Top 5 Healing Korean Foods

Last month, I struggled with a mysterious two-day flu that progressed into a week-long cold. I must have learned well from my mom because as soon as I felt that tickle in my throat, I immediately put on a big pot of jujube tea, took a bath, and hydrated with plenty of fluids.

Here are some of my favorite healing Korean foods that I always reach for when I’m sick — whether it’s cold/flu, nausea, or simple dehydration. So without further ado, this is what I eat in a day (sick edition!).

1. Pine nut porridge (4-6 servings)

1 cup short grain rice, rinsed and soaked for at least an hour

3/4 cup pine nuts, rinsed

6 cups water

1 tsp salt

Combine all the ingredients except the salt in a blender until pureéd. Cook gently over medium low heat for 10-15 minutes, stirring regularly until it thickens. Season to taste with salt and enjoy with simple savory banchan.

2. Korean jujube tea

A classic for a reason. If you don’t have bellflower root (which is good for cough/sore throat), you can just skip it! Simmer on low for at least 5 hours with a couple knobs of ginger and enjoy with a spoonful of honey. Recipe is already online at fruitandsup.co!

3. Korean lemon syrup (cheong)

This is a great non-recipe recipe. Combine equal parts fruit and sweetener (e.g., 1 cup of lemons, 1 cup of honey). To prep the fruit, I like to soak it in a baking soda solution for at least 10 minutes. Then scrub the skins with course sea salt. Rinse with water. The fruit should be sparkling clean. Now it’s time to slice, remove any seeds, and mix with honey. Keep at room temperature for 3-4 days in an airtight glass container and then into the fridge. The Korean fermented syrup should be ready in about 2-3 weeks!

4. Turmeric shots with lemon syrup

1 cup fresh turmeric, washed and trimmed

2-3 knobs fresh ginger, washed and trimmed

16-20 oz coconut water

2 TBSP Korean lemon syrup

Combine turmeric, ginger, and coconut water in a blender. Strain through a sieve to separate the pulp from the juice. Season with lemon syrup (or honey) and enjoy chilled. Will keep in the fridge for at least a week!

5. Korean ox bone soup

Rich in minerals, collagen, and amino acids. Recipe is already up on fruitandsup.co!