Try the delicious spice from the ancient Indian Vedic culture that is proven to help reduce inflammation and reduce symptoms of depression. Click here to access the Good Mood Food presentation about turmeric's benefits for mental health.
Ingredients (makes 2-3 servings):
Pita bread (any kind)
1 can of chickpeas or garbanzo beans
Turmeric spice (sold at most grocery stores- look for the golden color in the spice section)
Black pepper (essential for your body to effectively absorb turmeric!)
Garlic powder
Tahini (sesame seed butter- sold at most grocery stores in the international section, or ask for it at any local middle eastern grocery store)
Juice of 1 lemon
Spinach or another leafy green
Sliced tomatoes (any type)
Directions:
Drain the liquid from canned chickpeas (or boil dried chickpeas according to package)
Place chickpeas in a large mixing bowl. Add 1/4 cup of tahini (you might have to mix the tahini first with a fork if the oil separated into a thin layer at the top). Add juice of 1 lemon.
Add 1 spoonful of turmeric, a dash of black pepper, and a dash of garlic powder (to your preference)
Mash everything with a fork- stop whenever you like the chunky-ness of the texture!
Toast the pita bread to your liking and cut it in half. Open the edges to make a little pocket.
Add your turmeric chickpea mix to each pocket.
Add sliced tomatoes and spinach.
Enjoy or save for meal prep!
*Tahini can be stored in a cool, dry area like a cabinet OR in the fridge. You can also freeze the chickpea turmeric mash and save it for later.
Health facts:
Curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric may help treat major depressive disorder, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and autoimmune diseases
It blocks inflammatory molecules like TNF, nuclear factor kappa beta, and IL-6
It can restore normal levels of corticosterone and reduce the huge size of the adrenal gland during stressful times
Always add black pepper with turmeric! Even a little bit can boost absorption in your gut by 2000%
Cultural connection:
Turmeric dates back 4,500 years to the Indian Vedic and Chinese cultures, where it was utilized for hundreds of years in traditional cooking and medicine. Read more about its history here!
Be careful when handling the golden spice- it can easily stain white clothes or your fingertips. It goes well in almost any savory dish! I add it to salads, soups, sandwiches, and even oatmeal. It is sold at an affordable price at almost every grocery store (for example, it only costs $2.00 at Walmart).
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