Although turmeric is commonly thought of as a spice that gives curries and other savory foods their distinctive flavor and intense yellow color, there are plenty of fun ways you can add turmeric to your diet. Earlier I posted about flavoring milk with turmeric, and today I bring you “turmeric panjiri”. It’s a delicious and nutritious (supplement) snack option with immune-boosting benefits. And, it’s easy to make.
This recipe was originally published in 2013 but I wanted to upload a video on YouTube so more people are familiar with this family recipe.
I found the taste of turmeric panjiri very interesting, the first time I had it at my in-laws’ house. Like all of you, the panjiri I was familiar with had nuts, ghee, sugar, and flour. This was something different, and there was no reason not to like it. It was loaded with a nutritious mix of only three ingredients – turmeric, chana daal flour/besan, and Shakkar (also called powdered jaggery). Despite its unpleasant taste, turmeric mingles perfectly with sweeter flavors and adds a unique touch of spice.
My late father-in-law used to make this panjiri every summer with fresh turmeric roots. He would peel, clean, and cut turmeric roots for panjiri by frying them in mustard oil. Then, they were pounded in mortal and pestle. The pounded turmeric mixture was then added to the roasted besan and sweetened thereafter with shakkar. Nuts and dried fruits are not added in this panjeeri as it is eaten in small amount for its health benefits.
I make this panjiri with turmeric powder. Although fresh turmeric roots are milder in taste than dry powder, the fear of staining my food processor bowl always puts me off from buying fresh. Moreover, I don’t have any problem with dry powdered stuff. It tastes fantastic.
I use shakkar as my preferred sweetener. Shakkar does not contain any chemicals or bleaching agents which are generally used in the refining process. It is soft, brown, not very sweet, somewhat like muscovado sugar. It lends a malty flavor to the panjiri. Shakkar can be used in place of sugar in tea or milk. My favorite way to eat shakkar is with makki ki roti and melted butter on top. I haven’t grown up eating chocolates, cookies, or ice cream; it was simple foods (also meethi roti) that brought joy to me, and I still love them. Try it out and you will be in the land of Yum food!
Before I get distracted by any other memory, let’s make turmeric panjiri to give your body and immune system a boost. I love to eat adding it to yogurt, topped with some goji berries, or as is with my evening tea.
Quick Notes:
- Use a heavy bottom steel or hindoleum or a non stick pan or else you will burn the flour.
- It is important to roast the chana daal flour/ besan on low heat stirring periodically with a heat proof spatula. The flour will begin to get a deep golden color and emit a pleasant, nutty aroma. If the besan is over roasted, you will ruin the flavor. Be vigilant, and trust your eyes, and smelling sense.
- Once the besan is roasted, stir in turmeric powder. The mixture will look crumbly, press with a spatula to break the crumbs, then fold in the mixture nicely to the point that it becomes homogenous, which means you don’t see any pale patches.
- The besan mixture is roasted again to cook turmeric and then cooled completely before adding shakkar.
- This panjiri has a long shelf life but I suggest you store it no longer than 2 months.
- Although turmeric is considered safe, it does counteract with some prescribed medications so be assured and do not consume more than one tsp.
- It is important to consume turmeric with both fat (dairy or non dairy milk foods, and black pepper. Both of these enable your body’s absorption and use of the curcumin.
Ingredients
- 500 g (approx. 4 cups) chana daal flour /besan
- 1 cup turmeric
- 240 g (2 cups) shakkar or 1 1/2 cup unrefined organic cane sugar or coconut palm sugar
- 1 1/3 cup (+) desi ghee or canola oil or coconut oil
- 1 tbsp freshly ground black pepper
- Substitute for shakkar or unrefined cane sugar: muscavado or golden brown sugar or a mix of both
Instructions
- Heat oil in a heavy bottom wide wok.
- Add in besan and roast on medium low heat fro 25-30 minutes until it releases a nice aroma and changes to deeper shade (Check the quick notes above).
- Remove from heat and stir in turmeric powder. Mix nicely until fully incorporated.
- Put the wok back on heat and roast the mixture on medium for another 5 minutes.
- After 5 minutes remove the wok from heat and allow the mixture to cool completely.
- After the prepared mixture is cooled, stir in shakkar or organic cane sugar and black pepper.
- Store in steel or glass jar. Eat 1-2 tbsp for snack with milk or yogurt.
Notes
If you are new to the taste of turmeric use less than 1 cup. If you try this recipe and enjoy it, please let me know. I am on almost all the social media you are in and you can find me, on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.
Malti Sharma
Since I subscribed to your blog, I’ve come across recipes totally new to me. I’ve never seen or heard anything about turmeric panjiri……..sounds very exotic and healthy 🙂 Wud love to try it! Printed!!! And, yes I do drink turmeric milk but not everyday. have a cheerful morning!
Balvinder
This panjiri was new to me, too, but I loved its taste the first time I ate. It then became my family staple.
Malti, you don’t necessarily have to drink turmeric milk everyday, it benefits your body if you have it at least two times a week . Have a beautiful to you, too!
Nava Krishnan
Interesting intro and one which I was never aware of. The recipe is also new to me. Besides using turmeric for my savory dishes, I have not done anything similar to this powder. Will love to try out and why not into my hot beverages.
Balvinder
Nava, I am in so much love with turmeric that I swear by it. This spice has kept me hale and hearty all these years.
Sridevi Ravi
This is something totally new to me. I have never heard of it before. See, there are some recipes which are hidden gems that should be brought to light. I am going to make this and that ‘Gagan’ jaggery reminds me of B.C. as I have not seen it in Ontario. Love the rich colour!
Balvinder
Indeed, there are some recipes that are real gem and should be shared with others. You are right Gagan Products might remind you of BC, as there is such a big market of Indian groceries. You name any India product and yo will get it here.
Let me know if you try this panjiri.
Coffee and Crumpets
Interesting! I’ve never tried turmeric panjiri. My mother used to make one with nuts, gum, and other stuff I don’t know the name of!
Turmeric is an amazing spice and one I aim to use daily.
Nazneen
Balvinder
My mom used to make the same panjiri with gum and nuts, that you are talking about.Whatever the ingredients, it is always called PANJIRI, unless specified as daal ki pinni or alsi ki panjiri.
yummychunklet
Yum! I love turmeric!
Inge
This recipe looks and sounds delicious. Look forward to making it soon. We love using turmeric in many of our dishes. It is also a great pain reliever and helped me tremendously during a wrist surgery 1-1/2 years ago.
Balvinder
Definitely it is a pain reliever… The curcumin in turmeric suppress tendon inflammation in joints and ease away all the pain. Happy to know that you use turmeric and it helped you after the wrist surgery. If you try this recipe let me know.
Bam's Kitchen
Very interesting dish. I will have to give this delicious gluten free dessert a try. I have a big bag of fresh tumeric in my refrigerator as I use it a lot in my cooking. I really always look funny with my little yellow fingers so I have started wearing gloves when I grate my tumeric. I also put a layer of parchment paper on top of my cutting board because this spice does stain everything.
Balvinder
I like the idea of putting parchment paper on cutting board.
Divya Prakash
Never knew that turmeric is used for making dessert…
Seems like a healthy and guilt free dessert..
Balvinder
So, now you know, you can give it a shot.
anne
Another interesting dish , Bal ! I never knew that you can use turmeric for making desserts 😀
Balvinder
Anne, turmeric tastes good no doubt but I would eat chocolate or ice cream for a dessert.
kum
Nice blog!
This is a new recipe for me…
Turmeric is so good for health. I read somewhere that turmeric is powerful and even cancer cell are destroyed if turmeric is consumed every day…
global vegan fare
Balvinder
You have heard it right, turmeric does have anti cancer effects.
Liz
I wish I could find somewhere that sold ground up jaggery here. I only seem to be able to find it in blocks that are really difficult to work with. Perhaps I’m looking in the wrong places. Your sweet looks great.
Ambreen (Simply Sweet 'n Savory)
That’s really interesting, turmeric in a sweet dish! Thanks Balvinder for sharing a unique recipe!
LinsFood
This is a new recipe for me, I’ve definitely not come across it before although my granny did make it with almonds when I was little. Thanks for sharing, Balvinder!
Jennifer Eloff
Turmeric is a great anti-oxidant and I believe anti-inflammatory as well. 🙂 I take it occasionally in pill form and when I make rice or curry I always add a teaspoon or two.
Cindy (Vegetarian Mamma)
Very interesting! I love learning from you!! Thanks for linking up at our Gluten Free Fridays party! I have tweeted and pinned your entry to our Gluten Free Fridays board on Pinterest! 🙂
Be sure to stop by to see who the winner of our So Lucky GF Basket is! We are ALSO having a fantastic giveaway this week to kick off Celiac Awareness month! 🙂
Cindy from vegetarianmamma.com
Blackswan
Looks like I’m missing quite a bit here. I can imagine the aromatic scent filling my home 🙂
Amelia
Hi Balvinder, interesting recipe. Look really good. Thanks for sharing this recipe. Regards.
Monica
I love learning about ways to use spices and have been hearing about the benefits of tumeric. Thanks for sharing this recipe!
Poornima
Hi Balvinder
You have lovely blog and gr8 recipes. I have never heard of turmeric panjiri coz my MIL prepared the dry fruit panjiri post delivery. But this looks like a very healthy and yum option. Cant wait to try…
Balvinder
Thanks Poornima, appreciate your comment. The post delivery panjiris are high calorie and prepared with dry fruits. Turmeric panjiri is for good health. Do give it a try and let me know how you liked.
AMRIT KAUR
thanks for posting the recipe. we also used to make Haldi Panjiri in the same method for my father in law for general health and Arthritis in particular.I also liked its taste and effects on my digestive system. It helps. I have another mediacted haldi-milk recipe , suggested by a saint which helped me cure joint inflammations. In this I take 5 neem pattis and one inch green Haldi , coarse grind these in a crucible. heat a small spoon of desi ghee in a small karahi, roast the coarse paste in ghee. add one glass of Cow milk to the roasted material. boil the milk, remove and add one spoon of honey. drink it a first thing in the morning for 40 days. now since i have high cholesterol i would like to replace desi ghee by oil. do u think i can.With love and good wishes.
Amrit kaur.
P.S. I am surprised you didn’t wrote black pepper in the ingredients list.
Balvinder
Turmeric panjiri taste wonderful. I know in some punjabi homes, its made the same way. Thank you Amrit, I really appreciate your comment on my blog 🙂
The recipe you suggested sounds good. They both have anti inflammatory properties. In India I used to add neem leaves (fried and crushed) in besan ladoos. Even my daughter who was only 3 years old then, loved eating with milk. Here, in Canada we don’t get neem leaves, so never made it. If you have high cholesterol I would suggest you to go to a doctor and seek help. On the other note I would say keep eating balanced food, do exercise regularly and maintain your body weight, this will benefit in reducing bad cholesterol and setting a stable level of good cholesterol.
Good wishes!
Balvinder
I forgot to write that in! Ah! Good catch, just fixed it.
Harvinder Bassi
Hi Balvinder,
Growing up,I had haldi panjiri that my mom used to make with fresh haldi…but here in North America it is kinda hard to find the fresh haldi. Your recipe is great cause there is no saturated fat here ( moms panjiri always had desi ghee) . I made my own version of this panjiri , totally inspired by your recipe here ;P The panjiri turned out great . Love your blog… very beautiful pics and great recipes.
Balvinder
That sounds great, Harvinder!I would love to see your version of turmeric panjiri and Thank you for a lovely comment. I have seen fresh haldi in Indian and Asian stores here but I do not care to buy fearing that it might destroy my Vitamix blender or food processor.
R
Only consume 1tsp a day? Thx
Balvinder
1 tsp turmeric per day is ok but panjiri you can eat about 2 tbsp.
Avais
My elder brother purchased 10 kg turmeric roots today from sabzi mandi in Multan. While crushing it, we thought about turmeric panjiri and searched for recipie. It seems great recipie. We are going to try it and will share the outcome
Balvinder
That’s a great decision, Avias! Try with 100 gm turmeric first and let me know how you like the taste.
Balvinder
And don’t forget to send me a picture:)
Ritu Tangri
Though I have heard about turmeric panjiri and it’s benefits but never made it due to known bitterness involved with it. Note your post is giving me a boost to try it.
Balvinder
Turmeric does have a pungent bitter flavor but it blends perfectly with other ingredients. Its a great recipe to try, you can increase or decrease the amount of turmeric as per your liking.
Maria
It’s a completely new idea for me for panjiri and it sounds so good! I can totally imagine myself eating it with makki ki roti.