How to make turmeric paste at home for your golden milk lattes and beyond

It’s safe to say our collective love affair with turmeric isn’t fading anytime soon. The plant’s root-like stems have been used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries; turmeric is also a staple ingredient in many Southeast and East Asian cuisines. Its flavor, bright color, and impressive list of scientifically-backed health benefits have helped it achieve star status in the U.S. and other Western countries today.

“Turmeric is a really potent anti-inflammatory,” says Trinity Mouzon Wofford, founder of the turmeric-centric wellness company Golde. “That means wherever you’re dealing with inflammation—whether it’s with your digestion, skin health, or even muscle soreness post-workout—you can get a natural boost from a daily dose.”

While there are plenty of different ways to use turmeric, creating a homemade paste is one of the best—and easiest!—options when it comes to reaping the benefits of the spice. Instead of just sprinkling a powder into your food, this version contains everything that ups its effectiveness, all in one place—including black pepper and healthy fat (in the form of coconut oil), which have both been shown to help the body better absorb curcumin, turmeric’s active ingredient.

How to make turmeric paste

Ready to make some turmeric paste for yourself? Here’s exactly how it’s done, according to David Ochoa Rodriguez, co-founder of the plant-based restaurant The Butcher’s Daughter, which uses the staple on the regular.

Ingredients

1/3 cup water3 cm piece of fresh turmeric root3 cm piece of fresh ginger root1 pinch black pepper1 tsp honey or agave1/2 tsp ground cinnamon1 pinch salt1 Tbsp coconut oil

1. Peel and grate the turmeric root and ginger root.

2. In a saucepan, add half the water. Stir in the turmeric and ginger, black pepper, honey, cinnamon, salt, and coconut oil. Cook and stir the mixture over a medium flame until you start to see small bubbles around the edge of the saucepan. This should take 1 to 2 minutes.

3. Reduce heat to medium-low. Let the mixture cook and slowly add small amounts of the remaining water. Keep stirring until mixture forms a paste, approximately 5 to 8 minutes.

4. Turn off the heat and transfer the mixture to a glass container. Let the mixture cool to room temperature. Store in a glass jar and refrigerate. It should last two to three weeks.

How to use turmeric paste

Now that you have your turmeric paste, what do you do with it? The options are endless, but these five recipes are a great place to start.

1. Use it in your turmeric golden milk latte

Making golden milk lattes has never been easier. Once you’re finished with your paste, Ochoa Rodriguez says you can simply whisk it into your steamed milk of choice and sweeten it to taste.

Try this recipe:Super Healing Turmeric Latte

2. Use it in soups

A genius way to add health benefits—and loads of flavor!—into your soups is by stirring some of your turmeric paste right into the broth.

Try this recipe:Turmeric Paste Soup with Noodles and Veggies

3. Add it to smoothies

Why not reap the anti-inflammatory benefits of turmeric right in your morning smoothie? When you have paste on hand, you can simply add in a scoop and blend it up for a nice boost.

Try this recipe:Anti-Inflammatory Turmeric Smoothie

4. Stir it into hummus

Make your hummus even more of a nutritional powerhouse by stirring some turmeric paste into the protein-packed combo of chickpeas, tahini, and fresh lemon juice.

Try this recipe:Turmeric Hummus with Tahini and Garlic

5. Use it as a sauce for your pasta

Who needs a cheesy pasta sauce when you can use a creamy turmeric paste? It’s the perfect way to get your comfort food fix while also providing your body with a powerful nutritional punch.

Try this recipe:Noodles with Coconut Turmeric Paste Sauce

This turmeric pumpkin quinoa oatmeal is the best post-holiday breakfast. Or, switch up your golden milk habit with these turmeric tonic recipes.