While the winter solstice may be behind us, the coldest days are yet to come. And with the frigid air comes a different kind of cold: stuffy nose, sore throat, hacking coughs, and those headaches that make your head feel like a bowling ball. When I’m sick, there’s one food I crave above all others – a steaming bowl of soup. As a kid, I remember staying home from school and my mom would open a can of chicken noodle soup, heating it on the stove while I lay on the couch swaddled in blankets and surrounded by tissues. Now that I’m older, I’m the one who has to heat the soup that will nurture me back to health.
In college, my go-to soup was a recipe with white beans, mushrooms, and spinach that I had found on the cooking blog Budget Bites. To be honest, I made this more when I was feeling well, but I think we can all agree that soup is comforting in the winter, no matter the state of your health. Often when I’m sick, cooking is too much of a chore. While I always have an emergency can of soup or two in my pantry, in a state with as many incredible food options as Rhode Island, why not order soup to-go?
Here are a few recommendations, some from me, others from a dear friend who lives in Pawtucket, and some still from a Rhode Island Reddit thread:
For my South Kingstown folks: New Wave Kitchen at 359 Main Street in Wakefield makes excellent ramen. Their OG Miso Ramen packs an umami punch with shiitake mushrooms, miso and nori. And don’t forget the ginger: Well-known to combat flu and cold symptoms, this flavorful root also reduces inflammation and helps ease an upset stomach.
In Providence, head to LeSalle Bakery at 993 Smith St or 685 Admiral Street and pick up their chicken escarole soup. This soup elevates the familiar flavors of chicken noodle soup from my childhood. With plenty of veggies packed with vitamins A, C, and potassium, as well as chicken for added protein, it may be a cliche, but this soup warms the soul. A popular option at this heavily trafficked Italian bakery, you may want to call ahead before to make sure it’s available.
Just down the road at 895 Smith Street, Thai Star offers an excellent Dumpling Soup with chicken, cabbage, and cilantro. Also available are Thai classics like Tom Yum soup. The lemongrass in the soup is rich in antioxidants and helps reduce inflammation. As one of the oldest Thai restaurants in Rhode Island, Thai Star has been serving authentic Thai cuisine to Rhode Islanders for over 25 years.
For a vegan option, turn to Wildflour Bakery at 727 East Ave in Pawtucket. Order the Vegan Chili, it’s made with three beans (you’ll have to get it to discover which ones) and plenty of other nutrient-rich vegetables. Hearty and warming, this soup will nourish you to good health in no time. Paired with a side of their vegan and gluten-free jalapeno cornbread, it’s the perfect at-home-sick kind of meal. Be sure to pick up a fully-vegan sweet treat while you’re at it – you’re doing yourself a disservice by not sampling one of their many cookie, muffin, and other pastry options. Oh, and did I mention it’s all vegan?
For another vegan option, order the Mulligatawny Soup at Not Just Snacks at 833 Hope Street, Providence. Every spoonful heaps with lentils, coconut milk, and its curry leaf garnish. This soup is also gluten-free. Nourishing and warming, curry is rich in vitamin A and is believed to have anti-inflammatory properties while also promoting healthy eyes and hair health.
Many soups feel incomplete when not accompanied by a hearty slice of quality bread. It’s no secret that Seven Stars Bakery, with its six locations across the state, offers some of the best loaves and baguettes. While the prices may be steep, it’s a worthwhile indulgence when you’re feeling under the weather. Of course since I live in South County, Seven Stars is a rare treat as all their locations are over 15 minutes away from me. I get my bread from South County Bread Co., or SoCo as us locals call it, at 333 Main Street, South Kingstown. Are there any cold-fighting benefits in bread? Maybe not, but I argue that the joy of eating something delicious when sick – like a thick slice of sourdough scooping up the last bits of a delightful broth – is better than anything.