There’s nothing better, after a heavy night of drinking, than a good hearty meal to help heal you of your hangover blues.
Conventional wisdom tells us to reach for cold pizza or a greasy fry up to help “soak up” all the alcohol in your system. It’s well intended, but a little misguided as far as advice goes. There are, however, certain foods that are scientifically proven to help cure a hangover!
First of all, let’s talk science! Typical hangover symptoms: sensitivity to light, nausea, headaches, muscle ache, diarrhea, and decreased motor skills — are all caused by changes in body chemistry. This includes hormones, chemical reactions within the body, and the toxic chemicals in alcohol.
There are certain foods that are better for balancing out the chemicals in your body than others. After waking up with a pounding head, aim to refuel the body with necessary fluids and nutrients like fructose, vitamins, amino acids, and minerals that can help break down toxins or lessen the body’s negative reaction to the chemicals in booze.
10 Delicious Hangover Food Recipes
We’ve received a really good response to our hangover breakfast recipes so we’ve decided to compile 10 more delicious ‘hangover food‘ recipes that aren’t just for breakfast, but work well as lunch and/or dinner too!
Some of these may require a bit of pre-planning, as in grabbing the ingredients before you start drinking. The extra effort will be worth it when you’re nomnoming on your delicious food while all of your friends moan about their dry mouth and “banging headaches”.
Calabacitas Enchiladas (Corn, Squash and Green Chile)
How delicious does this look?!
Calabacitas is a traditional New Mexico early fall dish of summer squashes, corn, and green chile. However, you’ll find several variation, some with tomatoes and others cheese. Frequently, you find Calabacitas as a fall special in New Mexican restaurants. The basic calabacitas recipe is SO easy and quite tasty.
Get the Recipe for Calabacitas Enchiladas Here
Corned Beef Hash
I love me a good corned beef hash!
This iteration of the classic breakfast hash is served at The Greenbrier resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. It’s elegant topped with poached eggs, hollandaise, and chopped chives, and served alongside toast points.
Get the Recipe for Corned Beef Hash Here
Congee (Rice Porridge)
Made famous in the hangover movie, I can personally attest to congee being an excellent hangover healer. It’s also good when you’re feeling under the weather.
This comforting porridge, often eaten for breakfast in China and other parts of Asia mixed with fish or meat, gets a jolt of flavor from its garnish of scallions, chiles, and shallots.
Get the Recipe for Congee Here
Mexican Tripe Soup
I’m not a huge fan of tripe, but give me some of this delicious looking soup any day.
I thought it was time to tackle the mother [soup] of them all: Menudo. This tripe soup is often considered the ultimate hangover cure, similar to many bone broth soups found worldwide.
Get the Recipe for Mexican Tripe Soup Here
Viet Hapa Pho
This Vietnamese favorite is a great hangover cure!
In an attempt to connect to the Vietnamese side of my family, I’ve studied my mother’s pho, or Vietnamese noodle soup, to come up with my own. It may not be authentic (as in, prepared by a full-blooded Vietnamese), but its intentions are good.
Get The Recipe for Viet Hapa Pho Here
Kimchi Jigae (Kimchi Soup)
Mmmmmm… Kimchi soup!
Given my recent sojourn in Korea I thought it only appropriate to do a post I’ve been meaning to do for a very long time: Kimchi Jigae (김치 찌개). Depending on who you ask, you may see it transliterated as Kimchi Chigae, Kimchi Soup or Kimchi Stew, but it all refers to the same bubbling, red hot cauldron of soul satisfying soup made with kimchi, pork and tofu.
Get The Recipe for Kimchi Jigae here
Bibimbap
New to me, this delicious Korean dish looks like a delightful hangover cure!
If you are Korean you may have some fond memories of getting hungry in the middle of the night and mixing up a bowl of rice with whatever banchan(side dishes) you can find sitting in the fridge. This is what bibimbap is essentially. Just mix rice, side dishes, some red pepper paste, sesame oil, an egg and you’re done. It’s one of the most popular dishes in Korea and also why we love to fly Korean Air. (They serve bibimbap and it beats any other kind of airplane food hands down.)
Get the Recipe for Bibimbap Here!
Hangover Soup
A definite staple, this hangover soup will have you feeling better in no time at all.
“This soup was a HUGE hit!!! It was a bit laborious to prepare but worth it. I think next time I’ll eliminated the pork and increase the polish sausage, but otherwise, a delicious, hearty soup.”
Get the Recipe for Hangover Soup Here
Huevos Rancheros
My favorite Mexican dish, Huevos Rancheros are like pancakes; they make everything better!
These fried eggs smothered in tomato sauce can be eaten morning, noon, or night.
Get the Recipe for Huevos Rancheros Here
Spanish Potato Frittata
A good Spanish omelet is a no-brainer after a big night on the town.
Tortilla española is everything we love about Spanish cooking—lusty, elemental, assuredly simple. Traditionally this Iberian omelet gets its heft from thin-sliced potatoes, but in the cookbook Cocinar En Casa (El Bulli, 2003), the chef Ferran Adrià proposes an audacious update.