Turbocharged Golden Milk

Recipe PREP 5 min COOK 15 min

Turbocharged Golden Milk

PREP 5 min COOK 15 min

Description & Benefits

When my grandma offered her haldi doodh, literally translated turmeric milk, neither of us had the faintest inkling that a few decades later, cafes in the world’s trendiest cities would be serving golden milk lattes in various incarnations. In homage to that simple, potent brew I grew up on, I’ve created a turbocharged version with additional spices for flavor and health-enhancing qualities.
Curcumin, the main compound in turmeric, is not only an antioxidant but also has antibacterial, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory properties. Pairing it with black pepper, as in this golden milk recipe, adds extra benefits — the piperine compound in black pepper boosts your body’s absorption of curcumin.

Ingredients

2 SERVES
  • 2 cups (480 ml) milk of choice

  • 1 cup (240 ml) water

  • 1 tsp or more ground turmeric

  • 2 black peppercorns

  • 1/2-inch (12 mm) cinnamon stick, preferably Ceylon

  • 4 to 6 cardamom pods, gently crushed to expose the seeds, or 1/4 tsp ground cardamom

  • 1 to 2 tsp honey or other sweetener of choice (optional)

Directions

  1. Step 1
    Bring the milk, water, and spices to a boil in a pot. Reduce the heat and simmer gently for 10 minutes, stirring often to prevent the milk from burning at the bottom of the pot. Strain into a mug, add sweetener if using, and serve right away.

Adapted from Spice Spice Baby: 100 Recipes with Healing Spices for Your Family Table by Kanchan Koya