Turmeric Salad Dressing

This zingy and breezy turmeric salad dressing is a super creamy and lemony sauce to drizzle over your salads and veggie dishes. It adds a quick burst of flavor to any dish. You can make it with fresh or ground turmeric.

Blend it up in 5 minutes and keep a jar in the fridge. Its bright yellow glow turns the simplest dish into a showstopper (check out this grilled cauliflower with the turmeric sauce on top).

For other homemade dressings and sauces, try my pretty pink salad dressing with fresh raspberries or this healthy Caesar dressing. 

Why you’ll love this recipe 

• Healthy dressing: This is a great way to add nutritious ingredients to a meal. Unlike dressings from the store, the recipe is free from any preservatives and additives. It also doesn’t include olive oil or any other vegetable oil if you want an oil-free option. 
• Vibrant color: The dressing's golden color can make even the simplest salad look exciting.
• Versatile: From leafy greens and raw vegetables to grain and fruit salads. There is just so much you can do with it. 
• Easy to prepare: Preparing a turmeric salad dressing is simple and quick. You can throw it together at the last minute. 
• Adds warmth to cold salads: For those who prefer cold salads, the warmth of turmeric in the dressing can add a cozy element during winter.

Benefits turmeric

Turmeric is known as a superfood with many health benefits, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Most of those benefits are attributed to the active component curcumin (source). 

You always want to consume fresh or dried turmeric with black pepper, as its piperine compound increases the bioavailability of curcumin, which means that it increases its absorption in the bloodstream (source).

However note that most studies on the benefits of turmeric were conducted with dosages high dosages of turmeric extract, which can be difficult to achieve through diet only. Hence why many people choose to consume it as a supplement.

Fresh vs ground turmeric

Fresh turmeric and ground turmeric differ in flavor profiles and curcumin content due to various factors related to processing and storage. 

In terms of flavor, fresh turmeric has a bolder flavor than ground turmeric. It has a robust, earthy, slightly bitter taste, with hints of citrus and ginger. Ground turmeric, on the other hand, has a milder flavor.

Fresh turmeric generally has a higher concentration of curcumin compared to ground turmeric. The curcumin content can vary depending on the variety of turmeric and its freshness. However, fresh turmeric's curcumin levels are generally higher because it hasn’t been processed, and eating fresh turmeric is the easiest way to consume curcumin. 

The drying and grinding process of turmeric powder can lead to curcumin degradation. However, it is still a good source of this beneficial compound.

Key ingredients and substitutions

• White tahini: This paste made from ground sesame seeds adds a rich, nutty flavor to the dressing. Make sure to use smooth, well-mixed tahini for a creamy texture. Avoid brown tahini/raw tahini which has a more pronounced earthy flavor that is too overpowering for this dressing. A great substitute for white tahini would be white almond butter or cashew butter.
• Fresh turmeric: Adds a vibrant yellow color and an earthy flavor to the dressing.
• Fresh ginger root: Adds a subtle spicy note.
• Lemon zest & juice: Brings brightness and a tangy kick to the dressing. It also balances the earthiness of turmeric and the richness of tahini. Use fresh lemon juice for the best flavor, and avoid bottled lemon juice, which may contain additives.
• Lemon pulp: Intensifies the lemony flavor.
• Maple syrup: Acts as a natural sweetener, providing a subtle sweetness to balance the acidity of the lemon and the earthiness of the turmeric.

Elo’s tips

1. Be careful when cooking with turmeric, especially fresh turmeric root, as its stains are difficult to get out of clothes and countertops.
2. Use a glass jar for blending if possible. Blending fresh turmeric in a plastic jar will most likely turn it slightly yellow.
3. If your blender jar is stained, let it rest in the sun for a day and the yellow color should completely fade away.
4. Add more water if you like your dressing on the runnier side.

Step-by-step instructions

STEP 1: Wash and grate the ginger and turmeric—no need to peel it. I like to brush them with a vegetable brush to remove any dust or dirt. Grate them even if you're going to blend them.

STEP 2: Add everything to a blender or food processor. Start with the water, then add in the tahini, lemon juice, lemon pulp, lemon zest, grated turmeric, and grated ginger. Finally, season with salt and pepper. Alternatively, you can add everything to a large jug and blend it with an immersion mixer.

Storage Tips

Store any leftover or extra dressing in an airtight container in the refrigerator. This creamy turmeric salad dressing will keep for up to a week if properly stored. 

Serving suggestions

• With grilled or roasted cauliflower
• Roasted sweet potatoes
• Over a good salad with mixed greens
• Drizzled onto roasted root vegetables 
• Quinoa and chickpea salad
• Citrus fruit salad
• Mediterranean grain bowl
• Any good salad  
• In veggie wraps 
• As a dip for raw veggies 

Turmeric FAQ