Golden Milk aka Haldi Masala Doodh is Turmeric milk made with turmeric, warming spices, and milk of your choice. This recipe originated in India many many centuries ago. This haldi masala doodh has famously gained popularity worldwide with the name Golden Milk!
I have loved drinking turmeric milk since I was a kid. I like the salty flavor in the milk, as mom adds a pinch of salt. We would only drink this turmeric milk, during colder months. And, just as my mom made this cozy drink for me, I make it for Inaaya when the weather starts to get chilly!
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What is Golden Milk?
Haldi masala doodh aka godlen milk is a warm milk-based drink popularly made in India. It's the turmeric that renders the milk a beautiful golden color. For this recipe, we also need a few warm spices and aromatics like green cardamoms, black peppercorns, cinnamon sticks, and ginger. You can also add ground cinnamon, and bloomed saffron in this haldi masala doodh. The milk is then brought to a low simmer, and a sweetener of your choice is added. I just add either sugar or honey! Garnish it with a pinch of cinnamon powder or a few strands of saffron!
Origin of this Golden Milk Recipe
The recipe of haldi masala doodh originates in India. It was discovered thousands of years ago as a warm comforting drink for colder months. According to Ayurvedic scriptures, this haldi doodh aka golden milk is a medicinal drink that also tastes delicious. Turmeric is naturally immunity-boosting and anti-inflammatory, hence is graded as the best medicinal spice according to Ayurveda.
I love to sip on masala haldi doodh when the weather starts to get chilly. My mom used to make it for us before bedtime growing up, as it is naturally immunity-boosting. And nutmeg helps with better sleep.
In India, I have observed, that in all cultures, this golden milk is offered to pregnant women, as it has so many benefits, for the mom and the baby. I used to drink it too, when I was pregnant with my daughter, Inaaya. If you wish to read my journey to getting pregnant and our birth story, read here.
Adding spices makes this haldi masala doodh (golden milk) warm, and a perfect concoction to heal your body and fight infections. If you are looking for more immunity-boosting shots, try my citrus shots.
Ingredients to Make Golden Milk
- Milk - Use any milk of your choice. Traditionally whole milk is used to make this recipe. To make it vegan, you can use either coconut milk or oat milk.
- Whole Spices - Green Cardamom Pods, Cinnamon Stick and Black Peppercorns are used to make this recipe.
- Aromatics - We will be using fresh ginger slices to spice this drink up!
- Salt - Just a pinch of salt in this recipe is a game changer to how delicious this haldi doodh tastes.
- Sweetener - You can use any sweetener of your choice. I like to use sugar, jaggery, or honey. If you plan to use jaggery or honey I suggest you to turn off the flame, and then add jaggery or honey to the milk.
- Garnish - Serve this drink warm with saffron strands, or a pinch of cinnamon powder.
Why You Should Make This Haldi Doodh
- easy to make
- naturally immunity boosting and anti-inflammatory
- naturally gluten-free
- can be made dairy-free/vegan
Benefits of Drinking Golden Milk
Did you know? Our body doesn't consume curcumin well when taken in the form of a tablet! So Mother Nature gifted us Turmeric.
Turmeric has an active ingredient called curcumin, which has great anti-inflammatory properties. Drinking this golden turmeric milk, can you fight many autoimmune diseases, as it regulates the inflammatory signals in the body.
This golden milk, has been consumed in the Ayurvedic and Chineese medicine for years, has proved to heal various anti-inflammatory disorders, and keeps you off from getting a nasty cold and cough.
Drinking this Golden milk is calming and soothing before bedtime. It is as good as sipping on chamomile tea, and getting that extra deep sleep, along with additional benefits!
Expert Tips to Make Masala Haldi Doodh
- You want the milk to become lukewarm before adding turmeric and other whole spices.
- I like to pound the green cardamoms and black peppercorns to bring out more flavor. It adds a beautiful flavor to the milk.
- Let the milk come to a low simmer, and only then add the ginger slices to the milk. If you add the ginger before, then your milk can get curdled.
- You don't have to bring the milk to a boil like masala chai. A low simmer works.
- I add a whole stick of cinnamon usually, but I also like to add ¼ teaspoon of ground cinnamon, and is delicious.
- You can also sprinkle some ground cinnamon while serving.
- Aerating the haldi doodh will give you a frothier texture if you like it!
- You can also pound 4 saffron strands in a mortar paster, and add some milk. Let the saffron bloom, and add it to the turmeric milk. This adds a delicious floral flavor to the recipe.
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Haldi Masala Doodh | Golden Milk
These nutrional values are automatically generated. Use them for estimation only.
Equipment
- 1 Saucepan
- 1 Tea Strainer
Ingredients
- 2.5 Cups Milk
- ¼ Teaspoon Turmeric Powder
- 1 Inch Cinnamon Stick ¼ Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
- 4-5 Green Cardamom Pods
- 6-7 Black Peppercorns
- ½ inch Ginger Sliced
- ⅛ Teaspoon Salt
- 2 Teaspoons Sugar
For Garnishing
- ½ Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
- 2-3 Strands Saffron
Instructions
- Gently pound the green cardamoms and black peppercorns using a mortar pastel. Set it aside.
- Place the saucepan on a medium-low flame. Add milk of your choice.
- Let the milk heat up for two minutes. Then add turmeric along with pounded green cardamom pods, black peppercorns and a cinnamon stick.
- Now stir the milk using a spatula or a laddle.
- Once you see small bubbles appearing on the sides, then add ginger, salt and sweetener. Stir it in again.
- Now, let the milk simmer on low flame for 5 minutes. Turn off the flame after 5 minutes.
- Strain the milk, and serve topped with some ground cinnamon or saffron strands!
Notes
- I make this recipe more often during the fall and winter months, but especially my go-to drink whenever I am feeling under the weather!
- This recipe is great for pregnant women, or during postpartum care
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