Turmeric Chicken Kebabs over Basmati Rice with Charred Scallions

The Power of Turmeric, Black Pepper and Ghee

Turmeric, the brilliant orange powder that will color everything if you’re not too careful, is a near magical ingredient.  Not only is its flavor bright and unmistakable, but it also acts as a powerful antioxidant and strongly anti-inflammatory food owing to one of its components: curcumin.

Like many other potent antioxidants, curcumin is fat-soluble, and it is more bioavailable and does more good for your body when it is paired with fat.  In this recipe, we partner turmeric not only with avocado oil which is rich in heart-healthy monounsaturated fat, but also grass-fed ghee, another nourishing fat, noted for its plethora of fat-soluble vitamins.

Curcumin is also made more bioavailable by black pepper, and you’ll often see the marriage of curcumin-rich turmeric with black pepper in traditional Indian cookery’s curries and sauces as well as in the recipe for Turmeric Chicken Kebabs below.

Where to Find Grass-Fed Ghee (and Super Potent Turmeric)

Cultured, grass-fed ghee gives this basmati rice an incredible luscious, nutty flavor that blends beautifully with pumpkin seeds and the brightness of fresh cilantro.  We buy it from Pure Indian Foods, a longtime partner, that has used grass-fed butter to make their ghee for generations.  You can order it online here, they also sell an extraordinarily potent turmeric which you can also order online here.

Our Favorite Easy Weeknight Meals

Getting a wholesome dinner on the table each night of the week can get a little tricky, which is why planning ahead is key.  We recommend this meal planning system, where you can add many of the nutrient-dense, whole foods recipes you find on Nourished Kitchen.

But here’s some of our favorite weeknight meals that’ll make your dinnertime a little bit easier.

Quick Pho, from the cookbook Broth and Stock, is a super-easy meal that you can toss together in twenty minutes featuring a deeply fragrant broth perfumed by spices and fresh herbs, coupled with thinly sliced grass-fed beef and traditional rice noodles.

Honey Harissa Chicken with Brown Rice Pilaf is another twist on the classic dinner of chicken and rice, this time with fragrant spices, and a pilaf studded with dried fruit for just a little hint of sweetness.

Salmon with Honey Chipotle Bourbon Butter combines spicy, smoky chipotle peppers with a touch of honey and a punch of bourbon to slather over wild-caught salmon.  It’s great served with grilled corn and a green salad.