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Got a jar of turmeric but not sure how to use it up? Unleash the power of this golden spice with our top turmeric recipes! There are so many ways to use this versatile ingredient in rice dishes, soups, and more.

Turmeric has a warm flavor and beautiful golden flavor: you’ll see it in everything from trendy golden milk to traditional Indian curry recipes. As two cookbook authors and recipe experts, Alex and I love using its unique flavor and color in recipes!
There are lots of claimed health benefits of turmeric, which is partly why its become so popular in the US lately. But we love it most because of its flavor and color. If you have a jar of turmeric and are looking for recipes to use it up, here’s a collection of our top turmeric recipes!

What is turmeric?
Turmeric is a root, similar to ginger. While you can buy turmeric root fresh, the main way that turmeric is used is ground and dried. You can buy ground turmeric at your local grocery store. It has a warm taste that is also slightly bitter. Turmeric also has a bright yellow color, and is often used as a plant based dye. Turmeric is a common spice used in Indian and Middle Eastern cuisine.
According to Harvard, turmeric contains curcumin, which may have anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and antioxidant properties. Turmeric is currently being studied in human clinical trials for illnesses such as colon and pancreatic cancers and Alzheimer’s.
And now…our top turmeric recipes!
First up in our turmeric recipes: turmeric rice bowls! Adding turmeric to rice gives it a vibrant, yellow color. This bowl meal pairs it with broccoli and kale, chickpeas for added protein, and creamy tahini sauce.
You could also serve the turmeric rice as a side dish with baked salmon or grilled shrimp, or top it with teriyaki skewers.
This Moroccan cauliflower soup features turmeric in the spice blend, which gives it this beautiful yellow color. This soup has been made by many readers and gets rave reviews! It’s healthy and tasty, featuring cauliflower that's roasted until lightly charred in a very hot oven. Then it’s blended with onion, carrot and Moroccan spices into a silky puree: think cumin, coriander, turmeric, ginger, and cinnamon.
What’s a turmeric poached egg? It’s an egg poached with turmeric stirred into the water, and what comes out is a beautiful bright yellow orb that looks infinitely more exciting than a normal poached egg. Making a turmeric eggs only takes a couple minutes, but it’s a lovely addition to anything: avocado toast, a grain bowl, or a big salad.
Adding turmeric to soup recipes adds warm flavor and a golden color. This homemade vegetable soup recipe is all things comforting, featuring turmeric and lots of veggies. You know that noodle soup that your mom made you growing up? This one tastes like a cross between that and an elevated version of canned soup. Use it as a template and you can other veggies to your liking!
Turmeric in a muffin recipe? These vegan blueberry muffins are incredibly tasty and are a total crowd pleaser! The hint of turmeric adds a beautiful golden color. To top them off, they've got lemon zest for brightness and turbinado sugar for a sparkly, crunchy topping. They come out perfectly moist, with a nuanced flavor and tangy pockets of blueberries.
This crispy breaded cauliflower features a bit of turmeric in the spice blend for color and flavor. It's baked, not fried: and it's amazing how it turns out perfectly crispy! What we love about this recipe is that it is so many things at once: savory, tangy, sweet, and spicy. Serve it as a side dish, or part of our Cauliflower Tacos with Yum Yum Sauce.
Another great way to use turmeric in recipes is as a yellow coloring! This vegan queso dip uses turmeric for color, not flavor. It’s made with cashews, canned green chilis, turmeric, chili powder, cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, and yellow mustard. It makes make a dip with just the right flavoring and amount of heat, with a texture very similar to a standard queso.
Another one of our turmeric recipes is this Moroccan stew with chickpeas! It tastes complex and fresh: full of spices and topped with fresh cilantro, a squeeze of lemon and a touch of Greek yogurt. The spices are a blend of savory and sweet: paprika, cumin, coriander and turmeric on the savory side, and ginger and cinnamon on the sweet side.
Another way to use turmeric is as a substitute for saffron! Paella is a traditional Spanish dish of rice, vegetables, and seafood or meat, flavored with exotic spices like smoked paprika and saffron. But since saffron is the world’s most expensive spice, turmeric works well as a substitute: it's much cheaper and gives a bit of earthy flavor and a brilliant yellow color.
A list of turmeric recipes wouldn't be complete without traditional Indian dishes. Masoor dal translates as “red lentils” in Hindi. There are many types of dal: you may have heard of chana dal (chickpeas) or dal makhani, aka “buttery lentils.” This authentic masoor dal recipe is a basic dal and it comes out cozy and nuanced, with just the right amount of gentle flavoring from the turmeric.
A few more turmeric recipes
Here are a few more ideas for turmeric recipes:
- Shake it into cauliflower rice for a bright yellow color.
- Add it into homemade hummus for a yellow variation.
- Stir it into our tahini sauce for a bright yellow drizzle.
- Try this Red Lentil Curry with Rice (Mesir Wat).
Turmeric Poached Egg
Looking for turmeric recipes to use up a jar? Vibrant turmeric poached eggs can be whipped up in no time. Serve them over avocado toast for a healthy breakfast, lunch or dinner.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 minutes
- Total Time: 8 minutes
- Yield: 4 eggs 1x
- Category: Eggs
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- ¼ cup distilled white vinegar
- 2 teaspoons ground turmeric
- 4 large eggs
Instructions
- In a large saucepan, pour a few inches of water and bring it to a boil. Reduce to a gentle simmer and stir in the vinegar and turmeric.
- Crack each egg into a small bowl, then carefully slide each egg into the water. Make sure to give plenty of space between each egg. Allow to simmer for about 3 to 4 minutes, until the whites are set but the yolks are still liquid.
- Line a plate with a paper towel. Remove the eggs from the pan using a slotted spoon, then allow them to drain while preparing the toast. (Throughout the process, take care with the turmeric water, as it can stain clothing.)