Turmeric Golden Milk (Haldi Doodh) Recipe

Turmeric is an ingredient that's simultaneously traditional and trendy, and there's a good reason why: It has a ton of health benefits. Recipe developer Jennine Rye came up with this recipe for golden milk, enjoyed in India under the name haldi doodh. "I love the rich and soothing flavor of this recipe, as well as the wealth of health benefits contained in this classic Indian drink, due in large part to the turmeric," Rye raves. She also shares when she love to curl up and enjoy a warm mug the most: "Although it is possible to drink golden milk at any time of day, it is often recommended to be drunk an hour or two before bedtime. Its soothing and healing properties are said to help relax the body and to improve the quality of sleep," Rye notes. 

So what exactly are those healing properties? "Turmeric, one of the main ingredients and the source of the drink's bright yellow color, contains curcumin, which is considered to help with a wide array of ailments, from colds and infections to heart health, to blood sugar levels and even cancer," she explains. "It is also said to have a positive effect on mood, memory, digestion, and inflammation within the body. Combined with the health benefits of milk, cinnamon, and ginger, this drink really is considered to be a cure-all!" 

Keep reading to find out how to make this tasty turmeric golden milk.

To get started, you will need to gather all the ingredients for this recipe, most of which are spices. Just grab full-fat milk, ground turmeric, coconut oil, ground ginger, a cinnamon stick, honey, and black pepper. If you'd like, you can also sprinkle on some ground cinnamon when serving.

Grab a medium-sized saucepan and place it on your stove. Measure out and add the milk, ground turmeric, ground ginger, coconut oil, and the cinnamon stick. You won't need the other ingredients just yet.

Warm the ingredients over medium heat, and then use a whisk to mix well. Let the mixture simmer for 4 to 5 minutes. ""It's good to allow this recipe to gently simmer for a few minutes to maximize the flavor, especially of the cinnamon," Rye says. 

She also shares why she prefers the cinnamon stick over the powdered stuff. "I used to make this using ground cinnamon, but it would end up being a bit powdery due to the amount of ground powders, which I didn't like," she explains. "However, using the cinnamon stick instead means that there isn't sediment or sludge at the bottoms of the drinks, it just needs a little while to impart that beautiful fragrant flavor through the golden milk." 

Once the few minutes are up, remove the saucepan from the heat. Carefully remove the cinnamon stick and discard it. Then, add the honey and a pinch of black pepper to complete the beverage.

Now, pour the drinks into mugs of your choosing and if you'd like, add a bit of ground cinnamon on top. This drink is excellent solo, and Rye thinks we should keep it that way. "Golden milk tends to be a drink best enjoyed by itself, either after dinner or toward the end of the day before bed to maximize the health benefits," she explains. 

We hope you enjoy a nice mug-full before bed!