This Vegan Golden Milk, or Turmeric Milk, is milk mixed with a number of cold-fighting spices and a great Indian Ayurvedic remedy that’s stood the tests of time and science. The star of this drink is turmeric, that golden spice that gives a lot of Indian food its fabulous color. Today, I have for you a vegan golden milk, called haldi ka doodh in India, that’s just as effective and tasty.
The vibrant color of turmeric is not the real reason this spice is prized in an Indian kitchen. Instead, our grandmothers and their grandmothers have long known what scientists around the world have only recently started to verify– that curcumin, a component of turmeric, is, among many other good things:
-Antioxidant
-Anti-inflammatory
-Helps fight infection
-Fights cancer
-Reduces cholesterol
-Alleviates arthritis pain
-Soothes stomach disorders
-Gives you glowing skin
In India, in the absence of an antiseptic cream on hand, anyone knows to grab a pinch of turmeric and place it on a bleeding wound to nip in the bud any possibility of infection. It can be a bit messy– because turmeric does stain– but you can’t beat it for effectivness.
Turmeric is an essential component in almost any Indian spicy dish, and especially curries. I add it to almost anything Indian I cook, because — as I’ve said in these posts before– I strongly believe in food as medicine. But there are some things anyone new to cooking with turmeric would do well to keep in mind. For one, use it in small quantities: no recipe — unless made in bulk quantities– needs more than 1/2 tsp of it.
Turmeric is bitter in taste, and added at the wrong time it can ruin a dish with a raw, unpleasant flavor. So be sure to toast your turmeric– as you should any raw spice– in some oil before you add it to your dish. By this I don’t mean you should toast it separately. Just stir it in after you’ve sauteed the onions and garlic and ginger for a curry, so the turmeric mixes in with the oil. But don’t add it toward the end of cooking. Get it?
Today’s recipe, though, is an exception, because we aren’t adding any oils here. For the vegan golden milk, you’d typically add the turmeric and spices like black pepper, cinnamon, cloves and cardamom to some milk, simmer until it comes to a boil, allow it to stand, and then drink piping hot. Trust me, it’s delicious.
In my vegan kitchen, I substitute the milk with some organic vanilla soymilk.
Here goes the recipe for my vegan golden milk. It’s simple enough, but I love you enough to share it with you in case you ever have the sniffles.
Vegan Turmeric Milk
Ingredients
- 2 cups vanilla soymilk
- 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
- 4 cloves
- 3 green cardamom pods
- 1 1- inch stick of cinnamon
- 10 black peppercorns
- Sugar to taste (or use any sweetener you prefer)
Instructions
- Crush the cloves, cardamom, cinnamon and peppercorns with a mortar and pestle, preferably, until they are very coarsely powdered.
- Put the soymilk in a small saucepan, add the turmeric and powdered spices, stir, and bring to a boil over medium-low heat. Watch the pot closely because it will overflow, just as milk would, and then you'd have a messy cleanup job on top of a cold. How awful!
- Once the soymilk begins to boil, quickly turn off the heat and cover. Let it stand for a minute or two at the most.
- Strain into a cup, add sugar, and drink hot.
- Get well!
- For other cold-fighters, check out my
- Blast-off-that-cold Soup
- and my
- Broccoli-Potato Soup
Just fell on my hip and wondering whether tumeric will alleviate the pain. Sylvia
Silvia, how awful! Sorry to hear that. Turmeric is an anti-inflammatory, so I guess it might have some positive effect on pain, but even if it did, you might have to take large quantities to see a difference. I am no doctor but I would advise not to rely on turmeric to alleviate pain. Among other things, it definitely is not going to act instantly.
I loooove this recipe, thankyou so much for posting it! I make it when I’m not even sick as it’s a great comfort drink when it’s a bit nippy out & I need some tlc.
I added some fresh ginger & orange zest to mine & sweetened with maple syrup & I feel better already 🙂
Thankyou so much Vaishali
Love this post! Since marrying an Indian guy, haldi has become my favorite “cure-all!”
And it’s not vegan, I know… but a little Bailey’s tipped in never hurt anyone. 🙂
It looks good..
Vegan Cookbook giveaway on my blog!
Debra @ Vegan Family Style
Vaishali,
Happy new year to you, desi and furry friends. Hali ka soy doodh is good in this winter season. I should try it even when I am not sick, looks good.
I am always administering this to the family when they catch cold but haven’t tried with soymilk at all! I just didn’t think it would be as effective.
I checked that site and found your site mentioned now but he/she still hasn’t hyperlinked!
Malar, thanks!
Apricot, thanks for the link– I’ll check it out.
Pavani, thanks– hope it helps you feel better! 🙂
Dairy Free Betty, Turmeric has a pretty long shelf life– I would daresay you could use it even if it had been standing around for months or a couple of years! Mine usually runs out every six months or so.
Priya, Thanks
Caribbeanvegan, thanks and a happy new year to you!
Claire, thanks. I have heard about the cold-soothing properties of echinacea but never tried the tea. Will do sometime.
Anonymous, Shri, Voracious, Thanks!
Asha, thanks and a happy new year to you!
Maya, thanks!
Nithya, yes, it is surprisingly good– it’s key not to add too much of the turmeric or it could get bitter, but with just the right amount, the sugar and the spices, Desi says it tastes like payasam 🙂 He used to hate the concept but once he’d tasted it, he became a fan 🙂
Empowerment, Sorry about the sniffles and hope you feel better soon.
Thanks for giving Deb a piece of your mind– I notice she’s added a credit line to the recipe, although she still hasn’t added a link.
Maya, Cham, Parita, thanks, all, and yes, plagiarists are the worst.
I have turmeric milk all the time when down with cold and flu though havent tried soy milk as yet, tasted once and didnt like the taste but your recipe to add spices certainly looks promising, will try and let you know 🙂
Sorry to hear about plagiarism, some people just dont have conscience!!
I always didn’t like the after taste the soya milk gave! Probably I should try the costco one.
Plagiarism is untolerable- people who does never accept or realize!