This easy haldi doodh, or turmeric milk, is a warm and comforting drink made effortlessly in the microwave. Infused with a perfect blend of Indian spices like turmeric, cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, and black pepper, it’s the ultimate cozy beverage.
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What is haldi doodh?
Haldi doodh is a Hindi term that translates to turmeric milk. It is a cozy, nutty, and warm beverage drunk when folks are feeling under the weather. In the United States you may hear haldi doodh rebranded as "golden milk", but as responsible consumers it is important to understand that haldi doodh's roots are deeply rooted in Indian culture and Ayurvedic beliefs.
What makes this recipe special?
- Traditional haldi doodh can taste bitter with just turmeric and milk, but this recipe balances those flavors with a modest amount of turmeric, sweet cardamom, soothing cinnamon and ginger, tingly black pepper, and sugar for a smooth, well-rounded drink.
- This microwave haldi doodh recipe uses spice powders and skips boiling the milk on the stove to avoid extra cleanup.
Haldi doodh masala
The haldi doodh masala or spice blend is what makes this drink so special. It has the following spices:
- Turmeric
- Cardamom
- Cinnamon
- Ginger
- Black Pepper
- Salt
- Sugar
You can easily make a large batch of the spice blend (exact measurements in the recipe below); that way it is easy to just add 2 teaspoons into milk without having to measure out all the spices every time.
Substitutes
- Milk alternatives - You don't need to use cow's milk for this recipe. If you are lactose intolerant or vegan, you can use any milk alternative to replace the 2% milk listed in the recipe. However, my favorite milk alternatives for this recipe are soy milk and almond milk.
- Sugar substitutes - Jaggery powder or honey are great sugar substitutes in this recipe.
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Snacks to pair with haldi doodh
Microwave Haldi Doodh (Turmeric Milk)
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric
- ¼ teaspoon cardamom powder
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon powder
- ⅛ teaspoon ginger powder
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper powder
- pinch of fine sea salt
- 1 cup milk
Instructions
- Add 1 teaspoon sugar, ¼ teaspoon turmeric, ¼ teaspoon cardamom powder, ¼ teaspoon cinnamon powder, ⅛ teaspoon ginger powder, ⅛ teaspoon black pepper powder, and a pinch of fine sea salt to a microwave-safe cup and mix with a spoon to break up any clumps of spices. Ideally the cup should be tall so that its less likely the milk will overflow when heated.
- Next, add the 1 cup milk to the cup and mix the spices. It is ok if the spices don’t mix well with the milk at this point.
- Microwave the haldi doodh for 1 minute. Remove the cup, mix the milk one more time, and put back into the microwave for another 15 seconds and stir and repeat once more. The turmeric and other spices will only mix and steep properly with the milk and turn the drink a bright yellow if the milk is warm enough; if not, microwave in 15 second intervals until the milk is yellow and hot. Enjoy!
Jessica Huang
This Haldi Doodh is absolutely delicious! Was wanting a non-caffeinated warm pick-me-up in the winter and this was perfect. All the spices blend together beautifully but don’t overpower your palette. It’s super easy to make as well once you have all the ingredients, just pop into the microwave and a few mins later, a hug in a mug! Thanks, Shri, for sharing this recipe, can’t wait to make this more often!