Five Recipes That Can Help You Kick the Common Cold

Tired of bland canned soup? Try these dishes that are not only delicious and full of flavor but also have illness-fighting ingredients to get you feeling better ASAP.

Pastina

(image via my sequined life)

Just about any Italian household would tell you that the cure-all for the common cold is a piping-hot bowl of pastina. Warm broth can soothe a sore throat and hydrate you, and garlic can boost the immune system. It’s easy to throw together, and you’ll have plenty left over. Check out this recipe from My Sequined Life.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
• ½ cup dry pastina
• 1 Tbsp butter, salted or unsalted
• 6 Tbsp warm milk
• Ground black pepper to taste
• Grated Parmesan or Pecorino Romano (optional)

Instructions:

1. Add broth to a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Add pastina and stir. Cook 4-5 minutes, or until just about all of the liquid has been absorbed.
2. Toward the end of the pastina cook time, add milk to a small heat-safe bowl and heat for 15-20 seconds in the microwave, or until warmed.
3. Once pastina has absorbed about all of the liquid, remove saucepan from heat and add butter and warmed milk. Stir until the butter has melted and the milk is mixed in evenly.
4. If desired, add salt, pepper, and grated cheese to taste.

Chamomile Ginger Popsicles

(image via port and fin)

If a sore throat has you down, a chamomile ginger popsicle may be what you need. The chamomile is calming; ginger is a germ killer known to reduce inflammation and alleviate nausea; and the lemon is not only refreshing but good at soothing a scratchy throat. Trust us, it doesn’t hurt to have a batch of these on hand when you start to feel a tickle. Check out this recipe from Port and Fin.

Ingredients:

• Juice of 1 large lemon
• 2-inch piece of ginger, thinly sliced
• 2 Tbsp honey
• 2 bags chamomile tea
• 2½ cups boiling water

Instructions:

1. In a heat-proof bowl, mix lemon juice, ginger, honey, and chamomile tea bags. Pour boiling water over top and let steep for 10 minutes.
2. Remove tea bags and strain out ginger slices. Continue to let sit until water has slightly cooled.
3. Pour into popsicle molds and freeze completely.

Fire Cider

(image via good food baddie)

This age-old remedy is ideal for boosting the immune system, and, frankly, it’s nice to curl up with a mug of this when you’re under the weather. Apple cider vinegar kills bacteria; horseradish reduces inflammation and works to improve respiratory health; hot peppers are high in vitamin C; ginger reduces inflammation; cinnamon is antiviral and antibacterial; and honey is an antioxidant. Check out this recipe from Good Food Baddie.

Ingredients:

• 3 cups organic unfiltered apple cider vinegar, plus more as needed
• 1 cup fresh horseradish, grated or roughly chopped
• 1 cup fresh ginger, grated or roughly chopped
• ¼ cup fresh turmeric, grated or roughly chopped
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 10 garlic cloves, crushed or chopped
• 1 lemon, sliced
• 1 orange, sliced
• 2-3 jalapeño peppers, sliced (or ¼-½ tsp organic cayenne powder)
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 3 sprigs fresh rosemary
• 6 sprigs of fresh thyme
• 1 tsp peppercorn (optional)
• ½ cup honey, plus more as desired

Instructions:

1. Peel and grate horseradish. Add it to a 1½-2-quart sized jar with sliced ginger, turmeric, jalapeños, onion, orange, lemon, and garlic. Add fresh herbs, cinnamon sticks, and peppercorns.
2. Pour apple cider vinegar into jar, ensuring all ingredients are fully covered. Add as much as needed to cover the ingredients (this prevents the ingredients from spoiling).
3. Seal the jar. Use parchment paper under the lid to keep the vinegar from touching.
4. Shake the jar to combine the ingredients. Store the jar in a dark, cool place for up to 4 weeks.
5. Remember to shake the jar once daily to mix the ingredients.
6. After 3-4 weeks, use a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth to strain out pulp and solid ingredients. Squeeze as much liquid out of the ingredients as you can.
7. Stir in honey until incorporated. Taste and add more honey to reach your desired sweetness. Your fire cider should taste hot, spicy, and sweet.
8. Store sealed in an airtight jar. Keep in the refrigerator or a dry, cool place for up to 6 months.

Spicy Chicken Noodle Soup

(image via state of dinner)

Not only is it good for the soul, but chicken noodle soup is full of vitamins C and K and various minerals and antioxidants. Now, this recipe from State of Dinner is spicy – but for good reason; the kick from the spices clears out nasal passages. If you are having any stomach issues, omit the spice.

Ingredients:

• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• ½ medium white or yellow onion (½ cup, diced)
• 2 medium carrots (½ cup, peeled and sliced)
• 2 celery ribs (½ cup, peeled and diced)
• 1 jalapeño (2-3 Tbsp, seeded and chopped)
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp cumin
• ½ tsp oregano
• ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
• 8 cups low-sodium chicken broth
• 2 cups diced or shredded cooked chicken
• 6 oz egg noodles
• 1 tsp kosher salt (or to taste)
• ½ tsp black pepper (or to taste)
• 1 Tbsp hot sauce (or to taste)

Instructions:

1. Heat olive oil over medium heat in a 3-quart Dutch oven or stock pan. Add chopped onions, carrots, celery, and jalapeño. Sauté 5-6 minutes until vegetables are soft.
2. Add minced garlic and spices and cook for an additional 30 seconds.
3. Add chicken broth and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Add chicken and noodles. Reduce to medium-low heat and cook for 10 minutes or until chicken is heated and noodles are soft.
4. Add salt and pepper. Taste and add hot sauce, plus additional salt or pepper, as desired.

Baked Apples

(image via house of yumm)

Apples are high in vitamin C, which boosts your immune system, and ice cream can soothe a scratchy throat. Apples are also rich in fiber, which reduces nausea and slows and eases digestion. If one of your symptoms is an upset stomach, try a baked apple with a pinch of cinnamon. Check out this recipe from House of Yumm.

Ingredients:

• 3 pounds apples, peeled, cored, and sliced (Honeycrisp, Gala, or Granny Smith)
• ½ cup light brown sugar
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• ½ tsp ground nutmeg
• ¼ tsp ground cloves
• ⅛ tsp salt
• Juice from ½ lemon
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 Tbsp unsalted butter

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350° F.
2. Peel apples, cut and remove the core, and cut into slices about ½-inch thick.
3. Add apples to a large bowl. Add light brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, salt, lemon juice, and vanilla. Stir to combine. Spoon into a pie dish or 2-quart baking dish.
4. Cut butter into small squares and place them over the apples.
5. Bake 30 minutes, stirring halfway. This prevents the apples on the top from drying.
6. Remove and serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.