Piping hot soups and hot pots are a great way to warm up when the weather is cold. These dishes also offer the perfect opportunity to pack in a lot of vegetables.

According to traditional Chinese medicine, certain vegetables are considered to be ¡°warming¡± to the body, while others are regarded as ¡°cooling.¡±

In general, vegetables that are lower in water content, especially root vegetables and other underground growing plants, are warming, while leafy greens, cucumbers, eggplant and tomatoes that are high in water content have a cooling effect. Many underground vegetables also happen to be in season in winter. Simmering them in a flavorful broth enhances their warming properties.