Golden Relish- Fresh Turmeric Recipe

Bright is the best way to describe this golden relish, our latest and greatest fresh turmeric recipe. The flavors meld together in a way that is completely unique, delicious, and craveable. It’s a bit sweet and a bit sour, with the amazing flavor of onion added to the peppery turmeric. The magic is in the perfectly balanced way all the ingredients come together. Perfect for topping all your favorite dips, sandwiches, toasts, crackers and more this fresh turmeric relish is the perfect answer for when you have a pile of turmeric that needs to be used. Just make a batch of this relish and put it in the fridge and eat until it’s gone.

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Fresh Turmeric Root

You’ve probably seen or used turmeric powder- it’s bright and vibrant in color, generally fairly orange (although the turmeric we used here is more yellow), and is often used in Indian foods. But fresh turmeric is less common to come by in the United States. It looks a lot like fresh ginger but is usually sold in smaller pieces with a deeper color. Turmeric will stain your hands, cutting boards and counters a bright orangey yellow. The flavor is earthy, peppery, warm, citrusy, and bitter. It’s hard to describe, but it is distinctive. I generally find fresh turmeric sold in pre-packaged containers of several ounces, which- unless I happen to be making golden milk or many days worth of curries- is more than I need. I could dry and powder my turmeric, but I like to try and use it in its fresh form. Turmeric, both fresh and dried, is often celebrated for its medicinal properties. I am not an expert in traditional medicine or nutrition, but what I have read is that it’s supposed to help with inflammation, has anti-bacterial properties, and contains large amounts of the antioxidant curcumin. You can find turmeric being used in lots of supplements, and hailed as a health-boosting ingredient. It’s even said to be a natural method for fighting depression, although I’m going to go on the record to say it is not an alternative to anti-depressants and therapy. Some of the benefits associated with turmeric are lost in cooking and drying, so a recipe that uses fresh turmeric raw (like this one) is likely to have more of the health benefits associated with turmeric. But again, I’m not an expert, so take all that with a grain of turmeric.

If you are looking for fresh turmeric, you can sometimes find it at your regular grocery store. Asian groceries are also a great place to look, and Indian grocery stores are a sure win. Co-ops and health food stores are another good option, and I have a few local farmers near me that grow it. Shopping online is also an option- I found this seller on Etsy.

Looking for Turmeric Recipes? Try one of these!

• Golden Milk Turmeric Vegan Cinnamon Rolls
• Cold Weather Cabbage Soup with Butternut Squash and Turmeric
• Vegan Lemon Scones with Lemon Turmeric Glaze
• “Souper” Orange & Mandarin Orange, Carrot and Turmeric Soup

How to Make this Fresh Turmeric Recipe

Turmeric is usually used as a spice, and that’s because the flavor of turmeric is quite strong in large doses. The difficulty with fresh turmeric is it doesn’t last forever, so you’ll want to try and use what you have before it goes bad, so a recipe that uses a large amount of fresh turmeric is a good one to keep in your back pocket. The added bonus of this fresh turmeric relish is that it’s super easy to whip up. Simply grate your turmeric, a large granny smith apple, and half an onion, and place them in a mixing bowl. Add to that minced garlic, lemon juice, vinegar, and salt and pepper. Give it a good mix and transfer it into an airtight container. Let your relish marinate in the fridge for a day or so, to let the flavors soften and meld. It will stay good in the fridge for quite a while. Add a little relish to everything- veggie dogs, sandwiches, crackers, chips, toasts, add a spoonful to the top of your hummus, serve with pierogi, top baked potatoes, and more!

Golden Relish- Fresh Turmeric Recipe

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