What the World Eats When They're Sick | Japan, India, Singapore, Brazil, Armenia

- This is my song. Yum, I really like this. Oh that's good. Hello, I'm Beryl. And the topic of this week's episode is unhealthy foods. It doesn't really roll off the tongue and I actually tried to find a better expression for it, but

what

I mean is foods you eat

when

you're

sick

and like in my comfort food video, I asked everyone to be a part of this one. Again, it won't be just me. It will be me and five of you. Well six, because for the first video there are two people,

they

are Brett and Abby.

And

they

are going to tell us about a dish from Japan. (applause) - Hello, Beryl. I'm Abby, I'm Brett. - And this... - It's Ochazuke. So

when

I was younger, my grandmother, who was from Japan, would do this to me all the time when she wasn't feeling well, or if she was just cold or

what

ever. But now I do this... - He does it for me. Let's be honest. - It's a fairly common dish. Many people eat it when they don't feel well because it is a cross between a rice dish and a soup. Then you have a bed of steamed rice.

And then on top you put some rice seasoning or some smug food on top. And on top of that, a very common protein would be salmon, which is our favorite, but it's not always necessary to have a protein and then... - You finish everything - With some green tea. It's definitely a little strange if you're not used to the concept, but it's delicious. - It's very good - So you get the saltiness from your seasoning and the fish and seaweed in it, but you also get some kind of herbal floral notes from your green tea. Like any soup, it's warm and easy to eat.

And it's like a hug and a bowl. - It's a hug and a bowl. - Yes - It is - It's okay. So we started with the Japanese Ochazuke that Abby and Brett sent. It seems quite interesting. Oh Lord. Mmmm, that's so good. So I felt a little like maybe I was cheating because it was an instant package, but that's what they did. - If you buy it in the store, like we do, it looks like this - This is the brand we like. - Instant package. Wow. The flavors of this are very pleasant. Green tea is interesting as a base for soups.

If I was

sick

and had this, I would feel pretty good. They were served with salmon. I didn't eat salmon. I ate some shrimp. So you know. I want some shrimp of that. Almost good. I didn't expect it to taste like that. I really don't know what I expected this to taste like. The green tea flavor is subtle but definitely there. I think it does help give cohesion to the dish. It helps keep it from being too salty. I can see how, when you're sick, this will be so nice. That was a good start. It's funny that I'm going to eat all these foods, for when you're sick, when I feel in top shape.

Knock on wood. - Hello everyone. My name is Shivani Purohit and I am from New Delhi in India. Today I am here to talk about the common food that most people in my country eat when they are not feeling well. It is called khichdi. Khichdi is a homogeneous mixture, like porridge and is made with yellow moon daal or lentils, rice water and sometimes vegetables. There are many variations of khichdi across the country but, as a food for the sick, it is usually eaten in the northern states. It is a slightly spicy, warm and healthy dish. Spices such as turmeric, cumin and ginger can be added, giving it a healing benefit.

I like my khichdi with a big dollop of ghee. And according to me, it's a complete meal. It is a very versatile dish and each family has its own recipe. There is still so much diversity that every person has had khichdi in one form or another. It is very simple to make, the ingredients are all very easy to find and also very cheap. In my family we have khichdi almost every week. And my mother makes it with cumin, cloves and a lot of love. - So, this is quite interesting. The dish that sparked the idea for this entire episode.

Wait, this is really good. It's interesting because when I try all of these dishes, I don't have the association of being sick with them. When I was talking to my husband about this, he said that, when he was a kid, he never wanted to eat this any other time because he was like, "I'm not sick." This is food for when you are sick. Why are you giving me this? Which makes sense. I really like this. It is very soft and very smooth. I think in general, sick food and comfort food go hand in hand. MMM. I really like this.

You could definitely add more to this. In fact, Shivani was saying that you can top this with vegetables. You know, more ghee, if you want. You can dress it up a little bit so we can go super basic or, you know, a little dressier. I went as basic as I could get. I totally understand that this would be good if you have an upset stomach. You don't want anything too aggressive. And this is very simple, but as someone who does not have an upset stomach and who

eats

this because he is hungry, I can also confirm that he tastes very good.

OMG, I just realized this would be a great entry point into Indian cuisine. Yes it was something you wanted to try, but maybe you felt intimidated because there are so many spices. This is really easy to do. Well, that will do. That was really good. Hmm! - My name is Donna and I live in Singapore. A common dish eaten in Singapore when you are sick is congee with century egg and meatballs or shredded meat. The base is a tasty rice porridge that is essentially rice simmered in broth or broth and then topped with different types of toppings, but a very common combination is diced century egg with meatballs or shredded beef.

My family also adds a lot of ginger. So I still want to add something about the century egg which I have seen in the mainstream media, sometimes it is portrayed as something quite scary or strange but many cultures around the

world

have different types of fermented foods and I just want to add that century egg. century is just one of them too. So, the dish originated in the ethnic Chinese community and was originally not a dish that you would eat when you were sick. You would eat it because, in those days, people were quite poor. So they tried to stretch whatever food they had at the time.

It's warm, light and easy to eat. And to be honest, it's pretty bland. That's why seasonings make a big difference and add flavor to the dish. So the century egg adds a sort of creamy flavor, while the meatballs or meat also make it tastier. It is a very comforting dish and also feels quite nutritious. And to be honest, when you're sick all you want is something that's light and easy to eat. My mother does it to me even today. - Well. I have rice soup with homemade pork meatballs and century egg. I had never eaten a century egg before.

And you know, I'm going to start with the congee that just came off the stove, it's hot. Oh that's good. I love salty porridge. Honestly, I feel like in America it's always apples and cinnamon, peaches and cream. Where is the salty? This is my song. Well. Let's go for the egg of the century. I didn't do it, I don't try anything. Well. Did you know? We're going to go for this middle piece here where the yolk is that will have a flavor that so many things are happening. That's a very, very busy flavor palette. Oh. The yolk is where all the flavor is, and it has this kind of creamy, cheesy texture that's maybe like a camembert or something a little spicy but not as big as a blue cheese, somewhere in between.

I love stinky cheeses. So this is actually my thing. Who would have thought? I think this is obviously a flavor palette that people grow up with and may not be the easiest to adopt later in life. But, if you're someone who's more adventurous with food, I think this is definitely something worth trying and experiencing because it's good. Oh. I'm starting to have that nice little moment where you like to eat it, but it spilled a little. My name is Poliana and I live in San Paulo, Brazil. Here in Brazil, it really depends on what part of the country you are from when it comes to eating any type of disgusting food, but usually it is some type of soup.

In fact, I thought of one of the soups in a cookbook I'm writing that's about Brazilian foods and foods from different parts of the country. This is a soup called Caldo de Ovos. It is an egg soup originating from the state of Maranhão, in the northeast. This is a type of soup that you will find in any bar in the capital São Luís. It is also said to be good for hangovers. So I guess it's also good for those types of diseases. It has many of the ingredients that one would assume that some sort of secluded place would have. good?

At least for me. So, as is the egg that I am used to, from my own upbringing, this one has cassava flour. So, at the end of preparing the soup, add a little cassava flour to make it a little thick. It has a little acidity with lime and tomato and the cassava flour will give it that sustenance you need when you don't feel like getting out of bed. - Well. I have meat and egg soup from Brazil and honestly, my kitchen smells really good. It smells like chili. Oh my God, oh my God. This is so good.

Honestly, it tastes like hot chili. I have a yoke. It's like elastic. Hey? That's great. So I was supposed to use cassava flour. I could not find it. She was texting with Polly. She said cornmeal was a good substitute. So that's what I've used. It thickens it into an essence that makes it so. Is that a description? Fun fact. In fact, I know Poliana from high school. We were friends. So I approached her because I knew she was doing a cookbook and asked if she could send me a recipe from Brazil. And you know, hi... (she greets her while smiling) That was amazing.

I recommend this. - Hello, my name is Sona and I come from the city of Gyumri in Armenia. If you ever feel like you are coming down with a cold and you are in Armenia, there is a good chance they will recommend a dish called s. 'Pass or so hurry. It's a light, creamy soup made from plain yogurt, a little pearl barley chicken broth, butter, onion, and some fresh herbs like parsley or mint. There is some creaminess and tartness that comes from the plain yogurt, as well as some freshness that comes from the herbs. Overall, it is a very filling and satisfying dish.

It is very enriching and comforting. And since there isn't really anything that requires ingredients, there's a good chance you'll feel better after eating it. And helps you restore your system. When I feel bad, my mom usually makes me puree. There is something typically Armenian in this dish, in the tan apur. That's why I think, and most Armenians think, that apur is such a beloved part of our cuisine and, in general, the Armenian experience. - So the final dish we are going to try is a yogurt-based soup called tan apur from Armenia. Oh, it's very refreshing, actually for a yogurt soup.

I like it. I was not sure. I'm just generally someone who really loves spice and flavor. And of course, you know, going into a six-week episode that's not the game here. But I thought this might be bland, but it's actually not. Because yogurt and mint honestly carry it. This episode was very interesting for me. And honestly, I feel like I've learned a lot because I had this expectation, even before this started, that I thought everyone ate chicken broth or vegetable broth when they were sick. I really didn't think this was something that changed so much from country to country.

And obviously, number one, I was very, very wrong. But number two, seeing all these different dishes and their main ingredients has taught me a lot more about the

world

at the same time. And I love that they are making these videos with me and that we can share our cultures with each other. And I also want to say that I really appreciate how positive the comments are. That you all are so open and interested in learning from each other. It just feels like a small slice of goodness in the pile that is the world right now.

You know what I mean? So, I want to say thank you. And with that, I'm going to finish my soup and I'll see you all in the next video.