Chicken Soup & Other Persian Home Remedies

With flu season upon us, I thought this would be the perfect time to share a few of the home remedies we grew up with for treating the common cold. In our culture, traditional herbal solutions have been passed down for centuries, each one offering a little comfort for sniffing, coughing, sore throats, and overall winter fatigue. I'm sure every culture has its own time-tested approaches, but today I'll share the ones we rely on most often in our home, always in addition to visiting the doctor and taking any prescribed medication.

 سوپ مرغ Chicken soup is perhaps the most universal cold remedy of all. Whether or not it's medically proven, there's no question that a bowl of steaming soup, made with love, warms the chest, soothes the throat, and nourishes the soul. 

 

 

Here are a few simple things we turn to when cold symptoms settle in:

1- Drink چای (chai, tea) or hot water with fresh squeezed lime/lemon, and sweetened with nabat or a spoonful of honey. 

2- Eat cooked (شلغم shalgham, turnip). Simmer 4-5 small turnips in 2 cups of water for about 20 minutes on medium-low heat. Don't overcook. Serve warm, add a pinch of salt if you find the flavor too mild.

3- Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. Citrus fruits, grapefruits, oranges, and tangerines are a great source of vitamin C. In Iran, we have لیموشیرین (limoo shirin, sweet lemon), commonly eaten during a cold. You can sometimes find it in Persian grocery stores when in season.

4- Gargle with salted water to help soothe a sore throat. 

5- Drink lots of fluids. 

6-Make a simple chicken soup.

7- Rest well and sleep.

Soup-e Morgh - Simple Chicken Soup

A soothing, classic home remedy

Ingredients

4-6 servings

- 4-6 pieces of chicken (drumsticks, thighs, or wings)
-1 large onion, thinly sliced
-2 medium-sized tomatoes, peeled and diced
-4 medium carrots, diced

-4 celery stalks, diced
-1 handful parsley, chopped
-2 garlic cloves, diced
-1 teaspoon salt
-1/4 teaspoon pepper
-1/2 teaspoon turmeric
-Juice of 2 limes/lemons

-2 tablespoons olive oil

-Water to cover

Method:

1. In a large pot, heat up olive oil on medium-high heat and add onions. Sauté until translucent. Add turmeric, carrots, tomatoes, garlic, and celery, stir well. Place the chicken and season it with salt and pepper. Add enough water to cover by 2 inches.
2. Bring to a boil, over medium heat, then reduce to low and simmer for 1 hour. 
3. Adjust the seasoning as needed, and add more water if necessary. 
4. Add the lime juice and parsley and stir. Cook for another 10 minutes, and serve warm. There's a special kind of magic when a mother ladles steaming soup into a bowl and says, "Eat this. It'll make you feel better." I think that comfort alone has healing power. 

Stay warm, stay nourished, and keep healthy!