Winter treats to tingle your tastebuds

Winter calls for comfort food that is bursting with flavour. We asked our top Aussie food bloggers to reveal their favourite treats for a wintry day. The result? Four recipes that will warm you up from the inside out.

Red lentil dahl

Christina from Hungry Australian

This amazing food blogger couldn’t have said it better: This is the “perfect recipe for a rainy day.” Not only is this lentil dahl warm and delicious, but it’s also super nourishing — and as a bonus, all the spices will help you beat the sniffles. Winter staple, anyone?

Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 1.25 cups red lentils
• 1 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, diced
• 1 x 3-centimetre piece ginger, peeled and diced
• 3/4 teaspoon turmeric
• 1 can peeled tomatoes
• 2 cups hot water from the kettle
• 1 teaspoon garam masala
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon honey

Directions:

1. Wash lentils in running water, discarding the debris. Drain.
2. Heat up large frypan until smoking hot and then add oil.
3. Add onions, garlic and ginger and turn down to medium heat.
4. Cook, stirring often, for a few minutes until onion softens. Add turmeric, mixing in thoroughly.
5. Continue cooking for a minute or so and then add lentils.
6. Stir to combine and keep cooking for a minute before adding tomatoes, garam masala and water.
7. Simmer over low heat for 15 minutes and then add salt and honey, mixing in thoroughly.
8. Serve with steamed rice, papadums and banana, yoghurt and honey raita.

Roast pumpkin and asparagus ravioli

Stacey from The Veggie Mama

If meat is off your menu, it’s well worth checking out this blog. This pumpkin and asparagus ravioli is loaded with all the good stuff: vegies, spices and a creamy sauce that will take the edge off any winter’s day. Plus, it can be whipped up in next to no time.

Ingredients:

• Cheese and spinach ravioli
• 1/2 pumpkin, diced and roasted for 20 minutes or so
• 1 bunch fresh asparagus
• A few handfuls fresh spinach
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 300 millilitres single cream
• Salt
• Pepper
• Parmesan cheese

Directions:

1. In a frying pan, gently sautee the garlic in butter for two minutes.
2. Add cream and bring to a boil. Simmer and add salt and parmesan to taste.
3. Cook ravioli according to packet directions (or however you do it if you make your own).
4. Drain ravioli and divide among bowls. Top with spinach, sauce, roasted pumpkin, asparagus and a grinding of black pepper. Offer the parmesan cheese around for folks to add their own.

Up next: If you’re craving something sweet >>