These days, we like to focus a lot on curative medicine rather than preventative. Fire Cider is a traditional herbal remedy that has been passed down through the generations, it blends together plants that have incredible benefits for your health. All you need is one teaspoon a day to help boost your natural immunity and it's cheap as chips to make! Some even claim it's a perfect hangover cure so what are you waiting for?
Last weekend I (Poppy) attended an awesome workshop with a herbalist (@marie_mulcahy_herbalist on Instagram) to learn how to make this herbal remedy, and I have to say I'm hooked! What I love about herbal remedies is the history, often passed down through generations. I find engaging in herbalism a fantastic way to honour those who have shared their knowledge before us, this recipe dates all the way back to ancient indigenous knowledge! What better way to honour that than to share it with all of you, I hope you enjoy it!
Ingredients
½ cup freshly peeled and grated ginger root
½ cup freshly grated horseradish root
1 medium onion, chopped
10 cloves of garlic, crushed or chopped
2 organic jalapeño peppers, chopped
1 lemon, zest and juice
2 Tablespoons dried rosemary leaves
1 Tablespoon turmeric powder or 2 Tablespoons freshly grated turmeric root
¼ teaspoon cayenne powder
organic unfiltered apple cider vinegar
¼ cup raw honey, or to taste
Method
Step 1 Add ginger, horseradish, onion, garlic, jalapeño peppers, lemon zest and juice, rosemary, turmeric and cayenne powder into quart-sized glass jar.
Step 2 Pour apple cider vinegar in the jar until all the ingredients are fully covered and the vinegar reaches the top of the jar. You want to be sure all the ingredients are covered to prevent spoilage.
Step 3 Use a piece of natural parchment paper under the lid to keep the vinegar from touching the metal, or use a plastic lid if you have one.
Step 4 Shake jar to combine all the ingredients and store in a dark, cool place for 4-6 weeks, remembering to shake the jar a few seconds every day.
Step 5 After one month, use a mesh strainer or cheesecloth to strain out the solids, pouring the vinegar into a clean jar. Be sure to squeeze out as much of the liquid as you can. This stuff is liquid gold! The solids can be used in a stir-fry or you can compost/discard them.
Step 6 Add honey to the liquid and stir until incorporated.
Step 7 Taste your fire cider and add more honey if needed until you reach your desired sweetness.
Step 8 Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator or in a cold, dark place and enjoy! Drink 1-2 Tablespoons when needed.
The Benefits
Apple Cider Vinegar — the health benefits of apple cider are abundant and it’s the base for this recipe!
Horseradish — helps alleviate sinus congestion and headaches. Even chopping or grating horseradish has this effect. If you try this recipe, you’ll see!
Ginger — helps with digestion, infections and nausea.
Garlic — a secret superpower with antimicrobial and antibacterial properties.
Onion — has similar properties to garlic but is also great for preventing (or recovering from!) colds and the flu.
Cayenne Pepper — helps move blood through your cardiovascular system. Blood circulation = healing.
Honey — soothes inflamed tissues and organs. Using local honey can also help with allergies.
How to Use It
Take a shot (about 1-2 Tablespoons) straight up.
Dilute the fire cider tonic with warm water, juice or apple cider.
Use the fire cider to make a delicious homemade salad dressing.
Add to fried rice or cauliflower fried rice.
Use in Bloody Marys — alcoholic or not!
Drizzle over steamed veggies.
Use as a marinade for tofu, meat, etc.
Add to soup or chili.
Use as a hangover cure.
Taken from www.eatingbirdfood.com – Go check them out!
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