Brrrrrr. It’s been a pretty cold winter so far and the intense Sydney rain hasn’t helped. But something which is always guaranteed to make you feel a little better — and a lot warmer — is a nice, hot, steaming bowl of something hearty. So, we thought we’d share the love (and the warmth) and let you know our favourite warming winter meals for the week.
Shchi (cabbage and caraway soup): Vegan
A simple and extremely delicious cabbage soup which is incredibly satisfying. It comes from Nistisima: The Secret to Delicious Vegan Cooking from the Mediterranean and Beyond by Georgina Hayden
This serves 4-6 people and takes about 25 mins to prepare then 1 hour of simmering to ensure it’s tasty, tasty, tasty!
Ingredients
2 onions
4 garlic cloves
1 leek
2 carrots
400 waxy potatoes
500g white cabbage
4 tbsp oil
2 tbsp tomato puree
1 tsp caraway seeds
¼ tsp sweet smoked paprika
1.5 litres vegetable stock
2 bay leaves
½ bunch dill
Rye bread to serve
Method:
Peel and chop the onions and garlic.
Trim and slice the leek then wash off any dirt in a colander.
Peel the carrots and potatoes before chopping them into 2cm pieces, then put them to the side but keep them separate.
Next, halve the cabbage, remove the core, and shred the leaves finely.
Put the oil in a large casserole dish or saucepan over a low-medium heat.
Add the garlic, onions and leek and fry until softened and sticky (about 15 mins).
Stir in the tomato puree, caraway seeds and paprika, stir and let it fry for 1 minute before adding the shredded cabbage, potatoes, veg stock and bay leaves.
Turn up the heat and bring to the boil.
Season generously, then reduce the heat to a simmer.
Leave it simmering for about an hour until the veggies are tender and the broth is rich.
After an hour, add more seasoning if you need before leaving it to rest for about 10 mins before serving.
Serve with rye bread and sprinkle dill to taste.
Enjoy!
Goulash Soup
A classic Hungarian stew is warming, comforting, and absolutely delicious. It‘s just what you need when it’s cold outside. It’s a meal in itself but if you feel super hungry, you can add a side of mash potato or freshly baked bread to leave you feeling full.
The full recipe and method can be found at deliciousmagazine.co.uk
This recipe serves 6 and takes about 15 mins to prepare and 60-75 mins to cook.
Enjoy!!
Baked meatballs
This delectable beauty is from donalskehan.com/ Donal is an award-winning Italian-American TV host and food writer. And this recipe is scrumptious on a cold winter’s evening.
This recipe serves 6. And takes about 40 mins to prepare and 1.5 hours to cook, plus time to cool.
Click here for the full recipe
Charred Chicken Ramen
Another delicious delight from Donal Skehan, this one will have you slurping and smacking your lips with glee. This is not a traditional recipe by any means as that would take days to make the broth. Just make sure you buy the best chicken stock you can find or make your own.
Serves 4 and takes approx 30 minutes
Find the full recipe here
Now, the last few recipes are from a well-known English chef who is known for his passion for wholesome, healthy eating on a budget. Jamie Oliver always comes up with some crackers and these are no exception.
Versatile Veggie Chilli
This heary and delicious vegetarian alternative to meat chilli is perfect for a cold winter night. You can add as many veggies as you like and serve it with rice, sour cream, cheese and guacamole.
Serves 4 and takes about 1 hour to cook
Find the full recipe here.
Minestrone Soup
An Italian classix, this is a great soup to make when you’re trying to use up all the ingredients in your fridge. It’s also great to freeze and keep for another cold and rainy day. And you can choose to make it vegetarian, or add bacon if you eat meat.
Serves 8 and takes about 30 mins to cook
Find the full recipe here.
Proper Chicken Pie
There’s something quite special about a homemade pie shared with family. So bake this one, pour a glass of wine and enjoy with some fresh green leafy vegetables. Delicious!
Serves 12 and takes about 2 hours to prepare and cook.
Find the full recipe here