Confinement is a period of postnatal recovery for new mothers in Malaysia. During this period, it’s important for mothers to consume nutritious foods to aid in their recovery and to provide nourishment for their babies. This is where confinement food comes in.
Confinement food is a special diet that mothers who have just given birth follow for a period of time, usually between 30 to 40 days. While there are many confinement food delivery services available, cooking your own confinement food can be a more cost-effective and customizable option. Don’t know where to start? You have come to the right place! In this article, we’ll provide some easy and nutritious recipes for cooking your own confinement food.
Easy and nutritious confinement food recipes that you can try
1. Ginger Chicken Soup
Ginger is a common ingredient in confinement food as it is believed to promote blood circulation and reduce inflammation. This soup is very easy to prepare and provides a highly nutritious meal.
Ingredients:
- 1 whole chicken, cut into pieces
- 5-6 slices of ginger
- 10 cups of water
- 1 tablespoon of sesame oil
- Salt to taste
Instructions:
- In a large pot, add chicken pieces and ginger slices.
- Pour in water and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat and let simmer for 1-2 hours.
- Remove chicken pieces from the soup and shred the meat.
- Add shredded chicken back into the soup and season with sesame oil and salt.
2. Stir-Fried Spinach with Garlic
Spinach is a great source of iron and other essential vitamins and minerals. This simple stir-fry recipe is a tasty and easy way to incorporate spinach into your confinement diet.
Ingredients:
- 2 bunches of spinach, washed and drained
- 4 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon of cooking oil
- Salt to taste
Instructions:
- Heat the cooking oil in a wok or pan over medium heat.
- Add minced garlic and stir-fry until fragrant.
- Add spinach and stir-fry until wilted.
- Season with salt and serve.
3. Red Dates and Longan Tea
Red dates and longan are commonly used in confinement food as they are believed to help replenish blood and energy. This tea recipe is easy to make and provides a warm and comforting drink.
Ingredients:
- 10-12 pieces of red dates
- 10-12 pieces of dried longan
- 6 cups of water
- Honey or rock sugar (optional)
Instructions:
- Rinse the red dates and dried longan.
- In a pot, add water, red dates, and dried longan.
- Bring to a boil and let simmer for 30-45 minutes.
- Remove from heat and strain the tea.
- Add honey or rock sugar to taste, if desired.
4. Red snapper with ginger and wine
This is a fish dish that is rich in protein and omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for tissue repair and brain development. It also uses ginger, sesame oil, and glutinous rice wine, which are common ingredients in confinement food that help warm the body and improve blood circulation.
Ingredients
- 1 red snapper fillet
- 20g ginger (finely chopped)
- 2 cloves garlic (chopped)
- 2 tbsp sesame oil
- 2 tbsp hong zao (red glutinous wine leaves)
- 1 tbsp glutinous rice wine
- 100ml water
- ½ tbsp light soya sauce
- ½ tbsp brown sugar
- 1 stalk coriander leaf
- 3 stalks lettuce leaves
- Dash of salt and pepper
Instructions:
- Marinate fish with salt and pepper.
- Heat sesame oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Fry ginger and garlic until fragrant.
- Add hong zao, glutinous rice wine, water, light soya sauce, and brown sugar. Bring to a boil.
- Add fish and simmer for about 15 minutes or until cooked through.
- Garnish with coriander leaf and serve on a bed of lettuce leaves.
5. Kale with mushrooms and eggs
This is a vegetable dish that is high in iron, calcium, and vitamin C, which are important for blood production, bone health, and the immune system. Kale is one of the “warmer” vegetables that can be eaten during confinement. Mushrooms add flavor and texture, while eggs provide additional protein.
Ingredients:
- 6 large eggs
- 1 cup shredded cheese (I used mozzarella)
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 1/4 cup tapioca flour (or substitute arrowroot, rice flour or all-purpose flour)
- 3 cups kale (finely shredded)
- 5 oz baby bella mushrooms (chopped)
- 1/4 yellow onion (diced)
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- Olive oil
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 375°F and grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, cheese, cottage cheese, feta cheese, tapioca flour, salt, and pepper until well combined.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat some olive oil and sauté onion and mushrooms until soft and browned about 15 minutes.
- Add kale and cook until wilted, about 5 minutes.
- Spread the kale and mushroom mixture evenly over the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
- Pour the egg mixture over the kale and mushroom layer and spread it evenly with a spatula.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden and set in the center.
- Let it rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
Final Thoughts
Cooking your own confinement food can be a rewarding and cost-effective option for new mothers. Plus, by preparing some easy and nutritious recipes at home, you can enjoy a variety of dishes that will help you replenish your energy, boost your immunity, and promote you and your little one’s well-being. Try any of the recipes above and do not be afraid to customize them to your liking. Confinement food does not have to be boring or bland; it can be satisfying and tasty as well!
**If you are opting for a hassle free meal, check out our list of confinement food providers: https://twiddlesteps.com/listing-category/food/
