Are you feeling that drop in temperature yet? As the winter chill sets in, we find ourselves craving comforting dishes. With winter officially here, it’s time to break out the slow cooker and stock pots. When it comes to keeping warm during this season, soups and stews do the job well. After all, a bowl of hot soup at the end of the day is the ultimate joy during the colder months. Whether you prefer a light, clean soup with clear broth and simple ingredients or a thick, creamy chowder or a rich, hearty stew, we’ve got some fabulous recipes using our Winter Essentials to get you through this time of the year.
January is National Soup Month and what better time to kick off the start of a New Year than by celebrating all things warm, soothing and delectable? Though sometimes an overlooked course, soup can be eaten as both an appetizer and a main dish. Our wonderful winter soup and stew recipes are both scrumptious and simple enough to put together where you’ll want to ditch the canned stuff for good.
Slow Cooked Winter Squash Stew
When it comes to cold, chilly weather, the slow cooker is your best friend. After all, slow cooker recipes are easy for feeding a crowd without the mess or fuss in the kitchen. All you really need to do is prep your ingredients, toss them into the cooker and forget about it until it’s done. In the wintertime, one of our little victories is coming home to find warm, comforting stew simmering away right on time for dinner. This recipe is made with butternut squash, Mini San Marzano Tomatoes and finished off with our Steamed Black Eyed Peas for a healthy and delicious family meal.
Don’t be intimidated by the thought of making your own wontons. It’s simple and is part of this incredibly light yet comforting wonton soup recipe by Chef Martin Yan. Once you’ve mastered wrapping your wontons with our wonton wrappers, you’ll want to add this foolproof recipe to your weekly dinner rotation. This is a healthy Chinese classic that’s full of tasty favorites like gai lan, water chestnuts and bamboo shoots. The result is a warm, inviting soup that tastes better than anything you’d find at a Chinese take-out restaurant.
Blackeyed Pea Stew in Puff Pastry Cups
What do you get when you combine blackeyed peas with puff pastry cups? One amazing appetizer! Puff pastry cups are a fun and elegant way to serve soups and stews. Blackeyed peas can be eaten all year round but we especially like to eat them during the start of a new year because they bring good luck and prosperity. This homemade stew is packed with tons of flavor and nutrients from organic carrots and other wonderfully healthy ingredients.
Potatoes are one of those magical vegetables that goes well with virtually any recipe. One of our favorite ways to use them is in soup. Their starchiness and heartiness lend themselves to many incredible soup recipes. In fact, this Potato and Leek Soup by Lisa of Simple Pairings is one of those recipes that really allow the vegetables to shine. The earthy yet buttery flavor of our Dutch Yellow Potatoes complement the mild and sweet leeks, which give this soup its brilliantly vibrant green color.
Nothing warms the body up like a hearty helping of Irish beef stew! This is a traditional take on a beloved classic that can be eaten all winter long well into St. Patrick’s Day. Although this stew is simple to prepare, its complexity of flavors and heartiness makes it one of those unforgettable comfort foods that make us think of home. Besides carrots, Russet potatoes and pearl onions, we also throw in some Guinness Extra Stout Beer to give it an authentic Irish flair. This step is totally optional but it does well in tenderizing the beef and giving it an extra robust flavor.
Biglieri Butternut Squash Soup
We love butternut squash for its many uses. From roasting to mashing, this versatile vegetable makes a most wonderful seasonal ingredient. The sweet, nutty flavor of this winter squash lends itself to many incredible dishes. One of our favorite butternut squash recipes to make during the colder months is this rich and creamy butternut squash soup. The squash is first sautéed in a pan with butter and organic tomatoes to bring out its delicious caramelized flavors. Top it off with a dollop of sour cream for a classic presentation and you’re done.
Slow Cooked Acorn Squash and Garbanzo Bean Soup
Acorn squash paired with garbanzo beans are a winning combination and really shine in our slow cooker soup recipe. If you’re looking for more ways to use chickpeas in your recipes, then look no further than our Peeled and Steamed Garbanzo Beans. These beans are conveniently ready to eat right out of the package and can be added to all kinds of soups, stews and casseroles. We add these garbanzo beans as the last step in this recipe, after the soup has been simmering on the slow cooker for a couple of hours.
Lentils are one of those superfoods we can’t get enough of. Not only are they packed full of nutrients, they’re also extremely versatile too. Lentils can transform any dish into a healthy one, including this winter soup. Our Winter Lentil Soup is basically comfort in a pot and is made with our Steamed Lentils from our Steamed Line. Like our Steamed Garbanzo Beans, they are also ready to use in virtually any recipe.
What is your favorite wintertime soup? What are some other comfort foods you like eat during the winter season?