The winter before last, I discovered a soup that really helps banish a cold and the congestion that usually comes with having one - which is a major drag in the colder months. Actually it's a drag to have a cold in the warmer months too, but this soup will work magic then as well. For the past two winters I've made this soup quickly at the slightest sign of a cold, congestion or throat irritation and I've come to swear by it.
So what's this soup? Basically chicken stock - broth is what I've used because the last thing I'm going to do when I'm in the funk of having a cold, is to spend much time cooking, lime juice of varying amounts, sliced up hot peppers of any or all of the following varieties: Habanero, Jalapeno or Serrano - yes folks, you read that part right, chicken and when it's all hot and ready to eat, some rice.
I realize that to some of you, this is going to sound crazy. I swear it's soothing and it works wonders in both holding a cold at bay and getting rid of one rather quickly. I'm eating a moderately peppered up serving of it as I'm typing this and I've mentioned it in various posts on face book this week getting some comments, so I thought I'd share it here. I'm a seasonal eater thanks to my affiliation with The Inn at Turner's Mill, and when it's cold outside, lookout, I want soup! This one is what I go for when I think I'm anywhere near catching a cold - and my new thing, a healthy, daily dose of bee pollen (thanks for the tip M.F.H.!) will keep me on the path all winter long!
So here's my suggestion if you're suffering from a cold, or just starting to come down with one. I keep things as simple as possible here and given how one's taste usually suffers a bit with the symptoms of a cold, I don't really see the need to get terribly busy with the recipe.
Here's what you need - taking in mind cooking for one:
1) Chicken broth - a quart will do. For any of you purists, go ahead and make stock if you feel you need to, but when I'm under the weather I'm not very ambitious in the kitchen.
2) I buy a rotisserie chicken at the grocery store - and for $4.99 that is hard to beat - and good!
3) 2 or 3 limes - more if you're making this for more than one person
4) 2-3 of each of the following peppers: Habanero & Jalapeno
5) Rice - the par-boiled stuff seems to work best for me. I followed the instructions on other rice to the letter earlier this week and the rice was a complete throwaway!
Put the broth in a pan and turn the heat on medium. Slice one or two peppers very thin - either use gloves or be very careful in handling them - if you get the oil from the peppers on any part of you that is covered with skin, you'll likely regret it later - I'm just saying. If you're really congested, don't waste your time with anything but a Habanero - and don't be a wuss, while this pepper might like to kill you if you felt like your healthy old self, it's going to set you free from the throngs of a cold in this soup! Not that you won't sweat. I'm just saying.
Take about a third of the thinly sliced pepper and either smash it with the juice of half a lime in a mortar and pestle or in a bowl with a fork - again, be careful!
Tear some of the meat off of the rotisserie chicken and set it aside. When the broth starts to roll a bit, turn down the heat and put the lime juice and pepper mixture in it and stir it up. You could have that Bob Marley song playing for humorous motivation - I have at times. Taste the broth - and you're looking for a noticeable tang from the lime juice and a bit of heat from the pepper. Have I mentioned that you're going to sweat a bit? You'll be fine.
Cook the rice according to the instructions and leave it sitting on its own. Put the rest of the thinly sliced peppers into the broth - I never use more than 2 whole peppers unless I'm so congested that I sound like I've been a smoker my entire life - and I haven't. Don't be a baby, the heat won't kill you - it's the cold that will keep you miserable!
I put the chicken in last and let it heat in the broth just a bit. I put the rice in my bowl and then ladle the broth w/the chicken and peppers in it over the rice. I usually squeeze a fair amount of lime juice in my bowl, regardless of what the level of tang in the broth is up to now - it seems to help. There you have it - this stuff really works and the worst I've done is break a sweat eating this. My mouth hasn't paid a heavy price from the heat, nor has my belly. Not only does this work, I find it very soothing. So there you have it - try it and let me know the next time you have a cold!
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