How do people living through winter get out of bed and brave the low temperatures?
With hot, steaming foods of course!
Especially in Asia, where foods such as stews, soups and even pancakes help warm one up one’s soul and spirits.
So put down that Campbell’s chicken soup, and come on a grand culinary tour through some of Asia’s piping hot foods for the frigid months!
Oden
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Oden is a Japanese nabemono or one-pot dish that has various ingredients cooked in a dashi broth that’s been flavored with soy sauce.
Ingredients you’ll usually find in oden include daikon radishes, konjac jelly, fish cakes and boiled eggs. The umami flavor of the warm soup further adds with the sweet and slightly salty flavor of the above foods.
Whether you’re enjoying it as a warming snack at an outdoor street stall or at a cozy specialty restaurant, oden is a classic winter dish that’s beloved even outside of Japan!
You know what goes best with a piping hot bowl of oden? A winter hike at Mount Nokogiri, an underrated Tokyo daytrip gem.
Shiruko
Up for something sweet? Then you can’t miss the deep crimson deliciousness of Japan’s shiruko soup.
Starting with crushed boiled and crushed azuki beans getting boiled with water and sugar.
Next, mochi rice cakes and dango (glutinous rice flour dumplings) are then dipped into the soup. The result is a sweet, syrupy soup with the mochi and dango melting in your mouth.
Needless to say, your body will be feeling all warm and fuzzy once you’re done!
Other Japanese desserts also include nerikiri, yokan and dorayaki – a class of Japanese dessert categorized as wagashi.
Kimchi Jjigae
You might usually find Korea’s world-renowned kimchi as a side dish in BBQ places, but who says you can’t make a whole stew out of it too?
Cook some marinated meat, tofu and kimchi together in water or anchovy broth before simmering and finally topping it off without some green onions. Voila, the perfect sour spiciness to beat the cold.
Still, you can skip the cooking and probably find a great bowl of kimchi at these Seoul shopping hotspots.
Hotteok
Sometimes simple is all you need, and what can be simpler than a sweet pancake stuffed with dark brown sugar and cinnamon powder?
But don’t dismiss this Korean comfort food for cold winters, you can sometimes find grounded nuts and seeds inside, alongside more modern twists like kimchi or cheese!
Jiu Niang
Who needs plain old porridge when you can have it fermented?
Tian jiu dan or literally “sweet wine egg” is a traditional winter snack that originates from the southern Chinese province of Hunan.
Fermented rice is boiled with glutinous rice, eggs, sugar, longan fruits and Chinese wolfberry to create a white, silky smooth dessert that looks and tastes amazing. Its sugar content and rich egg protein will surely help shield you from the bitter winter chill.
Also, despite its name, the fermented rice in tian jiu dan has very low alcohol levels, making it perfect for all ages!
Want the good stuff instead? Check out our guide to the 12 Must-Try Alcohol From Around the World!
Paomou
Fancy working for your food? Then why not give paomou a try?
Originating from Xi’an, this Chinese dish sees strips of flatbread topping a lamb broth filled with either mutton or beef while accompanied with glass noodles. Condiments such as chilli oil or sauce, sugared garlic or cilantro add to the dish’s cold-beating kick.
In some traditional places, diners have to tear the flatbread into thumb-sized strips themselves before handing it back to the chef!
Just southwest of XI’an is the metropolis of Chengdu – home of pandas, spicy cuisine and more!
Sarson Ka Saag
India is home to various cuisines but the Sarson Ka Saag of Northern India has to be one of the greenest!
The Punjabi dish is made by cooking mustard greens in oil or ghee alongside spices such as garlic, chilli and ginger, before being served with butter on top and roti flatbread
The sizzling Indian spices paired with the deep green colour will definitely keep the cold at bay by reminding you of warmer, happier times!
Masala Chai
Of course, no list on Asian winter cuisine can go without one of India’s famous exports―masala chai!
This “mixed-spice tea” is a mix of black tea with milk, water and sugar and a whole rainbow of spices including green cardamom, cinnamon, star anise and even vanilla!
With all that spice, you’ll be all warm and toasty in no time. It’s no wonder that masala chai has spread all over the world!
Hungry for more? Warm up with some hot chocolate at a Viennese coffeehouse or some great naan at a Xinjiang eatery!