This neon-bright spice has a distinctive flavor that's used frequently in Indian cuisine. You can make turmeric powder at home from turmeric roots for a fresher product.
Author: Kris Bordessa, National Geographic author/certified master food preserver
Ingredients
4 cupsturmeric root
Instructions
Thoroughly wash turmeric root. Use a stiff scrub brush to remove most of the outer skin. (It's not necessary to peel the turmeric; just remove any really dry or rough patches.)
Thinly slice turmeric. Use a food processor equipped with a slicing blade, a mandoline, or simply a knife. Just aim for a uniform thickness, 1/8" thick or less.
Place turmeric root slices on dehydrator trays.
Dry at 135 for 5-7 hours, or until the turmeric root is crispy and completely dried. Allow to cool.
Place dried turmeric in blender and process until it becomes a fine powder.
Store in an airtight container.
Notes
If you want to make sure that this homemade turmeric powder is very finely ground, you can sift it and return larger bits to the blender for further processing. Do not seal turmeric into a container while it's still warm, as this can limit storage time.Using a homemade moisture absorber in the storage container can help to extend the shelf life if you make turmeric powder at home. 4 cups of fresh turmeric root will make about 1 cup of dried turmeric powder.