Hearty and Healthy: Healthy Recipes to Stay Seasonal This Winter

Salad season is a ghost of the past, and while soups are satisfying and takeaways tempt, it can be hard to stay nourished and satiated in the colder months whilst still enjoying the season. If you’re looking for something satisfying and beneficial, why not incorporate these five healthy, seasonal, and delicious recipes into your winter menu? Packed with nutrients and flavour, these recipes can be made in minutes.

What better way to start the day than a sweet treat? Apples are in season, and there’s nothing cosier than a warm apple crumble. Dice your apples and slowly cook with brown sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon in a pot until slightly tender. Meanwhile, mix rolled oats with almond flour, flaked almonds, maple syrup, coconut oil, and a pinch of salt. Put your apples into an oven safe container, then your oat mixture, and a sprinkle of sugar, and bake until golden. Top with a dollop of vanilla yoghurt for breakfast, or ice cream for a tasty dessert.

Swap out your usual baked potatoes with loaded sweet potatoes for a hearty, nutrient-dense alternative, packed with fibre and vitamins. I recommend piling your plate with sautéed kale and leeks, crispy paprika chickpeas, toasted cashews, pomegranate seeds, and a tahini maple miso dressing for a scrumptiously seasonal lunch. Protein-packed chilli also pairs perfectly with sweet potato for a filling dinner, with a sprinkle of cheese, a generous dollop of sour cream, and a squeeze of lime.

Another high-protein, veg-packed dinner to keep you satisfied this season is Japanese Katsu curry, great for using up your left over vegetables. Finely chop an onion and cook with oil, garlic, and ginger until translucent. Add some roughly chopped veggies - I recommend potato, sweet potato, carrot, and pumpkin - and cover with stock. Throw in a Katsu curry cube and simmer until the vegetables are cooked through and the curry has thickened. Serve over noodles or rice with a protein- I recommend crispy tempura tofu.

Last but definitely not least, banana pancakes are a great way to use up overripe bananas and add vitamins to your dessert. Just mash a ripe banana and combine with flour, milk, sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon for the batter. Slice apples into rounds and remove the core from each, then dip into the batter and pan fry until golden. Dust with cinnamon sugar and drizzle with maple syrup for cinnamon banana and apple ring pancakes that are guaranteed to brighten your winter evenings.