Winter is Coming Fire Cider Recipe

Immune Boosting Fire Cider

Fire cider is a spicy, immune-boosting infused vinegar that has been revered for generations as a simple and effective remedy to relieve sinus congestion, ward off colds and flus, aid digestion, and increase circulation. The hot, pungent, sour, and sweet vinegar is certainly not for the faint of heart, but once embraced, quickly wins over even the most reluctant palate. Fire cider can be sipped neat on its own, mixed with other beverages, or used in cooking. It is typically used in small doses, so a batch of the recipe below would be enough to get most families through the winter season.

Fire Cider

Author: Erica Leazenby, MD (adapted from Rosemary Gladstar’s recipe in Herbal Healing for Women)

Serves: Makes about 4 cups

Time: 30 minutes, plus 30 days 

Ingredients:

• 1 cup coarsely grated peeled horseradish (about 4 ounces)

• 1 small onion, coarsely chopped

• 8 large garlic cloves, smashed

• 1/2 cup peeled and coarsely grated or chopped ginger (about 3 ounces)

• 1 tablespoon ground turmeric

• 1 teaspoon black peppercorns

• 4 rosemary sprigs

• 1 whole clove

• 1 jalapeno pepper, halved 

• 1 lemon, quartered

• 1 orange, quartered

• 4 cups unfiltered, unpasteurized apple cider vinegar

• ¼ cup (or more) honey **NOTE: the honey is added 30 days later, AFTER the mixture is filtered.

Directions:

• Place all the ingredients (except the honey) in a large airtight glass container. Add enough vinegar to ensure that the ingredients are fully submerged in the jar. 

• Place the jar in a dark corner of your kitchen or pantry. Periodically give the jar a swirl over the course of the month. 

• After 30 days, strain the vinegar through a cheesecloth lined colander or nut milk bag. Using disposable gloves, extract as much liquid from the solids as possible. 

• Add the honey to the filtered vinegar. Mix well and add additional honey to taste.

• Transfer the liquid to a few smaller clean jars for storage. 

Suggested Uses

• Salad dressings and marinades- Use this vinegar in place of apple cider vinegar or red wine vinegar in your salad dressings or marinades for a hint of heat. This would be great in chimichurri. 

• Mocktails- Add a splash of this vinegar to a mixture of your favorite fruit juice and seltzer for an instant shrub. 

• Hot tea- Add about 1 Tablespoon of fire cider to a mug of hot water, along with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and a little honey to sweeten… like a non-alcoholic hot toddy!

Maple Fire Vinaigrette

The sweet heat flavor of this vinaigrette partners well with hearty leafy greens like kale. Try making a salad with kale, roasted butternut squash, toasted pumpkin seeds and dried cherries.

Recipe Author: Erica Leazenby, MD

Serves: Makes about 1/3 cups

Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 Tablespoon maple syrup

• 1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar

• 1 Tablespoon fire cider

• 2 Tablespoon olive oil 

• Pinch of salt

• ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard

 Directions:

• Combine all ingredients in a small glass jar with a lid. Shake well until ingredients are well combined.

• Toss with your favorite greens and serve.