Turmeric or Haldi as we say in hindi, has been an integral part of not just Indian kitchen but our lives, I have to say. If there was a king (or in my opinion a queen) of spices in India then it has to be haldi (turmeric). Be it dadi (grandma) tossing it with salt and mangoes before spreading them out in the terrace to dry for pickling, or be it by the side of a young blushing bride (or groom) surrounded by friends and family under her mandap for the sacred haldi ceremony.
Mummy imprinting her palms with haldi on the doorstep before any sacred ritual, using as a facepack for a clearer, shinier skin, rubbing on our scrapes and wounds growing up, mixing with honey to cure a sore throat, or on the belly button to relieve a stomach ache. Fresh, dried or powdered, turmeric has always been a mother’s closest friend. Passed down through generations and still holding its vigour.
So when I watch this recent craze everywhere about this “turmeric- the golden spice”, it amuses me and makes me go, “yes, told you so!”. The “golden milk” that is crowding the shelves of our grocery stores recently and being sold by baristas everywhere has been a staple remedy for fever, ache or fatigue for ages, where I come from.
Not just in the Indian culture but there’s a sacred place of turmeric in Ayurveda too and rightfully so. Curcuminoids, the compound in turmeric, the main ingredient of which curcumin has amazing anti- inflammatory effects and is an antioxidant. Great booster of brain health, it is also believed to help with heart disease and even cancer. So the right dose of turmeric in your diet is not just healthy but is also necessary according to Ayurveda for a happy mind and soul.
So today the recipe I created for my very dear friend Kankana, who is currently on a much deserved trip to India, revisiting the old streets of her childhood and savoring through her mom’s cooking, I have brought to you the same golden spice! I picked a few of my mom’s favorite health boosting ingredients and mixed them with some of mine. Turmeric, honey and yogurt, three things my mom always gave us as kids to boost our immune system. I mixed them with my favorites, Kale, brussel sprouts and lemon, to bring you this refreshing and absolutely delicious salad. You can call the dressing a “golden dressing” if you please but it sure packs all the nutrition you would need for a well rounded meal.
Please checkout the recipe for Kale and Brussel Sprouts Salad with Turmeric Honey Yogurt Dressing, over at Kankana’s blog Playful Cooking.