Winter is fast approaching and this means many things. Most of us will be looking to make ourselves as warm and comfortable as possible, as the days will be drawing in closer, the temperatures will be dropping and we’ll be facing more harsh weather conditions. We’ll make change to our homes, what we wear and – the topic we’re going to focus on today – what we eat. Sure, we may have some firm favourites that stay in our meal cycle year round, but often, you’ll find that most people tend to lean towards more wholesome, filling and warming dishes as we work our way through fall and into the winter. Here are a few ideas that you might want to take into consideration for the months ahead!
Chilli
Who doesn’t love a big bowl of chili? Believe it or not, chili originates from San Antonio, Texas. First made at the beginning of the 19th century, it was originally a simple stew made using chili peppers. It was commonly sold by “chili queens” who were women who cooked huge pots of chili at home before going to the public market to sell individual portions at a low cost. There are various different types of chili to choose from. From chili con carne (chill with meat) to chili non carne (a vegetarian and vegan alternative). Find a good chili con queso recipe here.
Soups
A food that many of us automatically associate with the winter is soup. Soup is packed with nutrients and is definitely warming. It’s also easy to make and you can make it in bulk, putting additional portions in tupperware and freezing it for defrosting later. There are endless soup recipes out there, from tomato soup to chicken noodle soup, cream of mushroom soup, oxtail soup and so much more. Whatever your tastes, there’s going to be a soup that ticks all of your boxes. All you’ll likely need is a good blender to make yours creamy and smooth.
Stews
Stews are quite similar to soups, but they tend to feature a broth and more chunky vegetables. You can make stews with meat (such as a beef stew featuring chunks of beef, beef broth and a range of vegetables) or a vegetarian or vegan stew (which will be very similar, but will have vegetable broth and the same vegetables instead). Common vegetables to include in a stew include potatoes, parsnips, swede and carrots. You may want to add some beans or pulses, such as white beans. You may also want to add pearl barley. For an irish stew, consider adding some Guinness. The alcohol will cook off, but the flavour will remain. Many people enjoy dumplings in their stews too. These are made with suet (or vegetable suet if you are making a vegetarian or vegan stew).
Hopefully, some of the ideas above will make their way into your winter recipe meal schedule. They’re versatile, easy to make and will keep you nice and cost and full!