Cold weather soups are one of the best ways to strengthen your body during the winter months. A bowl of hot soup can warm up and nourish your body. Why not give it a try? To get the best results, making the right choice of soup and the complementary ingredients is important.
What soups are good for the cold season then? We recommend three soups and these easy-to-make recipes serve different functions, such as moisturizing the skin, nourishing the liver and kidneys, or replenishing blood and energy.
3 cold weather soups
1. Papaya, peanut, and spare-rib soup
Ingredients:
- Ripe papaya 1.1 lb (500 g)
- Dry peanuts 3.5 oz (100 g)
- Spare rib 8.8 oz (250 g)
- Salt (appropriate amount)
Method:
Rinse the papaya, scoop out of the skin, take out the seeds, and cut into big chunks;
Rinse the peanuts;
Rinse the spare rib, cut into big pieces, and marinate with a little salt;
Put all the ingredients into a pot and cover with water, bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to continue cooking on low until the peanuts are soft, meaning the soup is well done.
Effects:
Keeps the skin moist. Strengthens the intestines. Relieves constipation.
2. Bitter gourd (bitter melon) and carp soup
Ingredients:
- Carp 1.1 lb (500g) *Carp is an oily, freshwater fish — a substitute could be fresh whole mackerel, but adjust the portion to 5.2 oz (150g) because of the high oil content.
- Bitter gourd 8.8 oz (250 g)
- Vinegar, sugar, salt (to taste)
Method:
Rinse the carp, cut off the flesh, dry with paper towels, and cut into slices;
Rinse the bitter gourd, cut in half, remove the pulp and seeds, then soak briefly in hot water and cut into slices;
Put water into a pot, turn on high heat to bring to a boil, add the fish and bitter gourd slices, season with vinegar, sugar, and salt, change to low heat, and cook for five minutes.
Effects:
Stops coughing. Reduces edema. Expels excessive internal air and heat.
3. Mutton soup
Ingredients (all in appropriate amounts):
- Mutton
- Sheep entrails
- Sheep bones
- Scallion
- Ginger
- Salt to taste
Method:
Rinse the mutton, entrails, and bone;
Put water into a pot, add the mutton, entrails, scallion, and ginger — boil until meat and entrails are cooked, remove, and cut into slices;
Put the bones into a pot, add water, and boil for an hour — scoop away the froth on the top, add scallion and ginger to continue boiling until the broth turns white;
Put the cooked mutton and entrail slices into a bowl, add minced scallion (or other strong fragrant types like young garlic leaves and young chives) and optional chopped chili;
Pour the hot broth into the bowl and season with salt.
Effects:
Warms up the body and stomach (especially good for those who are weak or with cold limbs). Tones up the body. Invigorates the male energy system.
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