My husband Ted and I recently came down with what doctors are calling the “Super Flu.” We’re through the worst of it now and are in the head-cold phase, which follows the peak flu symptoms. I wanted to share a recipe with you for a healing broth that has been so soothing during this illness. My mom often had this type of broth simmering on a back burner during cold and flu season.
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Table of Contents
- A Healing Broth Using What You Have
- Healing Broth Ingredients
- How to Make Your Healing Broth
- Recipe Tips
- Storing and Reheating
- More Natural Remedies
- More Bone Broth Recipes
- Farmhouse Teas (and Herbs!)
- Backwoods Home and Self-Reliance
- The Modern Pioneer Cookbook
- The Modern Pioneer Pantry
- Download Your Free 36-Page Pantry List
- Join the Traditional Foods Kitchen Academy
- Kitchen Academy Videos
- Healing Broth for Feeding the Sick Recipe
- Shop for My Favorite Items
A Healing Broth Using What You Have
If you came down with this flu or are just dealing with a head cold, I hope this broth will provide some comfort. And don’t worry if you don’t have all the ingredients on hand. This broth lends itself to a whole host of variations.
- No chicken feet? No problem. Any part of the chicken will work, including backs, necks, thighs, or legs.
- As to the aromatics, again, add what you have. And dried herbs and powdered ginger work well too.
Disclaimer
Note: I am not a doctor or medical professional. This information is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to treat or diagnose any type of illness. If you are not feeling well, please seek professional medical attention and medicine. And if you are thinking of supplementing your treatment with home remedies, be sure to talk to your medical professional about them. It’s important that you get the medicine and treatments you need to get back to good health.
Healing Broth Ingredients
Find the full printable recipe with ingredients below.
- 6 chicken feet
- Water to cover the chicken feet (about 2 inches above the feet)
- 1 cup extra-dry white vermouth (or 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar)
- 3 yellow onions, skin on, quartered
- 1 large head garlic, sliced lengthwise to expose cloves
- 6 carrots, unpeeled, rough chopped
- 6 celery stalks, rough chopped
- 2 three-inch pieces fresh ginger, rough chopped (peeled if not organic)
- 1 bunch fresh oregano, rough chopped
- 1 bunch fresh thyme, rough chopped
- 10 whole black peppercorns
- 5 dried bay leaves
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
How to Make Your Healing Broth
Find the full printable recipe with measurements below.
- Place the chicken feet in a large stockpot and cover completely with water, allowing the water level to sit about 2 inches above the feet.
- Add the vermouth or apple cider vinegar. Let the chicken feet soak in the acidulated water for 1 hour. This helps draw minerals and collagen into the broth.
- After soaking, bring the pot to a boil. Skim off any foam that rises to the surface.
- Add all remaining ingredients to the stockpot.
- Return to a gentle boil, stir well, then reduce the heat to the lowest setting. Cover the pot.
- Simmer very gently for 4–6 hours.
- Strain the broth, discarding solids.
- Drink the broth warm or use it as a nourishing base for soups and simple meals.
Recipe Tips
• This broth will gel beautifully once chilled—that’s a sign of its healing, collagen-rich nature.
• Sip it plain, or add a pinch of sea salt just before drinking if desired.
• If you have a low appetite, small cups taken throughout the day are often better tolerated than a full serving at once.
• This broth is especially comforting during flu recovery, colds, or any time the body needs gentle nourishment.
Storing and Reheating
You can store your healing in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or freeze it for up to 3 months.
More Natural Remedies
Ancient Home Remedy for Colds and Flu
Our ancient Greek and Roman ancestors knew this recipe’s main ingredient had healing powers.
How to Make Turmeric Tea to Boost Your Immune System
Ward off colds and flu with this recipe using ground Turmeric powder or fresh Turmeric root.
How to Make an Alcohol-Free Lemon Hot Toddy
Make this natural home remedy with only three ingredients.
More Bone Broth Recipes
From My Northern Italian Mother’s Kitchen: Old Hen Broth & Pastina Soup
Savor the warmth of Old Hen Broth and Pastina Soup, a comforting Italian recipe passed down with love from my mother’s kitchen.
How to Make Simple Beef Stock from Scratch
This rich and flavorful beef stock is the perfect liquid base for homemade sauces and gravies.
How to Make Brown Beef Stock from Scratch
Use your homemade stock as a base to make braising vegetables, gravies, sauces, stews, and soups.
Farmhouse Teas (and Herbs!)
If you are looking for an excellent source for dry herbs for making natural remedies or for a comforting cup of warm tea, look no further than Farmhouse Teas. And even better, they are offering my sweet friends a 10% discount off their wide selection of herbal tea blends and individual dry herbs.
You can also use my discount code and links below to get the ingredients to make the following natural remedies that I’ve shown you how to make in earlier recipe videos.
- Anti-Inflammatory Drinks
- This Blog Post and Video
- Get the ingredients from Farmhouse Teas
- Herbal Acne Salve
- Star Anise Tincture
- Herbal Elixir
Backwoods Home and Self-Reliance
The Backwoods Home and Self Reliance printed magazines are two of our favorite publications, especially since they deal with topics of interest to traditional foods cooks and modern pioneers. You’ll even find articles on natural remedies too!
- Special Offer: The publisher of Backwoods Home and Self Reliance is offering my sweet friends 50% off subscriptions to their printed magazines. This is not a sponsored post. I love these publications, and I’m grateful you can get them at a discount.
Order YOUR COPY Now!
The Modern Pioneer Cookbook
Seasonal ingredients, traditional techniques, and nourishing recipes. Over 85 traditional, from-scratch recipes! Discover for yourself how you can use simple ingredients and traditional techniques to cook the modern pioneer way.
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The Modern Pioneer Pantry
Simple ingredients, timeless techniques, and a well-stocked pantry. Discover over 100 nourishing recipes to preserve food and turn pantry staples into homemade meals. Build a wholesome, traditional pantry—just like a modern pioneer!
Start Your Traditional Foods Journey
Sharing my passion for traditional cooking goes beyond my YouTube cooking school—it also comes to life in the pages of my cookbooks. Both of my books, The Modern Pioneer Cookbook and The Modern Pioneer Pantry, are proudly published by Penguin Random House.
The first is filled with time-honored recipes to help you create a traditional foods kitchen, while the second is your complete guide to home food preservation. Order both books today to start or continue your traditional foods journey.
Download Your Free 36-Page Pantry List
For an extensive list of the traditional foods you can make and purchase to stock your pantry, be sure to download my free 36-page Traditional Foods Pantry List. This comprehensive eBook is full of links to recipe videos, helpful articles, and more!
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Kitchen Academy Videos
How to Make Oatmeal Higher in Protein (The Old-Fashioned Way)
Turn simple oats into a hearty, protein-rich porridge.
The Only Traditional Recipes You’ll Ever Need!
Focus on traditional recipes with real food. Don’t chase trends.
Let’s Talk Akkermansia: A Tiny Helper for Big Gut Health
Discover how Akkermansia muciniphila supports gut and immune health—and how traditional foods help this mighty microbe thrive.
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Healing Broth for Feeding the Sick
Equipment
- 1 Large stockpot
- 1 Knife and cutting board
- 1 Fine-mesh strainer or colander
- 1 Large bowl or second pot for straining
Ingredients
- 6 Chicken Feet
- Water to cover chicken feet About 2 inches above the feet.
- 1 cup Extra-dry white vermouth Or 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 3 yellow onions, skin on, quartered
- 1 large head garlic sliced lengthwise to expose cloves
- 6 carrots, unpeeled, rough chopped
- 6 celery stalks, rough chopped
- 2 three-inch pieces fresh ginger, rough chopped Peeled, if not organic
- 1 bunch fresh oregano, rough chopped
- 1 bunch fresh thyme, rough chopped
- 10 whole black peppercorns
- 5 dried bay leaves
- 1 tsp red pepper flakes Optional
Instructions
- Place the chicken feet in a large stockpot and cover completely with water, allowing the water level to sit about 2 inches above the feet.
- Add the vermouth or apple cider vinegar. Let the chicken feet soak in the acidulated water for 1 hour. This helps draw minerals and collagen into the broth.
- After soaking, bring the pot to a boil. Skim off any foam that rises to the surface.
- Add all remaining ingredients to the stockpot.
- Return to a gentle boil, stir well, then reduce the heat to the lowest setting. Cover the pot.
- Simmer very gently for 4–6 hours.
- Strain the broth, discarding solids.
- Drink the broth warm or use it as a nourishing base for soups and simple meals.
Notes
- This broth is especially comforting during flu recovery, colds, or any time the body needs gentle nourishment.
- Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
- This broth will gel beautifully once chilled—that’s a sign of its healing, collagen-rich nature.
- Sip it plain, or add a pinch of sea salt just before drinking if desired.
- If appetite is low, small cups taken throughout the day are often better tolerated than a full serving at once.
Shop for My Favorite Items
Favorite Kitchen Supplies
- Favorite Aprons
- Spice Grinder
- Countertop Burner (On my kitchen island in many recipe videos.)
- Handheld Vacuum Sealing System
- Vacuum Lids
- Whisk
- Silica Gel Packets (Helps keep moisture from building up in your mix)
- Cast Iron Dutch Oven
- 8-Quart Slow-Cooker
- Fat Separator (Clever kitchen device to help you decant bone broth)
- Flour Sack Towels
- pH Strips (Helps you check on the acidity of your vinegar)
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Recommended Reading
Disclaimer:I am not a medical doctor, a medical professional, a dietician, or a nutritionist. All content found on the MarysNest.com website, including text, images, videos, eBooks or eGuides, social media, or other formats, were created solely for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or proper nutritional advice. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have watched in a video or read on this website. Use caution when following the recipe in this video. The creator and publisher of this video and website will not be held responsible for any adverse effects that may arise from the use of this recipe and method or any other recipe and method on this website or corresponding video channel.
