When the temperature drops, we all start to crave those cozy comfort foods that are synonymous with the winter months – hearty soups, warm curries and wholesome casseroles. It can also be a tempting time of the year to settle for take-away options and over indulge in unhealthy food.
Going that extra mile to source your healthy ingredients and spending time in the kitchen to create your meals will help keep you on the path of achieving your health and nutrition goals.
And who’s to say healthy can’t be delicious anyway!? These healthy winter recipes will give you all the comfort you want with some good-for-you ingredients as well.
Sweet Potato & Black Bean Shepherds Pie
Ingredients:
- 600g sweet potato, peeled and cut into small cubes
- Small splash of almond milk
- 230g black beans
- 230g red kidney beans
- x1 400g can tinned tomatoes
- 150g button mushrooms
- 4 spring onions, sliced
- 1 large red onion, peeled and finely diced
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- Teaspoon smoked sweet paprika
- Juice of 1 lime
Healthy Harissa Chicken, Lentil and Kale Tray Bake
Ingredients:
- 3 small carrots
- 2 large red onions
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh rosemary leaves
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tsp harissa paste
- 1 lemon
- 1 garlic clove
- 500g chicken tenderloins
- 400g can no-added-salt brown lentils
- 80g kale
- 160ml (2/3 cup) salt reduced chicken style liquid stock
- 90g (1/3 cup) labneh
Baked Salmon with Cauliflower Rice
Ingredients:
- 4 x 120g skinless salmon fillets
- 2 teaspoons grated ginger
- 2 teaspoons crushed garlic
- 2 teaspoons chilli paste
- 2 x 250g packets cauliflower rice
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 1 zuchinni
- 1/4 cup chopped coriander
- 120g kale leaves
Healthy Chille Con Carne
Ingredients:
- 1 brown onion, finely chopped
- 2 celery sticks, finely chopped
- 500g extra lean beef mince
- 3 tsp Mexican spice mix
- 2 tsp ground cumin
- 115g (1/2 cup) red lentils
- 400g can diced tomatoes
- 120g chargrilled capsicum strips
- 400g can black beans or kidney beans
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh coriander
- 2 long fresh green chillies, sliced
Minestrone Soup
Ingredients:
- 1 cup uncooked macaroni
- 3 cups diced onion
- 1 tablespoon chopped garlic
- 1 cup diced carrots
- 1 cup diced celery
- 1 tablespoon dry Italian seasoning
- ½ cup dry white wine
- 6 cups vegetable broth
- 1 small zucchini, diced
- 1 can whole peeled tomatoes
- 1 can red kidney beans
- ¼ cup chopped fresh basil
Healthy Tuna Mornay
Ingredients:
- 1 onion
- 2 celery sticks
- 1 large carrot
- 2 zucchini
- 200g green beans
- 2 tbsp plain flour
- 500ml (2 cups) reduced-fat milk
- 425g can tuna in spring water
- 40g (1/2 cup) grated parmesan
- 270g (2 cups) cooked brown rice
- 120g baby spinach leaves
Pumpkin Soup
Ingredients:
- 2 tbsp butter, ghee or coconut oil
- 1 onion
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1kg pumpkin
- 750ml chicken stock or bone broth (3 cups) or vegetable stock
- 270ml canned coconut milk (1 cup)
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Lamb and Chickpea Curry
Ingredients:
- 300 g diced lean lamb shoulder
- 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
- ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1 teaspoon chilli powder
- 1 tablespoon Madras curry powder
- 5cm piece of ginger
- 4 cloves of garlic
- 3 onions
- 10 curry leaves
- 2 x 400g tins of chickpeas
- 1 organic vegetable stock cube
- 1 x 400g tin of plum tomatoes
- ½ x 400g tin of light coconut milk
- 200g baby spinach
- 1 bunch of fresh coriander
Turkey and Brown Rice Burrito Bowl
Ingredients:
- 500g lean turkey breast mince
- 2 tsp ground cumin
- 2 tsp ground paprika
- 1 tbs no added salt tomato paste
- 3 large tomatoes
- 200g green beans
- 2 corn cobs
- 1 red capsicum
- 1 zucchini
- 2 cups brown rice
- 1/2 cup yoghurt
Healthy Spanish Chicken and Beans
Ingredients:
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp harissa paste
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 4 (about 250g) Free Range Chicken Tenderloins
- 125g green beans
- 400g can no-added-salt cannellini beans
- 1 small zucchini
- 50g (1/4 cup) pitted Sicilian green olives
- 400g can cherry tomatoes