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Season Sixteen, Episode Nine. Under the Sun

Turmeric Treasures

Uncover the golden story of turmeric, the warm and earthy root that colors dishes and traditions across the globe.

description for amiyah: a knobby golden turmeric root with warm orange flesh and thin brown skin, earthy and aromatic, glowing on matte black velvet.
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The Full Conversation

The complete script for this episode, with the two hosts, in eleven parts.

  1. Intro

    Amiyah: Hey guys, hope y'all having a good day. How is y'all today?
    Poke: Living the gold leaf life. You good, Amiyah?
    Amiyah: Could not be better, let us get into it.
    Amiyah: All right, let's spin the wheel and see what we have today.
    Poke: boom. Turmeric!
    Amiyah: The wheel stopped on turmeric, the golden root that colors so many dishes. The hosts were eager to explore a warm and earthy root with a story that reaches back thousands of years.
    Poke: Buckle up, folks. We are doing turmeric today.

  2. History

    Poke: Give me the history. Where did turmeric begin?
    Amiyah: Turmeric comes from South and Southeast Asia, where it has been grown and used for thousands of years as both a food and a color.
    Poke: The bright orange root became a cornerstone of Indian cooking and spread around the world, where it gives color and warmth to countless dishes.

  3. Fun Facts

    Amiyah: Okay, hit me with the fun facts.
    Poke: Turmeric is a root that belongs to the same family as ginger.
    Amiyah: Okay, that is so good to know.
    Poke: Its bright golden color comes from a compound called curcumin.
    Amiyah: I did not know that at all.
    Poke: Fresh turmeric looks like a small, knobby orange ginger root.
    Amiyah: That tracks.
    Poke: Turmeric is what gives many curries their golden color.

  4. Varieties

    Amiyah: Break down the different types for me.
    Poke: Turmeric is usually sold fresh or ground, and both have their uses.
    Amiyah: Tell me more.
    Poke: Fresh turmeric has a bright, earthy flavor and a vivid orange color.
    Amiyah: Ground turmeric is dried and powdered, and it is the most common form in cooking.
    Poke: I did not know that at all.
    Amiyah: Alleppey turmeric from India is prized for its high color and rich flavor.

  5. World Use

    Amiyah: Take me around the globe with this one.
    Poke: In India, turmeric is a key spice in curries and is also used in traditional cooking.
    Amiyah: Wait, really?
    Poke: In Southeast Asia, fresh turmeric is used in soups and sauces.
    Amiyah: Okay, that is so good to know.
    Poke: In many kitchens, ground turmeric adds color and warmth to rice and stews.
    Amiyah: I did not know that at all.
    Poke: Around the world, turmeric is also steeped into a warm golden drink.

  6. Myth

    Amiyah: Time for the Myth of the Week. What do people get wrong?
    Poke: A lot of people think some people think turmeric and ginger are the same root.
    Amiyah: Right, that makes sense.
    Poke: Here is the truth. They are close cousins in the same plant family, but they are different. Turmeric is bright orange and earthy, while ginger is pale and spicy.

  7. Fan Question

    Poke: Time for our favorite part, the fan question.
    Poke: Can you use fresh turmeric in cooking?
    Amiyah: Love this question.
    Amiyah: Yes. Grate or finely chop fresh turmeric and add it to curries, soups, and sauces. A little goes a long way, and it stains easily, so handle it with care.

  8. Host Opinions

    Amiyah: Let me give you my honest, unvarnished opinion.
    Amiyah: I will be real, this one is growing on me the more we talk about it.
    Poke: Classic Amiyah take. I respect the commitment to the bit.
    Amiyah: Amiyah loves the warm golden color turmeric brings to a simple rice dish.
    Poke: Poke prefers a soothing cup of golden turmeric tea.
    Poke: See, this is why people tune in, the strong opinions.

  9. Lightning Round

    Amiyah: Okay, quick facts, lightning round style.
    Amiyah: Turmeric is a cousin of ginger.
    Poke: Its golden color comes from curcumin.
    Amiyah: It is a key spice in Indian cooking.
    Poke: Fresh turmeric is knobby and bright orange.

  10. Recap

    Amiyah: Quick recap before we cook.
    Poke: The hosts learned that turmeric is a golden root from South and Southeast Asia, a cousin of ginger, a key spice in curries, and the source of the warm color and earthy flavor that brighten dishes around the world.

  11. Recipe

    Amiyah: Let us close it out with something delicious.
    Poke: Today we are making Golden Turmeric Rice. The full ingredients and steps are right below.
    Amiyah: Thanks for spinning with us. Spin It. Learn It. Love It.™

Recipe Segment

description for amiyah: a stylized illustration of Golden Turmeric Rice, plated on a gold rimmed dish with warm golden tones and a soft orange glow, set against a deep matte black velvet background.

Golden Turmeric Rice

Ingredients

  • 1 cup rice
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • Half teaspoon salt
  • A pinch of black pepper

Preparation

  1. Rinse the rice and place it in a pot with the water.
  2. Stir in the turmeric, butter, salt, and pepper.
  3. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes.
  4. Remove from the heat and let it rest for 5 minutes.
  5. Fluff with a fork and serve warm.

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