is turmeric a must in cooking

Hi Turmeric is an ingredient in our daily food. We add turmeric in most of our dishes. It has got many medicinal properties. It is also use to add in the water to rinse qualiflower, brinjal etc. to destroy the insects and their eggs. It has got some anti inflamatory properties and can reduce the arthritic pain and rheumatism. It is a good antioxident also.

i didn't know tumeric was used on ants as well. it is the yellow powder that we are talking about right? if so, rather than taste, i think it's like more for the colouring though it all depends on how people use it. i only use it a little. i usually use tumeric especially when i am cooking curries and all since that is our main dish here you could say. but it is not a must to add tumeric. there are so many types of cooking like chinese etc, and they don't use tumeric. it's usually used in curries and all.

Turmeric is must for South Indian or North Indian dishes because it adds flavor to the food items, I dont think it is added for the taste as far as I know it is also used for avoiding poisonous effects as well.

hi, i think u r right, it is used for taste as well as i have heard it from my mom..even i use it a lot in my cooking:) its also an anti septic...used to stop bleeding from wounds