Thanksgiving is all about being thankful for the beauty in our lives and for spending quality time with our family and friends. For the foodies, it’s also a time for turkey dinners, an abundance of side dishes and overeating. At Yensa, we want to give a special shout out to the “superfoods” which, with their many benefits and uses, give us extra power.  This year we put the spotlight on the superfood Turmeric.

Turmeric, the powerful spice, has been used for its medicinal properties for centuries. The active compound in turmeric is curcumin, which is a natural anti-inflammatory and powerful antioxidant, and may even be even effective in fighting cancer. This potent and aromatic golden spice adds a ton of warm and intense flavor and color to your recipes.  Below, are eight ways to spice up your Thanksgiving dishes with this powerful Superfood.

 

1. Thanksgiving Turmeric Turkey

 The traditional superstar of Thanksgiving dinner is the turkey. Surprise your family and friends this year by sprinkling turmeric spice over your turkey before baking to give it that beautiful golden and crispy look and that warm, spicy kick, that will make your Thanksgiving meal stand out.

 

2. Turmeric Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Normally, we like our sweet potatoes sliced thin and fried crispy to dip into our favorite sauce, but with Thanksgiving we are ready to mash it up. Boil your sweet potatoes for 20-30 minutes in salted water until tender, remove the water and mix the potatoes with butter, milk, salt and pepper and our secret ingredient turmeric to get a light and fluffy dish.

 

3. Turmeric Brussels Sprouts

 Love them or hate them (we love them), but Brussels sprouts are more popular than ever and a real Thanksgiving crowdpleaser. Shake up your favorite Brussels sprouts recipe by simply sprinkling them with turmeric to get that exotic flavor.  

 

4. Turmeric Roasted Rainbow Carrots

 The sweetness of carrots blends powerfully with the warm flavors of turmeric to make an easy, colorful and delicious Thanksgiving side dish. Toss the peeled rainbow carrots on a rimmed baking sheet, season with extra virgin olive oil, salt and pepper and add turmeric. Roast for 20-25 minutes until brown on the outside. Add parsley for the final touch.

 

5. Turmeric Cranberry Sauce

It wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without all the flavor-packed sauces. Add turmeric to your sweet cranberry sauce to give it an added punch. Toss fresh cranberries into a saucepan, add sugar and cook for 4-6 minutes until the berries start to burst and the sugar is fully melted. Stir the berries and sugar, add zest with turmeric to bring a unique flavor to your sauce. Let the cranberry mixture cool down in the refrigerator for at least two hours before serving.

 

6. Turmeric Cornbread

Today, eating cornbread at Thanksgiving has become a tradition in many houses. Simply mix turmeric with your cornmeal to create your spicy, delicious cornbread that adds a nice pop of spice and color to your meal.

 

7. Pumpkin Turmeric Pie

For many of us, Thanksgiving would not be complete without grandma’s warm homemade pumpkin pie. Turmeric spice can be a fantastic addition, visually and tastewise. It adds depth to your pie by balancing and binding together the bold spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and clove, plus it gives vibrant color to your homemade pie.

 

8. Turmeric Tea

When our bellies are satisfied with laughter and delicious food, it’s time to help stimulate our digestion to prepare for a dreamy night. Simply add a scoop of turmeric to your favorite tea to stimulate your bile breakdown and to assist with digestion, and to calm down your digestive system by reducing bloating.

 

Have a wonderful, tasteful and spiced up Thanksgiving!!

 

Written by: Jan De Gols
#liveyouryen