Golden Paste is the way the Turmeric User Group has recommended taking turmeric since 2012. It’s cheap, it keeps in the fridge, and it suits people, dogs and horses alike. Here’s the recipe, and why each ingredient matters.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup (60 g) turmeric powder
- 1 cup (250 mL) water, plus extra if needed
- 1/3 cup (70 mL) cold-pressed oil: raw coconut, flaxseed (linseed) or extra virgin olive oil
- 2–3 teaspoons freshly cracked black pepper
Method
- Put the turmeric and water in a pan, bring to the boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 7–10 minutes, stirring, until it forms a thick paste. Add a little water if it gets too dry.
- Take it off the heat and let it cool for about 10 minutes, until warm rather than hot.
- Stir in the pepper and oil thoroughly.
- Spoon into a clean jar once cool.
If your turmeric is labelled “raw”, simmer it for at least 30 minutes.
Why each ingredient is there
Turmeric powder. Whole turmeric contains curcumin plus many other compounds. We prefer it to concentrated curcumin extracts. → Turmeric vs curcumin capsules
Cooking with water. Gentle cooking makes turmeric easier for people and most animals to digest.
Oil. Turmeric’s active compounds dissolve in fat, not water, so oil helps them get absorbed. This is why stirring turmeric powder into a glass of water does very little.
Freshly cracked black pepper. Piperine in pepper slows the breakdown and excretion of curcumin, so it stays in the body longer. Piperine degrades quickly once ground, so crack it fresh rather than using pre-ground pepper.
Storage
Keep it in the fridge for 2–3 weeks. Freeze anything you won’t use in two weeks; silicone ice-cube trays make handy single servings.
How much?
Start with about 1/4 teaspoon twice a day with food, and build up slowly. → How much turmeric should I take?
Tips
- Leave out honey or sweeteners.
- Can’t tolerate pepper? You can leave it out, but the paste won’t be as effective.
- For dogs and horses, adding a tablespoon of Ceylon cinnamon (not cassia) at the end of cooking can reduce the “cat pee” smell some animals get when they start.
Before you start, check the Safety page if you take any medication.
Where to get it: Turmeric Life’s high-potency turmeric powder is available at turmericlife.com.au ↗
Made Golden Paste before? Share your tips in the comments below.
Leave a Reply