It’s the time of year when warming comfort foods are the best remedy for the cold winter months. Some of the best organic recipes make use of in-season vegetables, such as kale, leeks, parsnips, carrots, and cabbage. For a lighter dish, a hearty organic vegetable soup can sooth the soul. Stews, savory pies, and roasted veggies also make for a great family dinner.
Below, Eden Foods reviews some of the best organic dishes for cold weather dining.
Vegetable and Bean Cottage Pie
A meatless alternative to a comfort food classic, switching out the filling of this dish for a mixture of vegetables and beans in a tomato-based sauce still makes it a winner. The fluffy mashed potatoes on top add a nice crunch if placed under the broiler before serving.
Try using butter, cannellini, or pinto beans, otherwise, a tin of mixed beans also works well. Organic carrots, peas, and onions are also a great addition as the veggie element for the filling.
Winter Vegetable Soup
A soup is a great way to make use of any spare vegetables that may go to waste. With a flavorful stock, rich vegetables, and spices there is no better winter warmer. In-season organic carrots and parsnips can add sweetness, with cabbage, potatoes, and celery working perfectly to bulk things out and add depth of flavor.
Winter vegetable soup once made can also be stored in the fridge and reheated when needed, or frozen in batches to last the entire season.
Sweet Potato and Black Bean Chili
Spice can be the warmth you need after coming in from a long day in the snow, so making a winter chili is a great call. With filling of sweet potato, creamy black beans that soak up the spicy sauce flavors, zingy tomatoes, and other veggies like celery and bell peppers, it can easily become a firm family favorite.
For extra protein, tofu can be added, or it does just as well without.
Roasted Pumpkin and Lentil Salad
Food doesn’t have to be hot to still be great to eat during cold weather. Roasting pumpkin brings out the flavors and creates a great texture for this dish. This can then be tossed with lentils and a zesty and warming dressing with lemon juice, honey, and Dijon mustard.
Cranberry and Orange Upside-Down Cake
When it comes to desserts, no two fruits work better together than sharp cranberries and zesty oranges or clementines for a cold weather treat.
Creating an upside-down cake by cooking down the cranberries in sugar to make a syrup at the bottom of the cake pan rather than incorporating them into the batter leads to a sweet, sticky, and flavorful topping once turned out. This also helps to create a light sponge which can be a great alternative for people that might not like heavier fruit cakes.
Other Winter Inspiration
There are many other dishes out there that make great use of organic, seasonal ingredients to brighten up any winter day. Consider looking for a recipe or serving ideas on the packaging of your organic products or speak with the local produce store for their recommendations on how to make the best of winter fruits and vegetables.
