Winter warmer recipes

What a wonderful time of the year...for comfort cooking ❄️👨‍🍳

It's time to bring out the Winter warmers to keep cosy this season. From viral hits to quick-and-easy favourites, here are our top picks that will warm your hands and soul. 

Fondue 🫕

Hot, delicious and fun to eat (especially with friends), there are so many ways you can experiment with fondue instead of using classic cheese. 

Pizza fondue 🍕

Think making a full homemade pizza is too much hard work? Turn it into a dip! 

INGREDIENTS

• 180g soft cheese
• 10g grated parmesan
• 100g grated mozzarella
• Olive oil
• 200g pizza sauce or passata
• 7-8 slices of pepperoni (optional)
• Garlic bread, breadsticks or crostini (to serve)

METHOD

1. Add soft cheese to a bowl and beat with a whisk to loosen. Whisk in parmesan and half the mozzarella, then season.
2. Oil a 15-18cm round baking dish, spread the mixture over the base. Pour on pizza sauce/passata to cover the soft cheese. Sprinkle over the rest of the mozzarella. Add pepperoni and drizzle with olive oil. 
3. Bake the dip for 25-30 minutes at 200ºC, or until bubbling and golden.
4. Leave to cool slightly then start dipping! 

Gravy fondue 🥦

Think Sunday dinner...but dipping style! Make life easier by using instant gravy for your dip and keep it hot, or try making your own after cooking your meat. 

INGREDIENTS

• Finely chopped vegetables (e.g. carrots, onion and celery)
• Flour
• Red wine
• Stock
• Herbs (e.g. thyme and bay leaves)

METHOD

1. Remove the meat from the roasting pan.
2. Fry your vegetables in the same pan on high heat, until caramelised.
3. Add flour and stir until light brown. 
4. Add wine and let it reduce.
5. Gradually pour in stock to your preferred consistency.
6. Simmer for a few minutes. For a browner appearance, add soy sauce or balsamic vinegar. Add your herbs for more flavour.
7. Strain the mixture into a jug, pressing down the veg to release the juices.
8. Serve steaming and hot.

All that's left to do is dunk your ingredients for the perfect 'help-yourself' roast! 

Lasagna soup 🍝

You might have seen this viral TikTok sensation before, but have you actually tried it? With a shorter cooking time than a traditional lasagna but even saucier, this is a great recipe to try over the holidays. 

INGREDIENTS

• 1 onion (finely chopped) 
• 4 garlic cloves (minced)
• 1lb ground beef OR Italian sausage OR both (half and half)
• Seasonings for your taste (salt, pepper, oregano, parsley, basil, red pepper flakes, cayenne) 
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 4 cups chicken broth
• Jar of pasta/marinara sauce
• 1/2 box of lasagna noodles/broken lasagna sheets
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 cup mixed parmesan and mozzarella

METHOD

1. Fry onions and garlic in a saucepan on high heat. 
2. Once sautéed, add your meat. When slightly browned, add in your seasonings and mix. If you like a bit of spice, try adding cayenne or red pepper flakes for a kick. 
3. Add tomato paste. After it has deepened in colour, add your broth and pasta/marinara sauce. Bring this to a boil. 
4. Once boiling, add in lasagna sheets. Add heavy cream, any herbs and cheese. 
5. Cook for 30 minutes or until pasta is al dente.
6. Top with extra cheese and tuck in. 

Red lentil and aubergine Dhal 🌶

Incorporate a new plant-based favourite into your cooking arsenal this year, with this flavour-filled Dhal recipe. 

INGREDIENTS

• 1 large onion (diced)
• 1 aubergine (chopped)
• 180g dried red lentils
• 3 gloves garlic (minced)
• 1 tbsp coconut oil
• 1 tsp (each) garam masala, curry powder, cumin and turmeric
• 1 litre vegetable stock
• 1 tin full fat coconut milk
• 1 tin chopped tomatoes
• Fresh coriander and chilli flakes (to serve)

METHOD

1. Heat coconut oil in a pan and add onions and garlic. Sauté on medium heat until browned. 
2. Add spices and cook for a further 3 minutes.
3. Add aubergine, lentils, stock, coconut milk and chopped tomatoes. Cover and simmer on low heat for 35 minutes.
4. Serve with extra coconut milk, coriander and chilli flakes.
5. Enjoy with a fresh naan, chapati or crusty bread. 

Cinnamon roll mug cake 🍰

If you have a sweet tooth, there's nothing better than a hot dessert to warm you up on an evening. This mug cake recipe is fast, cheap and super simple to make.

INGREDIENTS

For the batter:

• 6 tbsp plain flour
• 3 tbsp granulated sugar
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 60ml warm water
• 40ml oil
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

For the syrup:

• 1/2 tbsp melted butter
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon

METHOD

1. In a bowl, whisk all batter ingredients together until smooth.
2. In another small bowl or ramekin, mix together all syrup ingredients until combined.
3. Pour 1/2 the cake batter into a mug. Swirl half of the cinnamon syrup mix on top using a piping bag or spoon. 
4. Pour over the rest of the batter and smooth it out using a teaspoon. Add the rest of the cinnamon syrup on top.
5. Sprinkle sugar and cinnamon on top.
6. Microwave on medium (400W) for 1 minute 20 seconds. Eat hot. 

Contact:

Find more delicious recipes at @ualcatering.