How to Make Turmeric Golden Paste
Make your turmeric golden paste weekly or fortnightly and store in the refrigerator to have on hand for adding to hot and cold drinks, to make turmeric butter or as a base for tasty curry dishes.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup turmeric powder
- 1 cup water
- 1/3 cup one of the following oils: Raw (unrefined) Cold Pressed Coconut Oil, Linseed (flaxseed) oil or Virgin/Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 2-3 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
Directions:
- In a small saucepan combine the turmeric and water and mix well.
- Stir continuously on medium heat until the mixture forms a thick paste —takes approximately 6 to 10 minutes.
- If needed, adjust the consistency of the paste by adding more water to thin, or more turmeric powder to thicken. When satisfied remove the saucepan from the heat and set aside until warm, but not hot.
- Stir in the pepper and oil until all thoroughly combined to form a smooth turmeric golden paste.
- Transfer your turmeric paste to a clean jar with a tight-fitting lid and store in the refrigerator. It will generally keep for 2 weeks. Due to its anti-microbial properties, using unrefined virgin coconut oil will help it to keep a little longer.
The Benefits of Taking Turmeric as a Paste
- Curcumin is the medicinal active constituent in turmeric and gives turmeric its golden colour. Heating turmeric helps to further dissolve the curcumin and increase its solubility by up to 12 times.
- Both black pepper and turmeric contain about 5% of active constituents that when combined increase the activity of the beneficial compounds : piperine in black pepper and curcumin in turmeric.
- Piperine can greatly improve absorption of turmeric in the body. In one study, when taken with 20 mg of piperine per 2.2 pounds of body weight, piperine improved the bioavailability of turmeric by 2000%. Even a pinch of black pepper – 1/20th of a teaspoon – can significantly boost levels.
- Turmeric is fat-soluble: it needs to be dissolved in a fat for the body to avail of the anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and other beneficial actions. Combining it with a fat also helps to slow down its metabolism and allow more time for it to be assimilated by the body.