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.

Dong Gu Dofu 
(Chinese braised tofu with mushrooms)

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

Law Bok Gow 
(Chinese steamed radish cake)

Linzertorte 
(Austrian jam tart)

Galbi Jjim 
(Korean braised beef short ribs)

Pasteles 
(Puerto Rican savory cakes in banana leaves)

Blaukraut 
(German braised red cabbage)

Yorkshire Pudding 
(English savory puff pudding)

Dresdner Stollen 
(German Christmas fruitcake)

Toshikoshi Soba 
(Japanese New Year soba noodles)

Ghapama 
(Armenian rice-stuffed and baked whole pumpkin)

Shepherd’s Pie 
(English-Irish meat pie with mashed potato topping)

Daube de Boeuf Provençale 
(French Provencal beef braised in red wine)

Sorrel Punch 
(Jamaican hibiscus flower beverage)

Fabada Asturiana 
(Spanish sausage and bean stew)

New England Clam Chowder 
(American clam and potato stew)

Semmelknödel 
(German bread dumplings)

Lanttulaatikko 
(Finnish mashed rutabaga casserole)

Oysters Rockefeller 
(American oysters with green sauce appetizer)

Bigos 
(Polish hunter’s stew of meat, cabbage and sauerkraut)

Latkes 
(Israeli Jewish potato pancakes)

Irish Stew 
(Irish lamb and potato stew)

Zuppa di Lenticchie 
(Italian lentil soup)

Paprikás Csirke 
(Hungarian chicken paprikash)

Eggnog 
(American egg and cream Christmas beverage)

Aquavit 
(Swedish herb-infused vodka)

Tourtière 
(French Canadian pork pie)

Oyster Stew 
(American shellfish stew)

Minestra de Ceci 
(Italian chickpea and pasta soup)

Jambalaya 
(American Cajun-Creole rice with chicken, shrimp and andouille sausage)

Borshch 
(Ukrainian beet soup)

Brasato al Chianti 
(Italian beef braised in red wine)

Gołąbki 
(Polish, stuffed cabbage rolls)

Brussels Sprouts Gratin 
(English roasted Brussels sprouts with cheese sauce)

Southern Greens 
(American Southern-Soul simmered leafy greens)

Fondue 
(Swiss melted cheese dish)

Fagioli all’Uccelletto 
(Italian white beans with tomato and sage)

Ragù Bolognese 
(Italian tomato-meat sauce)

Carbonade Flamande, or Vlaamse Stoverij 
(Belgian beef and beer stew)

Stekt Gås 
(Swedish roast Christmas goose with pan gravy)

Shchi 
(Russian cabbage soup)

Hasenpfeffer 
(German stewed rabbit)

Torta di Mele 
(Italian apple torte)

Cranberry Sauce 
(American cranberry compote)

Puchero 
(Spanish meat and chickpea stew)

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