Winter’s cold chilly nights are approaching soon and if there’s one thing that I love that the season brings along with itself is the seasonal foods. I tend to associate winters a lot with foods since our calorie intakes slightly increase in this season to combat our boosted metabolism which is needed to keep our bodies warm. Winters are also the time when our activities are minimized and we tend to stay inside more. With a lack of activity and sunlight, our bodies fall cold, and we become prone to sickness. To combat this, we’ve compiled a list of healthy meals in winter you should try this season to keep yourself warm and healthy indoors. Keep in mind that these meals are prepared with seasonal foods that will fulfill your lack of nutrition and help you protect against seasonal sickness.
Shepherd’s Pie
One of the classic British dishes, Shepherd’s Pie is one of my favorite things to eat in winter and you, too, should be trying it out on a cold cozy weekend night this season. Most people would call it a casserole since Shepherd’s Pie has no element that would otherwise qualify it as a ‘Pie’ but that’s beyond the topic now. The meat and vegetables used in the dish make it a perfect meal, dense with all the macronutrients such as protein, carbs, and healthy fats that will help you keep your body warm this winter. The recipe is straightforward and involves a meat base blended with vegetables as puree topped with a potato mashed. Shepherd’s Pie may sound like a complicated and overwhelming meal to make but that’s not the case. It’s easy to make even for beginners as compared to other meat dishes like Beef Wellington.
Miso Salmon
I can’t emphasize how much fish is beneficial in the wintertime. Breeds like Salmon, Trout, and others are also season in winters which makes it the perfect time to eat it. One of the most healthy and delicious meals that will keep you nice warm and cozy in this upcoming cold is Miso Salmon. It’s a simple yet elegant dish that takes only a short while to prepare. To cook, start off with a Miso Paste and incorporate some ingredients like garlic and chillis to make it flavorful.
Poach your salmon in the broth and add some vegetables too for a complete nourishing meal. Serve with mushrooms for an even better taste. Miso Salmon is the perfect meal to end off a tiring day of work It will heat up your body and is a good source of protein that helps with your recovery and is one of Gordon Ramsay’s recommendations in things to eat in winter too.
Beef Nihari
For our third pick, it’s time to go a little desi. Originating from the Mughal empire from the subcontinent, Nihari is one of the most palatable, savory, and flavorful things to eat. It is a beef stew that is cooked slowly over time and enjoyed with a side of bread known as naan. Nihari is a heavy meal and it will take a real effort to chow down a whole bowl. Aside from being tasty, Nihari has a significant cultural value to it and is a must-try recipe if tourists decide to visit Pakistan.
While replicating the local variant of the traditional dish is very hard since the original version is a bit hard to nail, homemade nihari is just as good and once topped off with cilantro and lemon, it’s a perfect cold day meal. The dish takes some time but involves roasting beef with a mix of spices and cooking onions in the same pot after removing the meat. To end it up, add ginger and turmeric paste and cook alongside the beef in a pressure cooker till the meat becomes soft and tender. Finally, add a flour paste to the stew to bring out the traditional thickness found in Nihari.
Gingerbread
The first dessert on this list is none other than Gingerbread, one of the most iconic dishes in the world. The iconic gingerbread cookie cutout holds significant importance during the winter holidays. Over the years, it has also become a pop culture icon, portrayed as a living being in movies like Pinocchio.There are two main Gingerbread variants, one being a loaf and the other being a cookie. Gingerbread Loaf is quite easy to make and there are a lot of recipes on how to make Gingerbread but the key component is Ginger and Nutmeg which are warm spices ideal for the cold weather. People make the cookie version in almost the same way, and many YouTube recipes showcase how to make their best version of gingerbread cookies. These are the perfect endings after Grandma’s stuffed Turkey on Christmas dinner.
Potato And Leek Soup
Now winters aren’t complete without a soup. These are warm refreshing liquid calories that will help with digestion and make your mood way better. For those who don’t like to eat meat, Potato and Leek soup is a healthy vegetarian option to keep yourself warm and cozy these winters. There are a few non-dairy options too, depending on the recipe. This dish primarily uses potatoes and leeks cooked in a broth with thyme, garlic, and other ingredients to enhance its flavor and aroma. Blend them together, and you’ll have your one-pot cold day meal, perfect to enjoy with a slice of bread or a spoon on a chilly winter evening.
Butternut Squash and Sausage Pasta
This list wouldn’t be complete without pasta and for the last pick, I’ve decided to go with Butternut Squash and Sausage Pasta. The best part about this pasta is easy it is easy to make and pretty much customizable too. You can replace the sausages in this dish with chicken or even beef. Honestly, it is one of my comforting foods especially because of Butternut Squash, which is one of the best vegetables to go along with pasta. The recipe is straightforward, all you have to do is cook your pasta, roast and blend your butternut squash, and prepare your sausage/chicken on a pan with the choice of your aromatics and just mix it all together. Top off with some parsley and parmesan cheese and here you have it, one of the most savory and healthy meals for winter.
