Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to eat soup only when you’re feeling under the weather. When preparing meals, knowing the time of year and the day’s conditions are of consequence. This month, July, is traditionally the year’s coldest in Sydney. Parkas, heaters, and merino thermals are the season’s must-haves. As for the chow and drink: soup, coffee, and spicy food are in, and cold juices and ice cream are out.
Chicken soup
Sydney winters are characterised by shorter days, dropping temps, and warmer attires. There are a few soups that you could concoct during these freezing days. The first is chicken soup. You could try using wings or drumsticks. We usually add bok choy or Chinese cabbage. Be sure to include some ginger, lots of onions, and garlic. Serve with rice. Another option is to use chokoes, making the traditional Filo dish, tinola. A few places around Sydney sell the latter. However, you could save precious time and money by creating this yourself.
Pho
Pho is another soup you could try. One Viet place asserts that ‘We will let you pho-get your worries’. Pho has its origins in Vietnam. It’s a combination of rice noodles, meat, bay leaves, bean sprouts, and lemon or chilli sauce. It’s a nice combination and the optional chilli adds a little spiciness. However, this meal isn’t that filling. You’ll have to consider other soups out there if more kilojoules are your thang. Pho is marketed as a main course but, for many, it’s more like a supplementary item.
More soups
Congee or goto is a third soup recipe. Goto is popular in the Philippines. The gruel comes with rice softened for a while, mixed with meat, lemon, and egg. Usually, it comes with pork and chicken. Occasionally, chicharon or pork crackling is garnished over the soup. Like pho, it’s not going to make you ‘feel fuller for longer’. Some recipes use century eggs over chicken ones. This is perfect for a light supper but impractical for lunch. In Sydney, the congee is topped with shallots or spring onions.
Furthermore, ramen is yet another winter soup idea. The Japanese dish comes with udon, veggies, and meat or prawns. Ramen usually has a sweet taste. Compared to pho and congee, it’s a bit more filling. The addition of beef and the thicker noodles would certainly make this true. The soup has gained more popularity in recent times, as Nipponese expats have settled in Sydney. Speaking of the Japanese, recently, I ordered some bento boxes and takoyaki online. It came with miso soup. If you’re into the latter, you could buy a few packets to enjoy the Japanese experience.
A dash of chilli
Speaking of winter eats, how about some spicy fried chicken? Fast food outlets would be the first to spring to mind. You’ll be hard pressed to find a soul who’d say no to chicken with a kick. Whether you’re a toddler or a child in heart, fried chicken is sure whet to your taste buds.
You could always try to spice things up with a little hot sauce on your plate. I already mentioned the optional chilli in pho. How about a little wasabi with your sushi? Or some chilli in your banh mi? Or a dash of the same with bibimbap? Sometimes a little helping on the side makes a big difference.
Worth a try
Winter may mean bleak weather, with grey skies and more rainfall. Thus, umbrellas are not to be forgotten. Though it may be cold and blue, that doesn’t mean you should roll over and cry. Why not heat some pho, tinola, or eat spicy burgers. As they say, ‘There’s no harm in trying’.
