Winter: Recipes in Season

Red berries in winter
Image by m01229

When the cold winter wind blows through the trees and the ground freezes hard as a rock, nothing warms a body faster than hearty comfort food. Soups and stews are favorites during the snowy time of year, as are braised dishes and roasted meats and vegetables. And holiday feasting has its own place among mid-winter dining pleasures.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking there is no good, fresh produce available during the winter months. Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and greens are at their peak of sweet flavor. Root vegetables and avocadoes come into their own as well. A wide variety of citrus fruit adds a bright note to an otherwise bleak landscape of fruits. And shellfish are abundant.

Here is a list of items that are abundant, fresh and seasonal for winter.

December Ingredients

Vegetables

Beets | Cabbage | Cauliflower | Celery | Celery Root | Collard Greens | Chanterelle Mushrooms | Parsnips | Rutabagas | Turnips | Winter Squash

Fruits

Apples | Coconuts | Dates | Grapefruit | Grapes | Persimmons | Pomegranates | Tangerines

Fish and Seafood

Clams (U.S. West Coast) | Dungeness Crab | Oysters

January Ingredients

Vegetables

Avocados | Beets | Broccoli | Brussels Sprouts | Cabbage | Cauliflower | Celery | Celery Root | Chanterelle Mushrooms | Greens | Parsnips | Rutabagas | Turnips

Fruits

Apples | Dates | Grapefruit | Kiwi | Lemons | Limes | Oranges | Papayas | Pears | Pommelos | Tangerines

Fish and Seafood

Clams (West Coast) | Oysters | Tuna, Bigeye

February Ingredients

Vegetables

Avocados | Brussels Sprouts | Cabbage | Celery | Celery Root | Chanterelle Mushrooms | Greens | Parsnips | Rutabagas | Salsify | Turnips

Fruits

Apples | Dates | Grapefruit | Kiwi | Lemons | Limes | Oranges | Papayas | Pommelos | Tangerines

Fish and Seafood

Clams (West Coast) | Oysters | Tuna, Bigeye

International Recipes for Winter

Try these warming wintertime dishes.

Soon Dubu Jjigae 
(Korean spicy tofu stew)
Bowl of soon dubu jjigae with poaching egg

Soon Dubu Jjigae 
(Korean spicy tofu stew)

Kugelis 
(Lithuanian savory potato pudding)
Plated serving of kugelis

Kugelis 
(Lithuanian savory potato pudding)

Ash-e Jow 
(Persian barley bean soup)
Bowl of Persian barley and lentil stew

Ash-e Jow 
(Persian barley bean soup)

Toshikoshi Soba 
(Japanese New Year soba noodles)
Bowl of Japanese New Year soba noodles

Toshikoshi Soba 
(Japanese New Year soba noodles)

Poule au Pot 
(French chicken in a pot)
Poule au Pot (French chicken in a pot)

Poule au Pot 
(French chicken in a pot)

Mulled Wine 
(English spiced wine)
Simmering mulled wine with spices and fruit

Mulled Wine 
(English spiced wine)

Classic Bread Stuffing 
(American seasoned bread side dish)
Casserole dish with bread stuffing

Classic Bread Stuffing 
(American seasoned bread side dish)

Oyster Stew 
(American shellfish stew)
Bowl of oyster stew

Oyster Stew 
(American shellfish stew)

Dong Gu Dofu 
(Chinese braised tofu with mushrooms)
Bowl of simmered tofu and mushrooms.

Dong Gu Dofu 
(Chinese braised tofu with mushrooms)

Shuan Yang Rou 
(Chinese Mongolian hotpot)
Mongolian hot pot table set up of ingredients

Shuan Yang Rou 
(Chinese Mongolian hotpot)

Aquavit 
(Swedish herb-infused vodka)
A bottle of homemade aquavit.

Aquavit 
(Swedish herb-infused vodka)

Roast Turkey with Pan Gravy 
(American holiday turkey)
Beautifully roasted holiday turkey

Roast Turkey with Pan Gravy 
(American holiday turkey)

Candied Sweet Potatoes 
(American sugar-baked sweet potatoes)
Casserole dish of candied sweet potatoes

Candied Sweet Potatoes 
(American sugar-baked sweet potatoes)

Gratin Dauphinois 
(French potatoes baked with cream)
Baking dish of partially served gratin dauphinois

Gratin Dauphinois 
(French potatoes baked with cream)

Apfelmus 
(German applesauce)
A spoonful of chunky applesauce from a bowl.

Apfelmus 
(German applesauce)

Dušené Zelí 
(Czech braised cabbage)
Seasoned, braised cabbage

Dušené Zelí 
(Czech braised cabbage)

Töltött Káposzta 
(Hungarian stuffed cabbage rolls over sauerkraut)
Hungarian stuffed cabbage rolls showing filling

Töltött Káposzta 
(Hungarian stuffed cabbage rolls over sauerkraut)

Tourtière 
(French Canadian pork pie)
Freshly baked tourtiere

Tourtière 
(French Canadian pork pie)

Crêpes Suzette 
(French thin pancakes with orange sauce)
Plate of crepes Suzette with sauce and orange segments

Crêpes Suzette 
(French thin pancakes with orange sauce)

Sufganiyot 
(Israeli Jewish filled donuts)
Sufganiyot jelly-filled donuts

Sufganiyot 
(Israeli Jewish filled donuts)

Sauerbraten 
(German marinated beef pot roast)
Slices of sauerbraten with gravy and potato dumplings

Sauerbraten 
(German marinated beef pot roast)

Xihu Cu Yu – West Lake Fish 
(Chinese fish in sweet vinegar sauce)
Xihu Cu Yu (Chinese West Lake vinegar fish)

Xihu Cu Yu – West Lake Fish 
(Chinese fish in sweet vinegar sauce)

Canard à l’Orange 
(French roast duck with orange sauce)
Sliced duck a l'orange on a plate with orange segments

Canard à l’Orange 
(French roast duck with orange sauce)

Lanttulaatikko 
(Finnish mashed rutabaga casserole)
Half-served casserole dish of lanttulaatikko

Lanttulaatikko 
(Finnish mashed rutabaga casserole)

Cranberry Pudding 
(American steamed Christmas pudding)
Flaming Christmas cranberry pudding

Cranberry Pudding 
(American steamed Christmas pudding)

Lefse 
(Norwegian potato flatbread)
Fresh lefse on a plate

Lefse 
(Norwegian potato flatbread)

Rumtopf 
(German rum-soaked fruit dessert)
Rumtopf (German rum-soaked fruit dessert)

Rumtopf 
(German rum-soaked fruit dessert)

Law Bok Gow 
(Chinese steamed radish cake)
Plate of Chinese steamed radish cake

Law Bok Gow 
(Chinese steamed radish cake)

Coq au Vin 
(French chicken braised in wine)
Coq au vin on a serving plate

Coq au Vin 
(French chicken braised in wine)

Sorrel Punch 
(Jamaican hibiscus flower beverage)
Dried hibiscus flowers

Sorrel Punch 
(Jamaican hibiscus flower beverage)

Pasteles 
(Puerto Rican savory cakes in banana leaves)
Puerto Rican pasteles, wrapped and unwrapped

Pasteles 
(Puerto Rican savory cakes in banana leaves)

Erdélyi Rakott Káposzta 
(Hungarian pork and sauerkraut casserole)
Sauerkraut for sale

Erdélyi Rakott Káposzta 
(Hungarian pork and sauerkraut casserole)

Blaukraut 
(German braised red cabbage)
Blaukraut on a plate with sausages

Blaukraut 
(German braised red cabbage)

Köttbullar med Gräddsås 
(Swedish meatballs with cream sauce)
Plate of Swedish meatballs

Köttbullar med Gräddsås 
(Swedish meatballs with cream sauce)

Puchero 
(Spanish meat and chickpea stew)
Puchero in the style of the Canary Islands

Puchero 
(Spanish meat and chickpea stew)

Shou Mian – Longevity Noodles 
(Chinese egg noodles in broth)
Chinese longevity noodles

Shou Mian – Longevity Noodles 
(Chinese egg noodles in broth)

Zuppa di Lenticchie 
(Italian lentil soup)
Bowl of lentil soup

Zuppa di Lenticchie 
(Italian lentil soup)

Panforte 
(Italian Christmas honey fruitcake)
Panforte (Italian Christmas honey fruitcake)

Panforte 
(Italian Christmas honey fruitcake)

Hong Shao Rou 
(Chinese red-cooked pork)
Red-cooked pork with a scoop of rice

Hong Shao Rou 
(Chinese red-cooked pork)

Yorkshire Pudding 
(English savory puff pudding)
Individual Yorkshire puddings

Yorkshire Pudding 
(English savory puff pudding)

Hoppin’ John 
(American rice and black-eyed peas)
Skillet with hoppin' John

Hoppin’ John 
(American rice and black-eyed peas)

Sopa de Ajo 
(Spanish garlic and bread soup)
Bowl of sopa de ajo on a table with sunglasses and napkin

Sopa de Ajo 
(Spanish garlic and bread soup)

Stekt Gås 
(Swedish roast Christmas goose with pan gravy)
Swedish roast goose on a platter

Stekt Gås 
(Swedish roast Christmas goose with pan gravy)

Linzertorte 
(Austrian jam tart)
Linzertorte on platter with a serving cut out

Linzertorte 
(Austrian jam tart)

Oysters Rockefeller 
(American oysters with green sauce appetizer)
Plate of oysters Rockefeller

Oysters Rockefeller 
(American oysters with green sauce appetizer)

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