As we step into Winter, the weather gets colder, the days get shorter, it’s time for some warming and hearty dishes to keep you snug and cosy. Some typical recipes for this season include hot soups/stew with fresh bread, nourishing pies, casseroles which contain plenty of nutrient-rich vegetables (e.g. carrots, leeks, potatoes). For those that enjoy sweet treats, drinks such as hot chocolate and bakery/dessert recipes are perfect for getting into the festive spirit. This blog will provide you with some ideas for savoury dishes, bakery/desserts and hot drinks ranging in skill level so that anyone can get inspired.
For savoury dishes this season it is common to enjoy warm soups/stews and plenty of comfort food involving potatoes or pasta. Root vegetables, such as carrots, turnips, parsnips etc, are also great for Winter as well as providing nutrients to keep safe and healthy. Some ideas for recipes include:
Typical ingredients: Dried red lentils, carrots, celery, leeks, tomato puree, fresh thyme, garlic cloves, vegetable bouillon powder, ground coriander.
Steps:
- Tip ingredients into large pan. Pour over 1½ litres boiling water. Stir well.
- Cover and leave to simmer for 30 mins until vegetables and lentils are tender.
- Ladle into bowls and eat straightaway.
Vegetable & lentil cottage pie
Typical ingredients: Leek, carrot, onion, celery, olive oil, red lentils, vegetable stock, peas, salt, black pepper, tomato puree, parmesan cheese, sweet potato
Steps:
- Preheat oven 180C/gas 4. Trim, wash and finely slice leek. Peel and dice carrot, onion and celery.
- Heat splash of oil in medium pan on medium heat, add leak, carrot, onion and celery. Pop lid on and cook 5-10 mins. Add lentils, stock and peas, bring to boil and stir regularly. Once boiling, reduce to simmer and cook 10-15 mins.
- Season to taste with sea salt and black pepper, add tomato puree. Scrub sweet potato clean, then coarsely grate into a bowl with a little oil and a good few gratings of Parmesan.
- Transfer filling to 15cm-20cm ovenproof dish, sprinkle with sweet potato. Bake for 15-20 mins, or until potato topping is golden and filling is piping hot.
Typical ingredients: Red onions, garlic, aubergines, courgettes, red/yellow peppers, tomatoes, fresh basil, olive oil, fresh thyme, plum tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, lemon.
Steps:
- Peel and cut onion into wedges. Peel and finely slice garlic. Trim aubergines and courgettes. Deseed peppers and chop into 2.5cm chunks. Roughly chop tomatoes. Pick basil leaves, then finely slice the stalks.
- Heat 2 tablespoons oil in large casserole pan or saucepan over medium heat. Add chopped aubergines, courgettes and peppers (in batches) and fry for around 5 mins, or until golden and softened but not cooked through. Spoon cooked veg into large bowl.
- To the pan, add onion, garlic, basil stalks and thyme leaves with another drizzle of oil if needed. Fry for 10-15, or until softened and golden.
- Return cooked veg to the pan and stir in fresh and tinned tomatoes, balsamic and a good pinch of sea salt and black pepper.
- Mix well, breaking up tomatoes with back of a spoon. Cover pan and simmer over low heat for 30-35 mins, or until reduced, sticky and sweet.
- Tear in basil leaves, finely grate in lemon zest, adjust seasoning if needed. Serve with hunk of bread of steamed rice.
Typical ingredients: Sunflower oil, pork sausages, butter, onions, sugar, flour, tomato puree, red wine vinegar, beef stock, peas, potatoes, milk, butter, mature cheddar.
Steps:
- Heat oil in frying pan. Gently cook sausages over medium/high heat for 10-12 mins, turning until browned on all sides. Transfer to plate, put butter in pan and heat until sizzling. Tip in onions, stirring into the butter, sprinkle over the sugar and fry for 8-10 mins until onions are golden. Scatter over the flour and stir to make a paste, then add tomato puree. Cook for a minute, then add vinegar, pour in stock and bring to boil. Turn down to simmer. Tip any juices from sausages, cut sausages into thick slices and add to the pan. Simmer everything for 5 mins until a glossy onion gravy. Tip mixture into baking dish.
- For the mash, tip potatoes into pan of cold salted water and bring to boil, then turn down and simmer for 10-12 mins or until just cooked. Drain and leave for a minute. Pour milk into pan and bring to simmer, then tip in drained potatoes and butter, and mash thoroughly. Season to taste.
- Top sausages and gravy with the mash, starting from the edge of the dish and working into the middle. Use fork to scrape lines in the topping and scatter over the cheese. Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Bake the pie on a tray for 35-40 mins until top has browned. Leave to cool for 5 mins before scooping straight from the baking dish. Serve with peas if you like.
For bakery/dessert recipes, adding cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and other winter spices not only make the house smell delicious, but also provide a festive feeling perfect for the cold. Dried fruits, such as those found in mince pies and panettones are also common for the season. Honourable mentions also include shortbread, brownies, fruit pies and cinnamon rolls. Baking also allows for some fun decorating to make your dessert look more festive and creates an activity to enjoy with friends and family. Some inspiration includes:
Typical ingredients: Brown sugar, flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, salt, butter, milk, molasses.
Steps:
- Add flour, brown sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and salt to mixing bowl and mix.
- Add butter pieces and use pastry blender to cut butter in until mixture resembles fine meal.
- With mixer on low speed, gradually add molasses and milk and mix until combined, about 30 seconds.
- Divide dough in half, forming each into a ball. Wrap each in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight, or place in freezer for 20 mins until firm.
- Preheat oven to 180C/160 fan. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Remove one dough sheet from fridge/freezer and place on counter. Roll out dough, until ½ inch thick. Cut gingerbread men and place on baking sheets.
- Refrigerate for 5 mins.
- Bake cookies until set in centres and dough barely retains and imprints when touched very gently with fingertips, 8-11 mins.
Remove cookies to wire rack. Allow to cool to room temp before frosting.
Typical ingredients: Butter, sugar, maple syrup, eggs, bananas, flour, baking soda.
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 180C/160 fan. Grease two 5cm deep, 6.5cm x 12.5cm (base) loaf pans.
- Using mixer, beat butter, sugar and maple syrup in bowl until light and fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating after each addition until just combined.
- Transfer butter mixture into large bowl. Add banana. Stir with wooden spoon until just combined. Sift flours and baking soda over butter mixture. Stir until just combined.
Spoon mixture into prepared pans. Smooth top. Bake for 45 mins or util skewer inserted in centre of loaves comes out clean. Stand in pans for 5 mins. Turn onto wire rack to cool. Serve warm or toasted with spread.
Typical ingredients: Pastry: flour, butter, sugar, egg.
Filling: mincemeat.
Steps:
- For pastry, rub butter unto the flour, mix in golden caster sugar and pinch of salt.
- Combine pastry into a ball, don’t add liquid, knead it briefly. Use immediately or chill for later.
- Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Line 18 holes of two 12-hole patty tins, by pressing small walnut-sized balls of pastry into each hole.
- Spoon mincemeat into pies. Take slightly smaller balls of pastry and pat them between hands to make round lids big enough to cover pies.
- Top pies with their lids, pressing edges gently together to seal.
- Brush tops with beaten egg. Bake for 20 mins until golden. Leave to cool in tin for 5 mins, remove to wire rack. To serve, lightly dust with icing sugar.
Finally you can finish off your dessert or meal with a cosy hot drink:
Hot chocolate
Typical ingredients: cocoa, brown sugar, milk/dark chocolate (finely chopped), milk or non-dairy alternative.
To make extra festive, add ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg, decorate with whipped cream, drizzle/syrup and marshmallows.
Caramel Latte
Typical ingredients: espresso, milk or non-dairy alternative, caramel syrup.
Decorate with whipped cream and caramel syrup.
Comfort food and warming recipes are perfect for this time of year. It’s important to eat plenty of vegetables and nutrient-rich foods and ensure you stay active to combat the harsh weather and Winter colds/flu. Hopefully this blog has given you some inspiration and starting points to start thinking about what to make this Winter, however there are plenty of recipes on Google, TikTok, YouTube and Instagram if you’re interested in cooking more over the Winter break.