Turmeric

Instructions

1. 1

   Used in cooking since 600 b.c., turmeric is the root of a tropical plant related to ginger.

2. 2

   Though native to the Orient, this spice is now also cultivated in India and the Caribbean.

3. 3

   It has a bitter, pungent flavor and an intense yellow-orange color.

4. 4

   In Biblical times, turmeric was often used to make perfume, a comment on its rather exotic fragrance.

5. 5

   Today it's used mainly to add both flavor and color to food.

6. 6

   Turmeric is very popular in East Indian cooking and is almost always used in curry preparations.

7. 7

   It's also a primary ingredient in mustard and is what gives American-style prepared mustard its bright yellow color.

8. 8

   Powdered turmeric is widely available in supermarkets.

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   As with all spices, it should bestored in a cool, dark place for no more than 6 months.