7 November, 2013
Best friends: turmeric and black peppercorn
It is a well known fact that turmeric has healing powers with its anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties. In the book, “The Healthy Indian Diet”, the author says that curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric has undergone many clinical trials and has shown significant decrease in tumor growth in mice. But what is less well known about this spice is that the absorption of curcumin in the body occurs better in the presence of black pepper.
So, it is a good idea to include a little back pepper in every dish that you add turmeric in, practically all Indian curries. I keep my pepper crusher right next to the turmeric powder in my cabinet. Let best friends be together!
7 thoughts on : Best friends: turmeric and black peppercorn
True! For cold/cough issues also I boil Turmeric, black pepper, dried dates in milk. It is supposed to be very effective in fighting the infection. I keep a powdered mixture of black pepper, dried dates and cardamom handy – just boil it in milk with some turmeric, add sugar/jaggery and it is so soothing for the throat.
– Harini
that’s a great tip, Harini. I combine turmeric and pepper in milk too, for sore throat. Do you make your date powder or do you buy it from somewhere? I’m curious because I’ve only seen dried dates that have some moisture in them.
No I do not buy Date powder. I get the Dried dates – I really dont know what it is called in Tamil. But it is pretty much dry. Dry roast this (very lightly) along with pepper and some cardomom. Then powder it in the dry mixie. I never make too much of it at one time. Just enough to last for sometime – i guess freshly powdered is the best. This is just for convenience 🙂
Thank you so much for these posts – they are really informative and useful. I think that food has such an effect on how we feel: our physical and mental health.
Emma 🙂
thank you for looking though the old posts in blog to find what you like! 🙂
It’s a great blog! You’ve got so many interesting and useful posts here!!
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