5 Greenpoint Dishes to Defeat Your Cold

Fever, cough, red and runny nose, strong desire to never leave your couch … sound familiar?

If you live in New York City — or anywhere where it’s cold, really — the answer is probably yes. Whether you’re already under the weather, or you feel a cold coming on, one of the best ways to fuel your road to recovery is with food. Here are five of the best spots in Greenpoint to crunch, munch, and sip your way to better health.

Little Dokebi, the sister restaurant of Dokebi Bar and Grill on Grand Street, offers one of my favorite comfort foods — Bibimbap. This traditional Korean dish is made of warm white rice topped with a protein, sauteed vegetables, and a spicy chili pepper sauce that is sure to clear your sinuses and help you sweat out the toxins.

Order a massive and satisfying bowl with your choice of tofu, beef, chicken, or pork for $14; it’s an extra dollar or two if you opt for fish. While I tend to be partial to tofu, you may want to spring for the spicy sashimi or tuna which are rich in omega-3 fatty acids which help reduce inflammation and prevent colds and flus.

Anyone who has ever been to Botica Apothecary & Juicery knows that whatever you order from this wellness shop is going to do your body good. However, this “natural pharmacy” offers one item in particular that is made for giving your body a major boost in its time of need.

The Cold’s Cocktail is a unique blend of coconut water, turmeric, ginger, garlic, lemon, and apple cider vinegar. While the ginger helps to alleviate throat and nose congestion and soothe aching muscles and joints, the garlic’s antibiotic properties fight infections and bacteria which are prevalent during colder months. This elixir costs $9 a bottle but packs a more potent punch than anything else I’ve tried.

When you’re craving something nourishing, the harira bowl from 3 Roots is all you need. Native of Morocco, this traditional soup is loaded with chickpeas and lentils, a great source of zinc which is known to lessen cold symptoms. Harira is seasoned with a small spice rack of flavors, including cinnamon, which has antifungal properties that prevent the growth of bacteria, fungus, and Candida, and turmeric, a powerful anti-inflammatory which stimulates blood flow and provides iron and manganese. For $8 this bowl will leave your taste buds and soul happy.

If a tasty bowl of curry is what you seek, Selamat Pagi has got you covered. The Pumpkin Coconut Curry — seasonal vegetables, kabocha squash, thai basil, toasted coconut, pumpkin seeds, and rice — is the perfect meal to ward off a cold or flu for vegan and omnivores alike.

Squash is an amazing source of anti-inflammatory nutrients such as omega 3s and beta-carotene, both which help to create a strong immune system, and coconut is full of zinc and iron which are also crucial to immune system health. For $16, it’s a deal.

Jungle Cafe is where you go to get your daily dose of vitamins in the form of veggies. Their Rainbow Raw Bowl, $10, is a nutrient-rich combination of five raw salads —  celery root, sauerkraut, carrot, purple cabbage, and kale, topped off with a healthy handful of sprouts. While the sauerkraut’s probiotic properties strengthen the immune system, the kale supplies your body with high levels of vitamin C, Vitamin E, and folate.