Living in a hostel in Bangalore? Boost your immunity with these foolproof recipes

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What has the pandemic taught us? The importance of washing our hands, how to use video conferencing apps, and how to work from home. But it’s also shown us that having a strong immune system is super important in ensuring we can keep diseases at bay. And when you’re living in a hostel in Indiranagar, it could be difficult to stay in the pink of health. That’s why we’ve come up with some quick, easy and hassle-free immunity-boosting recipes that you can make to strengthen yourself against viruses. After all, you are what you eat. So, let’s kickstart your health journey with one of these amazing recipes.

Quick Veggie Broth 

If you think soup isn’t for the summer, think again. Because this light and flavourful broth is the perfect meal to help you wash down a busy day. It’s packed full of nutrients and Vitamin C and is a quick and easy way to make sure you’re eating vegetables. Here’s what you’ll need for this recipe: 1 cup of finely chopped veggies of your choice (we like a mix of onions, carrots, capsicum, green beans, and cabbage, but you can feel free to add what you have in your hostel, or even buy the pre-cut vegetable packets), 3 cups water, 1 tablespoon each of chopped ginger and garlic, 3 tablespoons of lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste. Saute your veggies on a medium flame for a minute or too until they turn translucent, then add in your water and let the broth come to a boil. Keep it simmering for around 5 minutes so that the veggies are fully cooked and the broth becomes flavourful. Then turn off the heat, season with salt, pepper and lemon juice and stir. Your hot and delicious soup is ready to be served. This one packs a healthy punch and can easily be adapted according to your taste.

Fruit and Yogurt Breakfast Smoothie

Everyone knows that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. And when you start your day with the right immunity building smoothie, you’re sure to have enough energy to last you for several hours. Well, this hearty and fresh smoothie does exactly that. Simply add ¼ cup plain yogurt, 1 cup milk, 2 bananas, ¼ cup oats, 1 tablespoon of peanut butter, and any fruits of your choice (we particularly like berries, but you could also go for a tropical smoothie and add mango or pineapple) to a blender and blend until smooth. Pour into your favourite glass or take it with you in a travel cup and your day will have a nutrient-packed start.

Kimchi Fried Rice

Not sure what to do with the kimchi that comes with your takeaway order? Have a jar of kimchi at the back of your fridge that you’ve been meaning to use for ages? Or did you go on a DIY kick and try to make your own? Whatever the case may be, it’s time to use that kimchi to whip up a leftover favourite – kimchi fried rice. This no-fuss recipe is delicious and keeps your gut health in check. The fermented kimchi contains tonnes of probiotics which aid digestion, while the egg, paneer or tofu will provide the protein that you need for a balanced diet. All you need for this fried rice are some chopped vegetables, a cup of cooked rice (you can use brown rice for added nutritional value), the protein of your choice, 2 tablespoons of reduced sodium soy sauce, and ½ cup kimchi. Stir fry the veggies, protein and kimchi for 2 minutes until they soften, add the soy sauce and stir. Then add in the rice and mix well until it’s heated through. Serve hot, with some toasted sesame seeds as topping. Even without its immunity-boosting qualities, this is a recipe you’ll want to keep making purely because it’s delicious.

Peanut Butter Paneer

No that’s not a typo, we really are telling you to put peanut butter into paneer. But hear us out. This spicy and flavourful curry is packed full of ginger and spices, and the peanut butter takes it to another level. You will need 500 grams of paneer, 1 large chopped onion, 3 cloves of garlic, a large piece of grated ginger, 1 teaspoon each of turmeric powder, cumin powder, ½ teaspoon of cardamom powder, 400g diced tomatoes, 1 cup of vegetable stock and 2 tablespoons of natural peanut butter. Cut your paneer into cubes and pan fry or bake until they are crispy on the outside. Then, in a pan, saute onions, ginger, garlic and the spices until fragrant and translucent. Stir in the peanut butter and the tomatoes, mixing well, then pour in the stock. Cook on medium high heat for around ten minutes until the sauce becomes rich and thick. Add in the paneer, and cook for 2-3 minutes until it absorbs some of the curry. Season to taste and serve hot with fresh rice. The hot and fresh spices combined with the protein and the peanut butter will make this recipe a great help for your immune system.

Herbal Tea

After a long, hard day in your hostel near Dairy Circle, you may not have the energy to cook up a big meal for yourself. But that doesn’t mean you need to skip out on your immunity-booster for the day. A quick herbal tea can charge you up and protect you from most viral or bacterial attacks. Simply add a tablespoon of fennel seeds, 2 green cardamoms, an inch long piece of cinnamon, 1 tablespoon of chopped ginger, some mint leaves, 1 inch of lemongrass and a tablespoon of honey to about 3 cups of water and boil. Let the liquid bubble away until it reduces by about half. Then simply strain into a cup and you’re ready to beat diseases with this magic beverage. Feel free to add a dash of lemon juice before you drink to add some extra Vitamin C into the tea.

So, the next time you’re worried about how to stay healthy and keep infections at bay, turn to your kitchen. These five easy recipes can be made anywhere, and will help you keep yourself disease-free and fit. So, stay safe and make sure you give them a try.

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