Food

This is arguably one of the most comforting winter soups to savour. It’s simple to make and full of flavour, and it’s practically a meal in a bowl. Throw in some toasted pepitas  for a little added crunch and protein.

This soothing winter dish will satisfy all ages with its smooth comforting flavours. We added frozen peas for colourful fibre, but you can also use other favourites such as broccoli florets, sugar snap peas, or spinach.

This salad is amazingly versatile—and delicious. It’s all about the dressing, and knowing what to pull together to complement the dressing is simple. Start with a benign base such as couscous, rice, or orzo pasta; add some greens such as spinach, kale, chard, or collards; and sprinkle with a combination of toppings from your pantry. Drizzle with delicious creamy tahini dressing, and it all comes together—tastefully and beautifully.

The beauty of this sweet little treat is that it’s a recipe you can make from a well-stocked pantry. And even better: you can easily substitute with other pantry ingredients. For example, no dates in your pantry? How about dried figs? Or use your own homemade jam or compote. Just make sure your fruit filling is very, very thick and pastelike before assembling.

Looking for an easy meal? Waffles lend themselves as a base for every meal of the day. Breakfast? Dessert? Lunch? Even dinner. In our version, we’ve covered breakfast, lunch, and dessert, serving this recipe with dried fruit compote. But there are also savoury toppings and more ideas to dress up a waffle. Make a big batch and freeze; they’re easy to heat up for any meal.

Grains and cabbage are in this season. We’ve paired spelt berries with cabbage and toasted quinoa for a surprisingly upscale result. For this recipe, bypass the packaged shredded cabbage—it just won’t have the same results, or the price value. The trick? Buy a half or quarter head of cabbage and shave it ultra thin on a mandoline.  

Bold flavors, adaptable add-ins, and irresistible comfort food appeal make this a winter weeknight winner. Warming curry powder, chili, turmeric, and ginger add depth to seasonal vegetables and legumes for a stew that’s delicious over rice or served in a bowl with naan for dipping (or both!). Leftovers can be packed up and enjoyed for tomorrow’s lunch.  

Harissa is a North African spice paste that’s now readily available in stores, but it’s so easy and much more affordable to make at home. It’s commonly stirred into stews, soups, and the like, but it shines when turned into a sauce for pasta.

Cut and Paste

Saag paneer is a heady stewed spinach dish flecked with cubes of squeaky fresh cheese. This interpretation skips the cream, butter, and cheese while amping up the spices for an Ayurvedic and vegan-friendly comfort food dinner.

This deeply spiced take on chili con carne awakens taste buds with its punchy flavors. It’s made with highly digestible cooked vegetables and vegan proteins, along with a unique spice blend for warmth and nourishment.

Ayurveda focuses on balance, and there’s no better way to eat in equilibrium than with this warming blend of textures and flavors. Here, roasting brings out the naturally sweet qualities in carrots and asparagus, both served up with warm grains and tamarind-infused chickpeas.

You Do You

This beautiful dish is delicious as a standalone meal, but it also doubles as an impressive side. The deep red beet sauce is supremely good for heart health. And making matters easier is the fact that, if scrubbed well, you don’t need to peel the beetroots. Roasting softens the skin, which is then whirled into creamy perfection. There are loads of options for toppings, ranging from any variety of cheese (or none at all) to a wide assortment of toasted nuts.

Tip

A warming winter taco meal is everyone’s favourite. Our delicious hummus made from heart-healthy lima beans and spinach is an excellent way to fill up on healthy plant proteins. Lima beans help lower cholesterol and provide heathy fibre. Coupled with a medley of diced veggies, it becomes an über-healthy crowd pleaser!

From dark leafy greens to brightly coloured squash drizzled with a creamy avocado dressing, this dish is the quintessential heart-healthy meal.

Tip

Is there such a thing as a crispy heart-healthy cake wedge? We think so. In this chew-worthy snack, we’ve combined oats with coconut, a little flaxseed, and some nutty hemp hearts. Together they make a perfect treat that your heart will love.

Tip

For an easy weeknight dinner, sheet pan meals are perfect—this dinner can be assembled and eaten within 25 minutes! Salmon is an excellent heart-healthy star option. Coupled with little nugget potatoes, fresh beans, and diced yellow turnip, it becomes eye candy on a plate. The dazzling flavour of za’atar livens everything up! Although there are plenty of premade variations of this spice available, we’ve provided a tasty version you can DIY in a jiffy.

Tip

If you like to sleep in on the weekends and eat brunch instead of breakfast, this recipe is for you. You can whip up these scrumptious avocados the night before as long as you brush the cut edges with a little lemon juice and add a squeeze of citrus to the filling to prevent the avocados from oxidizing and turning brown. Cover them tightly in plastic wrap on a plate and store them in the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve them.

Flavour boost

Flourless chocolate cake became my obsession in the bustling kitchen of a gourmet restaurant where I worked in the early 90s. I was fascinated by the dense but creamy texture as well as the deep, dark fudgy flavour of this masterpiece. I experimented with different chocolates, sweeteners, number of eggs, and flavourings until I found the perfect combination. This should be the cake you serve when impressing and spoiling your guests is the goal. You might never use flour again.

Flavour boost

This drink gives you the same sensory satisfaction as your usual tall latte from Starbucks, but without the jolt: It’s caffeine free. Dandelion “coffee” anchors this healthy cup of comfort.

I love this dish for its great flavour, but also for its visual impact on the table. It is a perfect example of the senses working in union. You can’t hide the wonderful visual effect of the dish and then the joy of eating the textural contrast between the pieces of beetroot and the smooth yogurt. The chili provides a background lift, while the toasted caraway provides a second tier of bready flavour over the beetroot’s earthy sweetness. Carrot and Lime Leaf Kebabs and Beetroot and Coconut Dip recipes were extracted from Cooking for the Senses: Vegan Neurogastronomy by Jennifer Peace Rhind and Gregor Law, published by Singing Dragon. Order your copy at singingdragon.com.

There’s nothing more alluring than the scent of garlic emanating from the kitchen. And in winter, garlic-enriched foods are even more important to our well-being. There are a multitude of reasons to embrace the humble bulb. Not just because it adds depth to a dish, but also because of its abundant health kicks. Garlic has been studied for its potential to reduce cardiovascular disease risk; for its antitumour, antimicrobial, and antiviral effects; and for its benefit on high blood glucose concentration.

Just as cacao adds depth to mole sauce, it works wonders here too, bringing complexity, richness, and a pleasant, subtle bitterness to this comforting soup. A cool garnish of sour cream and mint provides a stunning contrast.

Tip

A chocolate salad dressing? How else would you dress a salad during this month of love? Don’t let the unusual flavour combinations of this salad dissuade you—juicy meat and mellow mozzarella are brazenly balanced with sweet-tart chocolate balsamic vinegar dressing. Blasting strawberries in the oven is a method to coax out more of their inherent sweetness as the flavour of the berries cooks down and concentrates. If desired, you can use chicken breast instead of turkey.

Tip

Two of Mexico’s greatest culinary exports, mole and tacos, come together in a festival of flavour and texture. Tempeh provides a plant-based meaty taco filling. Beer is an unconventional mole ingredient, but along with chocolate, it makes a nice bittersweet companion for the chilies. If Mexican-style cheeses are not available, you can use crumbled feta or dollops of sour cream.

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