Winter is one of the best seasons for cooking and eating, and we have plenty of recipes to satisfy your cold-weather cravings.
There's fast one-pot pastas, healthier hacks on traditional hearty fare, and meals that'll help when you're under the weather.
So warm yourself up by turning on the oven or stove, and stay well-fed and inspired this winter.
Creamy one-pot pasta with lemon and kale
A simple two-step recipe that'll be ready to eat in 30 minutes (or less). Julia Busuttil Nishimura is the genius behind this creamy one-pot pasta that requires very little shopping, and barely any washing up.
Biggest takeaway: If you can nail this technique, the flavour combinations are endless. The key is using ingredients that cook at the same time.
Pasta e fa*gioli
This pasta and bean soup is the comfort food equivalent of a warm hug. Made with simple and cheap ingredients, it's a hearty meal that's more than the sum of its parts.
Waste not: Using a Parmesan rind will amp up the flavour and limit your food waste, too.
Spicy pumpkin soup with coconut cashews
From Hetty McKinnon, a pumpkin soup you can get excited about. A few simple extras like curry paste, spices and coconut milk add a ton of flavour. Make the spiced coconut cashews for crunch.
Pre-dinner snack: When I made this, my friends were eating the spiced cashews by the handful. They'd work as a quick pre-dinner snack, too.
Cottage pie with plenty of veggies
Try a nourishing version of cottage pie from dietician and nutritionist Heidi Sze, that's filled with veggies. A family favourite, there's also the option of using lentils if you're looking to reduce your meat intake.
Get ahead: This recipe makes one giant pie that feeds eight. Or halve it, and freeze a pie for a rainy day.
Whole-roasted cauliflower with turmeric sauce
If you're craving something different, try trading a roast chicken for a whole roasted cauli instead. While it's baking, make a coconut and turmeric sauce, fry up some lentils, and get ready to enjoy a new kind of winter roast.
DIY sauce: Once you've learnt how to roast a whole cauli (it's super easy), try different sauces. Hetty suggests a lemony tahini one with black olives, balsamic-soaked sultanas and parsley.
Three-cheese pasta bake
There are two ways to make this cheat's version of spinach and ricotta cannelloni. Make it fast with store-bought pasta sauce or take the scenic route and make your own ricotta.
Customise bottled sauces: If you're using a bottle of pasta sauce, Hetty recommends making it your own by adding garlic, dried spices, harissa (for a spicy kick) or creme fraiche (if she's feeling fancy).
Sweet potato curry with chickpeas and lime
A mild and creamy curry that's great for kids. It uses the immunity-boosting combo of onion, garlic and ginger, to help you dodge colds and flus. The biggest game-changer? Serving it with noodles instead of rice.
Make it fast: Love a quick meal? Make sure you cut your sweet potato into 3cm cubes to cut down on cooking time.
Linguini with the easiest slow-roasted tomato sauce
A simple and decadent meal, this slow-roasted tomato sauce couldn't be easier. Roast tomatoes, garlic and a red onion on a tray, boil up some pasta and dinner is served. If you can't find basil, look for parsley instead.
Double batch: This is an easy recipe to double — it's just an extra tray of tomatoes in the oven, and the sauce freezes beautifully.
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Brown rice congee with crispy kale and chilli oil
Congee or 'jook' is a savoury rice porridge that's a staple in many Asian households and finding its way onto brunch menus too. Make it at home using brown rice and get creative when adding toppings.
Thick or soupy: Adjust the amount of liquid depending on your preferred consistency. I grew up eating a creamier jook and often start with 6 cups of liquid. Hetty prefers hers a little lighter so uses 8 cups.
Dark chocolate crinkle cookies
These chewy chocolate cookies have a hint of brownie. Curious about the fancy crackled shell? It comes from rolling the dough in icing sugar right before they're baked. The thicker the coating, the more dramatic the effect.
Freezer stash: Think of your future-self and freeze some rolled cookie dough for emergencies (the recipe makes 30-plus cookies). Save the icing sugar part for when you're just about to bake.
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