Did you know that Miso Soup with Scallions is an ancient Chinese herbal remedy for colds? In 300 AD famous herbalist, Ge Hong, writes about Miso Soup with Scallions in a book called, Bei ji zhou hou fang or Emergency Formulas to Keep Up One’s Sleeve. The soup is indicated for the onset of a cold when a person is just beginning to feel a headache, stuffy nose and a slight fever with chills. Drink a cup or two of hot miso soup and wrap up in a warm blanket!
So, the next time you feel a cold coming on, be sure to have your miso! Miso is available at your local Asian market or health food store.
Miso Soup Ingredients:
- 6 cups water
- 3-4 Tablespoons Miso (usually sold in the refrigerated section). Instant miso packets are also available.
- 2-3 scallions, chopped
- 3-4 slices fresh ginger
Directions:
Dissolve the miso in a little bit of boiling water. Bring water to a boil in a saucepan and add the ginger & scallions. Simmer covered for 5-10 minutes. Remove from heat, top with some chopped scallions and serve.
Variations:
You can add various other ingredients soup, such as tofu, fresh mushrooms, cooked shrimp, snow peas, bean sprouts, cooked rice noodles, or paper-thin slices of fresh ginger. Ginger & the white parts of scallions as a tea alone works very well, too, for a cold with chills.
