Turmeric and ginger are two spices with extraordinary properties and combined together they increase their potential. Find out what the benefits of this pairing are and some ideas for using turmeric and ginger together.
Turmeric and ginger are two spices that we hear more and more often and that have been the focus of numerous scientific researches in recent years. These are excellent natural remedies in many situations but also excellent flavorings for first and second courses, herbal teas, drinks and fruit and vegetable extracts.
Turmeric and ginger are traditionally used especially in oriental kitchens but even we who live in other latitudes should always keep these spices available and learn to exploit all their potential to enrich the food we consume every day.
But what happens we use turmeric and ginger together? We certainly give our body a boost of excellent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anticancer substances. Let’s take a closer look at all the properties of turmeric and ginger.
Turmeric and ginger: the properties
Turmeric boasts a really interesting list of properties and perhaps all the benefits that this spice can offer to our body have not yet been discovered. However, its anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving and antioxidant qualities stand out, as well as its ability to stop the advance of some types of cancerous cells.
Turmeric root is also an excellent ally for the proper functioning of the liver and stomach but has also shown the ability to prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes and even to act positively on the nervous system like an antidepressant.
Ginger is actually no exception. A piece of this root is able to improve digestion by relieving the sense of nausea, deflates the belly, acts as an anti-inflammatory and painkiller, prevents and treats colds and sore throats, removes the risk of getting sick from certain types of cancer and, given its anticoagulant effect avoids the appearance of thrombus.
As you may have understood, including these natural substances in your daily diet, except in rare cases (see warnings) can only do you well. Combined together, they increase the anti-inflammatory effect inside the body, act as antibacterials and antivirals, strengthening the immune system and promoting the well-being of the whole body.
But how to use them together? Let’s find out some simple recipes with turmeric and ginger.
Turmeric and ginger: 6 recipes to use them together
1. Turmeric and ginger herbal tea
The herbal tea based on ginger and lemon is very well known and used, few know that you can prepare one in which turmeric is also combined. The ingredients to prepare it are:
INGREDIENTS FOR 1 CUP
- 1 cup of water
- Honey (if you feel the need to sweeten)
- Ginger root ›1 piece
- A little lemon juice
- Turmeric powder (or fresh) ›1 tsp
METHOD
- In a saucepan with water, pour the previously grated ginger and turmeric powder;
- Bring to a boil and keep on the heat for about 8/10 minutes;
- Filter everything, pour into a cup and add the lemon juice and honey;
- One cup a day is generally recommended.
For completeness of information, it is good to remember that boiling ginger and turmeric can reduce the amount of some elements present (such as curcumin present in turmeric) or reduce the antibacterial effect of ginger, and therefore lose some of the properties of the drink. Conversely, however, there are some elements (such as zingerone contained in ginger and useful for countering intestinal disorders) that are formed as a result of boiling. Therefore, to ensure all the benefits, it may be advisable to alternate the preparationof the drink: sometimes you can add these ingredients to hot (but not boiling) water and leave them to infuse for 10 minutes, other times you can prepare the decoction by boiling the roots, as written above.
2. Ginger and lemon flavored water plus turmeric
If you prefer a fresher drink based on these ingredients, you can opt for the preparation of a classic flavored water based on ginger and lemon to which you will also add a little turmeric.
INGREDIENTS FOR 1 CUP
- Water ›500 ml
- Turmeric root ›1 piece
- Ginger root ›1 piece
- 3 slices of lemon
METHOD
- Put the water in a jug and pour in grated turmeric and ginger;
- Add the well washed lemon slices and let it rest in the refrigerator for at least 24 hours;
- In this way the flavor will be lighter and more delicate (since the spices have not been boiled), if you prefer a more decisive flavor you can follow the recipe for the turmeric and ginger herbal tea which, once ready and brought to room temperature, it can be stored in the refrigerator in such a way as to make it fresh in a short time.
3. Smoothie with turmeric and ginger
Even a normal smoothie, such as a banana smoothie made with milk or a vegetable drink, can be enriched with turmeric and ginger, gaining an edge. A teaspoon of turmeric powder and grated fresh ginger (or a teaspoon if powdered) are the ideal doses that can also vary according to personal tastes. You can then experiment with many other combinations by adding turmeric and ginger to other fruit and vegetable smoothies, centrifuges or extracts.
4. Turmeric and ginger risotto
Turmeric and ginger together also go well with some savory dishes, for example with a good risotto. In this case, you should use the powder variant and add a teaspoon of each spice at the end of cooking just like you would do with a more traditional saffron risotto. However, if you prefer, nothing prevents you from adding a piece of grated ginger and a teaspoon of turmeric powder or using both fresh spices instead.
5. Lentil soup with turmeric and ginger
Another interesting first that can be enriched with these two spices is a lentil soup or based on other legumes and cereals. Also in this case you can add raw spices directly at the end of cooking by sprinkling them on top together with a drizzle of oil. If, on the other hand, you want the flavor, in particular of ginger, to be more decisive and homogeneous, you can grate a piece of root already while the soup is preparing, let’s say about halfway through cooking.
6. Chicken or seitan with turmeric and ginger
Turmeric and ginger together are also used to flavor chicken. Those who do not eat meat can instead try a second course based on pieces of seitan stir-fried with a drop of oil, a teaspoon of turmeric and one (or a half) of ginger.
Warnings
Even when it comes to natural substances, there is always a need to take into consideration the possible contraindications and cases in which their use is not recommended.
Turmeric in particular should not be taken by those suffering from gallstones while in the case of liver disease it is always good to seek the advice of an expert.
As for ginger, however, the indication is not to exceed the doses given that if taken in excessive quantities this spice causes gastrointestinal discomfort. To be avoided then the use in case you are taking anti-inflammatory or anticoagulant drugs.
