Food

These recipe excerpts are from Cathy Katin-Grazzini’s new book, Love the Foods That Love the Planet. Reprinted with permission from Health Communications, Inc. Photography by Giordano Katin-Grazzini.

Rich, luscious chocolate with sea salt and hazelnuts—spoonfuls of luxury you’ll crave again and again. Indulgent chocolate and hazelnuts bring skin-supporting antioxidants and minerals to this velvety dessert that’s good for you too!

Tender, flaky salmon with an umami-rich glaze and perfectly charred broccolini make this a satisfying, wholesome dinner you won’t get enough of. Omega-3s from the salmon and nutrients from the broccolini work together in this sweet and savoury delight.

This rustic chicken sandwich is loaded with flavour and nutrients, paired with crispy homemade chips for a satisfying, age-defying meal. Juicy herb-roasted chicken, tangy mustard, and crispy ranch-seasoned chips—everything you could want in a homey, comforting sandwich!

A bowl of comfort, this creamy soup pairs nutty, slightly sweet cauliflower and meaty white beans with golden croutons and crunchy Parmesan crisps. This soup is loaded with skin-loving nutrients and is finished with a crispy Parmesan tuile for a rich, savoury crunch.

Earthy lentils, fresh herbs, and creamy goat cheese come together in this irresistible galette that’s as beautiful as it is delicious. This rustic galette and zesty side salad, rich in fibre and minerals, are designed to nourish from the inside out—comfort food that loves you back.

Meet one of paella’s lesser-known cousins: delicious rice, studded with clams and green peas in a rich broth of tomato, smoked paprika, and saffron. Cooked in a similar fashion to a risotto, but with a soupier result, this dish makes a wonderful evening meal that feels both simple and sophisticated. Have it at home with the family or make it the star of a dinner party. Serve with crusty bread.

This soup is inspired by Spain’s spinach and garbanzos, a thick stew of chickpeas and spinach. In this version, we’ve used healthful collard greens in lieu of spinach. Spanish smoked paprika is the key to the rich, smoky tomato broth that brings a ton of flavour to a set of simple ingredients. The layers of flavour develop with each addition of ingredients, and the result is a robust soup that’s sure to warm up any frosty winter day.

A classic winter soup, this version has deep flavour and layers of spice that proffer subtle heat. A few spoonfuls of store-bought harissa are the secret to subtle warmth tempered by warm cinnamon and cumin. A finishing touch of lime yogurt gives a fresh and zingy flavour that will have you coming back for more.

These “fancy” beans on toast provide a quick and easy dinner that comes together in minutes, all in one pan. Toast your favourite crusty loaf, pile it high with this moreish mixture, and you’re all set with a nourishing and tasty dinner or lunch. A base of leeks, shallot, and garlic is heightened with the zingy flavour of miso and mustard before adding beans and kale and a bit of vegetable stock.

This spicy curry soup is packed with aromatics like onion, garlic, and ginger and scented with makrut lime leaves. Thinner than a standard curry that you’d serve with rice, this soup is chock full of protein with hearty rockfish and mussels as well as vegetables, like sweet potato and spinach. Lime juice provides a dash of acid to balance the rich flavour of coconut milk. Serve with lots of cut limes to squeeze over soup bowl before eating.

With a couple of Italian sausages, a little onion, a few mushrooms, and a head of broccoli, you’re well on your way to a nourishing soup. This hearty combination of simple ingredients is the perfect thing to warm up a winter’s afternoon or evening. Select an Italian sausage with plenty of fennel to flavour this soup.

These rich, velvety bites are a delightful bonbon, combining the deep flavour of dark chocolate with the surprising creaminess of black beans. Packed with nutrients, they’re the perfect indulgence for anyone looking to share something special with their special someone, without compromising on health goals.

Indulge your loved ones this Valentine’s Day with a delightful plant-based twist on a beloved classic. This innovative recipe swaps the traditional dairy cream filling for a tofu-based one and uses rye crispbread instead of the traditional cookies. Rye crackers have been shown to help benefit heart and digestive health and are a great low-sugar alternative in this tiramisu preparation.

This little indulgence is the perfect high-protein treat to share with someone special. Packed with protein and fibre, gluten free, and naturally coloured, this sweet treat may become your favourite all year long. This fudge also freezes wonderfully for times when the urge for a little something sweet hits.

This take on a creamy, crustless cheesecake satisfies your chocolate cravings without derailing your health goals. Cottage cheese has been having a moment lately, and for great reason. Its mild flavour lends itself to so many culinary preparations, and the protein found in cottage cheese has been shown to help build muscle.

Some things are just better together, and this recipe embodies that concept deliciously. Addictive, crispy roasted chickpeas and rich dark chocolate are harmoniously married together as candy clusters. These two-bite morsels not only satisfy your sweet tooth, but also pack a powerful fibre and protein punch, thanks to the chickpeas. While decadent in their simplicity, feel free to gild the lily by incorporating chopped dried fruit, nuts, shredded coconut, or puffed rice cereal.

Vegetable platters are plentiful at our holiday gatherings. This one is gently spiced with chaat masala, a salty and sour spice mix commonly used to season chaat (street food snacks) in and around South Asia. It’s worth seeking out, ordering online, or making yourself. Once you have it in hand, you’ll find you want to add it to popcorn, Chex Mix, potato chips, and other such snacks. In this recipe, it provides a zippy flavor boost for fresh winter vegetables. The chaat masala is both sprinkled on top of the vegetables to add more flavor as well as blended with yogurt to create a dip.

I resisted the urge to include a chopped salad recipe in each of the seasons, even though I love them so much. They are both hearty and fresh and are a good use of some pantry staples. This recipe starts with salami cooked until crisp and then sautéed with chickpeas and spices to add a warm, soft crunch.

This stunning dish is full of flavors that are both hearty and light. The cauliflower is seared and then roasted so you get a bit of char and sweetness. They are served on top of Mushroom Mole and topped with a bright salad of cilantro and radish simply dressed in lime and olive oil.

Several years ago, some dear friends and I spent a week in Oaxaca, Mexico, eating and marveling at the artistry and community of that incredible place. On one of the days during our visit, we took a mole class. The day started at the market, gathering our many ingredients, and then, back at the place where we were staying, we started a fire to toast the chiles and spices on the unfinished terra-cotta comal, a round cooking griddle that can be used directly over a fire. The smoke was filled with spice, and soon the sesame seeds were popping. I’ve taken the essence of what I learned in that class and pared it down just enough so that it can be made in much less time while still maintaining the integrity of the complex flavors mole is known for.

The amount of chocolate here may seem excessive to some, but my ideal hot chocolate is nearly thick enough to eat with a spoon. I will slowly sip on a small quantity of intensely rich hot chocolate, capped with a generous amount of cold, loosely whipped heavy cream, and be at my happiest. With the touch of earthy rosemary mingling with the chocolate—well, I’ve found my new favorite way to get cozy in winter.

Break into this savoury-sweet chocolate bark, each piece a perfect blend of winter warmth and crunch. Break off a piece and reward yourself with the rich flavours of sesame miso—sweet, salty, and complex, it’s a winter delight that’s both comforting and sophisticated with every bite.