5 Best Food Recipes for Your Sick Days

No matter how much we try, we are time and again tested by the might of mother nature. With the change in pollution levels, seasonal temperature limits, excessive greenhouse emissions, and reduction in the green cover of the planet, we are becoming more and more vulnerable to diseases. Sick days get on everyone’s nerves. We run out of the potential to perform basic functions and become more stressed and gloomy. For days like these, one is expected to act extra carefully to preserve immunity against the active microbes and keep fighting. Taking this into account, let us have a look at the 5 best recipes for days when you are sick which will not only give you gain back strength faster but offer relief to your dying tastebuds!

1. Porridge

Ingredients – Rice, lentils, corn, beans, chicken, salt, black peppercorns, ginger, olive oil, scallions, rosemary, and garlic

Soak rice and lentils overnight in the fridge. Roast some chicken first and then saute all the vegetables generously in a pot in olive oil. Throw salt, black peppercorns, ginger, and garlic in a mortar and pestle and transfer the mix into the cooking pot. Let it release the aroma. Now spill the pre-soaked rice and lentils and stir for some time along with rosemary. Pour in water roughly 3 times the prepared quantity, and let it simmer for an hour. Serve hot with scallion garnishing (remember the chicken should be in shreds and the texture of the porridge be creamy.

2. Chicken Soup

Ingredients – Chicken, black peppercorns, cream, salt, garlic, potato, butter, thyme, and red bell peppers

Start by boiling pieces of chicken and get rid of the scum. In a different cooking pot, prepare the flavorings with red bell peppers, potato, thyme, garlic, and black peppercorns in butter. Toss the boiled chicken with the stock into the aromatic hot mix you prepared. Let it mix with cream. Simmer for 2 hours. Season and garnish to taste.

3. Protein-based Ramen/Pho

Ingredients – Rice noodles, chicken/lamb meat, garlic, ginger, salt and pepper, scallions, red chilies, oil, mushrooms, egg, soy sauce, fish sauce, shrimp paste, mirin, star anise, bay leaf, cinnamon, red onions

In a wok, stir fry garlic, ginger, red chilies, mushrooms, and scallions in hot oil. Pour some soy sauce, mirin, and shrimp paste. Add salt to the mix. Now in a pot, boil your choice of meat (scum taken out) with star anise, fish sauce, salt and pepper, bay leaves, cinnamon, and whole garlic and onions for 5-6 hours. That’d be your tasty broth. Now in a different pan fry an egg or two. Take out a few roasted mushrooms. Take out the broth with the meat and into your bowl and put boiled rice noodles in it. Garnish with scallions, mushrooms, and fried eggs. This makes a portion of great comfort food.

4. Grilled Fish (with veggies on the side)

Ingredients – Supreme cut fish, thyme, zucchini, mushrooms, bell peppers, lime juice, salt and pepper, scallions, beans, and white pepper

Sear the fish in a pan with butter and thyme with its skin down on low flame. Achieve a crusty skin side and flip to cook the other side for 2-3 minutes. Take the cooked fish out and sprinkle it with salt and a few drops of lime juice. In the same pan add more butter and throw in chopped mushrooms, bell peppers, beans, zucchini, and scallions. Season it with salt and white pepper powder. Serve with the fish. Truly a power-packed meal!

5. French Onion Soup

Ingredients – Yellow onions, mozzarella cheese, beef stock, butter, salt and pepper, olive oil, dry white wine, garlic, croutons, flour, and bay leaves

Caramelize finely sliced onions in butter and olive oil in a saucepan until the soft reddish brown color is achieved. Next up draw in a spoonful of wheat flour and stir briskly. Season. Pour dry white wine, beef stock, and a few cloves of garlic. Let that boil for 2-1/2 hours till a thick and rich consistency is done (don’t forget bay leaves!). Serve it in a bowl with fresh mozzarella cheese on top accompanied by crunchy croutons and burnt garlic.

To fight back the microbes that have made you sick, you’ll need to take in more hydration as well while these recipes give you essential vitamins to get back on track and a great comfy taste to improve your mood and give you the motivation to recover faster. It is recommended not to have junk or stomach-upsetting foods as these will only add to your discomfort. Prefer homemade. Stay patient and keep loving yourself!