldi is free of any additives and is the real deal!

If you do try this Turmeric Powder or any other recipe from the blog, please let me know. I welcome your comments, star ratings, tweaks, and suggestions.

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