Top 10 Simple Cold-Fighting Dishes You Can Make at Home

According to research from medical centers in the U.S., chicken soup can help improve throat and respiratory issues. The amino acids in chicken meat are effective in treating symptoms caused by colds such as nasal congestion, runny nose, coughing, and sore throat. This dish is rich in nutrients, providing ample protein to boost the body's immune system.

Ingredients:

• Boneless chicken thighs
• Onion
• Potatoes
• Carrots
• Seasonings: Salt, pepper, cornstarch

Directions:

• Step 1: Prepare the ingredients. Peel and dice the onion, carrots, and potatoes.
• Step 2: Boil the chicken in a pot of water. Once cooked, shred the chicken.
• Step 3: Add the onion, carrots, and potatoes to the pot and cook until the vegetables are tender. Then add the shredded chicken. Stir in some cornstarch and season to taste.
• Step 4: Pour the soup into a bowl, sprinkle with pepper, and enjoy.

Beef is rich in zinc, protein, and vitamin B, which help those suffering from the flu replenish essential nutrients. Combining beef with fresh herbs and green onions enhances the flavor, making it more enjoyable and helping you feel rejuvenated.

Ingredients (for 4 servings):

• 500g of good quality beef
• 2kg of beef bones (use rib bones or marrow bones for a sweeter taste, or marrow bones for a richer flavor)
• 2 onions
• 100g fresh ginger
• 1 tsp coriander seeds
• 6 coriander roots
• 2 cardamom pods
• 2 star anise flowers
• 5g dried cinnamon
• 1g coriander seeds
• 1g cloves
• 2g licorice root
• 500g - 1kg pho noodles
• 2 limes
• Green onions, coriander, fried dough sticks, bean sprouts, chili peppers, etc.
• MSG, fish sauce, salt, sugar, pepper, cooking oil, chili sauce, dark soy sauce...

Directions:

• Step 1: Prepare the pho ingredients. The most important step is to remove the odor from the beef bones. Depending on the type of bones used, the preparation will vary. Generally, you should clean the bones thoroughly to ensure a clean, fragrant broth. The beef pho broth should be clear and not cloudy.
• To clean the beef bones: After purchasing, wash the bones in cold water. Soak them in salt for about an hour, then rinse thoroughly. At this point, the bones should be a bright white color. Roast the bones on the stove to brown them evenly, then rinse again with cold water. Place the bones in a pot, bring to a boil for about 15 minutes, then remove. This step of boiling the bones briefly is very important. After removing the bones, wash them again to remove any blood, impurities, and veins. Return the bones to the pot and add 2 liters of water. Keep in mind, for 4 people, you’ll need about 1.5 liters of pho broth. Some water will evaporate during simmering.
• Prepare the beef: Rinse the beef thoroughly and let it drain. For rare pho, slice the beef thinly, then marinate with a little shredded ginger. For fully cooked pho, use the flank cut, briefly blanch it in boiling water, then cook for about 40 minutes. Afterward, place it in cold water to keep it tender.
• Prepare the herbs and spices: Roast ginger and shallots. Clean the charred parts, then smash them. Toast the coriander, star anise, and cloves until golden. Split the cinnamon, cardamom, and star anise. Clean and chop the herbs, discarding any wilted leaves, and wash thoroughly.
• Step 2: Making the broth: After boiling the bones for about 40 minutes, reduce the heat to simmer. Continuously skim the scum and impurities off the surface of the broth. After simmering for 2-3 hours, the bones will release their flavor, and the broth will be rich and sweet. Place the prepared herbs and spices in a spice bag and add it to the pot. Continue to cook for another 30 minutes for the flavors to infuse. Once the broth is aromatic, season it with salt, broth powder, and a little sugar to taste.
• Step 3: Serving and enjoying: Bring a pot of water to a boil to blanch the pho noodles. Dip the beef into the hot broth to cook it lightly, then place it on the pho noodles. Sprinkle herbs and green onions on top. Pour the hot broth into the bowl until the noodles and beef are submerged. Serve with fried dough sticks, bean sprouts, and optional chili peppers.

According to traditional medicine, bitter melon (also known as bitter gourd) has a bitter taste and cooling properties, which help detoxify and clear heat from the body. It is also effective for treating colds, sore throats, and boosting immunity. Eating bitter melon regularly can also help improve sleep quality by calming the mind.

Ingredients:

• 3 bitter melons
• 120g minced pork
• 14 shrimp
• 60g sausage filling
• 30g black mushrooms
• 3-4 shallots, minced
• 1 carrot
• Chopped green onions
• Seasonings: Soup powder, ground pepper

Instructions:

• Step 1: Prepare the ingredients: Wash the shrimp thoroughly. Peel and mince 9 of the shrimp, leaving the rest whole. Peel the carrot, shape half into flowers, and finely chop the rest. Soak the black mushrooms in hot water to soften, then rinse and chop them. Cut the bitter melon into 2-3 cm slices, remove the seeds, and blanch in boiling water for about 2 minutes. Drain and set aside.
• Step 2: Prepare the stuffing: In a bowl, combine the minced shrimp, minced pork, sausage filling, chopped carrots, mushrooms, shallots, and green onions. Add 1 tablespoon of soup powder and ½ teaspoon of ground pepper, then mix well and marinate for 15 minutes. Stuff the mixture into the bitter melon slices, filling each slice halfway, then place a whole shrimp on top, pressing down firmly to secure. Continue until all are stuffed.
• Step 3: Cook the soup: Prepare a pot with 1.2 liters of water. Add the stuffed bitter melon and carrots and simmer over medium heat for about 20 minutes. Once cooked, taste and adjust the seasoning, then sprinkle some ground pepper on top and turn off the heat. Serve and enjoy!

In addition to chicken, beef is also a great option for those suffering from a cold. Beef is not only tasty but also nutritious, making beef porridge an excellent choice for soothing a cold.

Ingredients:

• Sticky rice
• Beef
• Carrot
• Green onions
• Common seasonings

Instructions:

• First, wash the beef and chop it into small pieces or thin slices. Peel and finely chop or puree the carrot. Cut the green onions into small pieces.
• Rinse the sticky rice and cook it until it becomes porridge. The beef should be boiled briefly to remove any unpleasant smell and impurities.
• Once the rice has expanded and the porridge is boiling, add the beef and carrots, stirring well.
• Season to taste, then turn off the heat. When serving, pour the porridge into bowls, sprinkle with green onions and pepper, and enjoy hot.

According to a study on mice, yogurt not only helps soothe a sore throat but also plays a role in boosting the immune system. Additionally, yogurt contains essential protein for the body. With these benefits in mind, if you're wondering what to eat when you're down with a cold, consider adding yogurt to your diet!

Ingredients:

• 1 can of sweetened condensed milk
• 1 liter of unsweetened fresh milk
• 1 container of plain yogurt (also known as yogurt starter)

Instructions:

• Step 1: Pour the sweetened condensed milk and fresh milk into a pot. Heat the mixture on the stove, stirring continuously. Once it boils, remove it from the heat and let it cool.
• Step 2: Add the entire container of yogurt starter into the cooled milk mixture. Stir until the yogurt starter dissolves completely, ensuring a smooth and creamy texture.
• Step 3: Let the milk mixture sit and ferment for about 7-8 hours.
• Step 4: Once fermented, the yogurt will thicken and develop a subtle fragrance. Pour it into small jars, seal them, and refrigerate. After 3-4 hours in the fridge, your homemade creamy yogurt is ready to enjoy!

Not many people know that eggs are a highly nutritious food that can aid in treating colds and boosting overall health. Tomatoes, rich in vitamins, when combined with eggs, can help improve blood circulation and regulate blood pressure. This simple yet nourishing dish is perfect for those who don’t have a large appetite when they’re feeling under the weather.

Ingredients:

• 2-3 chicken eggs (avoid duck eggs as they will make the soup taste too strong)
• 1-2 tomatoes
• Salt, seasoning, and cooking oil
• 2 shallots
• Herbs like green onions and cilantro

Instructions:

• Step 1 (prepare ingredients): Clean the herbs, onions, and tomatoes, discarding the roots and washing thoroughly. Cut the tomatoes into wedges. Slice the green onions and cilantro finely. Crack the eggs into a bowl and beat them. Mince the shallots.
• Step 2: Heat 2 tablespoons of cooking oil in a pot. Add the minced shallots and sauté until fragrant, then add the tomatoes. Season with salt and other seasonings. Stir-fry the tomatoes until they soften, then add enough water to cover the ingredients and bring it to a boil.
• Step 3: Once the soup boils, taste and adjust the seasoning. Slowly pour in the beaten eggs while stirring continuously. Let the soup simmer for another 1-2 minutes until the eggs are fully cooked. Add the herbs and turn off the heat. Serve the soup hot.

Seaweed is packed with essential nutrients, minerals, easily digestible proteins, and is particularly rich in carotenoids – powerful antioxidants known for their anti-inflammatory properties and ability to protect cell membranes. Additionally, seaweed contains polysaccharides that enhance the immune system and improve the body's resilience to changes in weather. Because of these benefits, seaweed soup is a great remedy for colds and overall health.

Ingredients:

• 100g lean pork
• 1 bottle gourd
• 30g dried seaweed
• 20g sesame seeds; 1 liter of broth
• Seasoning: seasoning powder, salt, sugar, pepper
• Green onions

Instructions:

• Peel the bottle gourd and cut it into thin strips.
• Chop the green onion, using the green parts finely and mincing the white parts.
• Toast the sesame seeds until golden. Cut the carrots into thin strips.
• Finely mince the pork and marinate it with salt, sugar, pepper, and seasoning powder for 10-15 minutes to absorb the flavors.
• Bring the broth to a boil, form the marinated pork into small meatballs, and drop them into the pot. Season with salt, sugar, and seasoning powder to taste. Simmer on low heat for 10 minutes until the meatballs are cooked through.
• Finally, add the seaweed, sprinkle the toasted sesame seeds, remove from heat, and ladle the soup into bowls. Garnish with carrots and serve hot.

Onion porridge, though simple, is highly effective for quickly relieving cold symptoms. Green onions have a pungent, warming effect that promotes sweating, clears the airways, stimulates blood circulation, and helps with digestion. It’s commonly used in everyday cooking for its health benefits. This dish is not only good for those feeling under the weather but can also help boost anyone’s health.

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup dried onions
• 1/3 cup rice
• 2 eggs
• 100g perilla leaves
• Green onions, ginger, pepper, salt, MSG

Instructions:

• Wash all ingredients thoroughly. Place the rice in a pot with 8 cups of water and begin simmering.
• Wash the perilla leaves.
• Pound the dried onions, perilla leaves, chopped green onions, and thinly sliced ginger.
• Once the porridge is soft, crack the two eggs into the pot, stirring gently. Add a pinch of salt and MSG for seasoning. Then, add the prepared ingredients to the pot. Let it simmer for 3 minutes before turning off the heat. For maximum effect, the onions should still have their strong aroma.
• Serve the porridge in bowls, adding a little pepper on top. It’s best eaten while it’s still hot, with the fragrant aroma of onions and perilla rising to your nose. It’s an excellent remedy for cold relief.

When you’re sick, your body often feels fatigued, with a bitter taste in your mouth and a loss of appetite. Porridge is one of the best foods to consume when fighting off a cold. Alongside onion porridge, you can try a variation with ground pork and fresh ginger to change up your meals.

Ginger is known for its ability to warm the body, improve blood circulation, and help prevent colds. As a result, the combination of ground pork and ginger in this porridge makes for the perfect remedy to help warm you up and combat the effects of a cold.

Ingredients:

• 300g rice
• 200g ground pork
• 10g fresh ginger
• 20g green onions
• 2 shallots
• Seasoning: salt, MSG, chicken stock powder, fish sauce, pepper

Instructions:

• Peel and wash the ginger, then cut it into thin strips.
• Wash and chop the green onions.
• Peel the shallots and slice them thinly.
• Wash the pork, chop it finely, and marinate with a little chicken stock powder, fish sauce, cooking oil, and pepper.
• Rinse the rice and cook it until soft, then add the sliced shallots to the pot.
• Add the ground pork to the pot, stirring until the meat breaks apart and cooks evenly. Season with salt, MSG, and fish sauce to taste, then remove from heat.
• Place the fresh ginger into a bowl, then scoop the porridge over it. Add a pinch of pepper and some green onions. Stir well before eating. Enjoy while hot for an effective remedy against a cold.

Perilla leaves, a type of herb that is often eaten raw, are not only flavorful but also medicinal. They have a spicy and refreshing taste, an aromatic fragrance, and are known for their warming properties. Perilla is great for detoxification and can help with pregnancy-related symptoms. A hot bowl of egg and perilla leaf porridge will help you sweat it out and combat cold symptoms effectively. Moreover, this light dish is easy to digest, offering comfort and nourishment when you're feeling weak.

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup of white rice
• 2-3 free-range eggs
• A handful of fresh perilla leaves
• Shallots and seasoning

Instructions:

• Step 1: Wash the rice thoroughly, add the appropriate amount of water, and bring to a boil. Simmer for about 30 minutes until the rice is soft and cooked through. Adjust the water level depending on your preferred porridge consistency.
• Step 2: Wash the perilla leaves. To remove impurities, rinse them with rice water, then clean with fresh water. Let them dry, then chop them into small pieces.
• Step 3: Once the porridge is cooked and the rice grains have softened, add the chopped shallots and season to taste. Crack in the eggs one by one, stirring gently to ensure the eggs blend into the porridge, releasing their aroma and vibrant color.
• Step 4: Finally, stir in the chopped perilla leaves, season once more, and remove from heat. Serve the porridge hot for a soothing and effective remedy.