Apart from cutting up onions and placing them around the house, which I mentioned in the last Parent Hood post, another way we fought this season’s superbug was with the mighty strength of soups! Honestly, I don’t know why it took me so long to bring soups into my weekly cooking routine. They are easy to make, require very little time and are extremely good for you whether you’re suffering from a sore throat or not. I love traditional Cyprus soups such as avgolemono and trahana but I find a good old-fashioned vegetable soup is by far the best option when your body is desperate to fight off an infection. Usually, all I do is cut up a bunch of vegetables, there are no rules perhaps only focusing on bringing various colours to the mix and then I add water. Salt, pepper, lemon, oil and anything else is added later according to personal taste.
However, lately I have been adding something else to the mix. Hardly a kitchen staple but with so many benefits, miso has made its way into my pantry and it won’t be leaving any time soon. I am constantly searching for new ways to use miso but for now it is being served in vegetable soups, giving them an extra healthy kick.
So what is miso? It is a traditional Asian condiment made by grinding beans and/or grains into a paste and allowing it to ferment. Fermentation, which takes place due to a yeast mold known as koji, is allowed to happen for days or even years. This also causes various colour changes. Overall miso has a salty taste; the type I use also includes brown rice, another popular variety. Honestly there is so much to say about this superfood, I couldn’t do it justice in one post.
Here’s a short list of miso benefits:
– Can reduce risks of cancer
– It strengthens the immune system
– It is antiviral.
– It is high in antioxidants so it can prevent aging.
– It is full of nutrients and beneficial bacteria.
You can read more about the benefits of miso here.
Just add to boiling water! That’s all you have to do!
This box of four sachets can be found at Alpha Mega and I’m guessing perhaps at health food shops.
