Although spring is finally here, there can be some chilly days. For those evenings only comfort food will do. Here are our favorite satisfying snacks, delicious dishes and restorative recipes to enjoy.
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Grilled cheese and chutney sandwich
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Classic lasagna
You can’t go wrong with lasagna – layers of silky pasta, creamy sauce and a rich meat ragù. The cooking time for this recipe is mostly hands-off. Just leave the meat sauce to slowly cook.
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Roasted pork belly with pears and thyme
Roasted pork belly with pears and thyme is the perfect roast. Fall-apart pork belly and crispy crackling pairs perfectly with sweet pears and vegetables roasted in cider and herbs. There’s little hands-on time and the results will be worth the wait.
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Coconut chicken noodles
This Burmese dish, ohn no khauk swe, is lightly spiced, rich with coconut and sure to blow away any cobwebs on a chilly evening. You can make the chicken curry in advance then, when ready to eat, serve with crispy fried noodles, hard-boiled eggs, chili flakes and cilantro.
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Smoky chicken and black bean stew
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Banana and peanut butter crumble
A twist on a classic fruit crumble, this version combines caramelized bananas and sticky dates with the crunchiest peanut butter crumble topping and cardamom custard. On the off chance it isn’t polished off straight away, it’s just as delicious eaten as an indulgent breakfast with a dollop of yogurt.
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Throw-together roasted tomato pasta
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Tarka dal
There are many versions of this north Indian dish, as the name literally means spiced, flavored lentils. This recipe is infused with cumin seeds, turmeric, garam masala and chilies.
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Chicken pot pie
Packed with tender chicken and colorful vegetables, and topped with a flaky shortcrust pastry lid. You can vary the vegetables according to season and availability, and there’s no need to make the pastry from scratch – shop-bought is fine.
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Baked rigatoni with meatballs
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Cauliflower soup
Creamy, cauliflower soup is always a winner but especially when it’s served with cheesy, dough bites on the side. Make a double batch and keep some in the freezer to have on hand whenever you need a warming bowl.
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Stuffed potato skins
Nothing screams comfort more than creamy mashed potato and crispy spud skins. Simple, delicious and filling, you can easily adapt the flavors to use up whatever other ingredients you have lurking in your fridge. We love the combination of feta and scallions.
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Chicken soup and dumplings
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Plantain and chickpea curry
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Eggplant chili traybake
Eggplants are really good at taking on flavors and here they’re mixed with chili, cumin, chickpeas and red kidney beans, then topped with more eggplant and bubbling cheese to make a delicious one-pot traybake.
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Mushroom and lentil pie
This mushroom and lentil pie is utterly satisfying. Lentils provide a filling base, red wine adds richness and dried mushrooms, stock and Marmite (yeast extract spread) gives it its umami flavor. The dish is made more irresistible topped with creamy celeriac, parsnip, carrot and swede mash.
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Potato gratin
You can never go wrong with buttery, creamy, golden potato gratin. Break through the crisp top to reveal the soft, comforting grated potato below. There’ll be second helpings all round.
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Smoked sausage tagliatelle
This Swedish comfort food classic is usually served with rice but this recipe uses pasta and a few capers in the sauce for a bit of a kick. The smoked sausage gives it an extra layer of rich flavor.
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Chocolate carrot cake
This twist on a traditional carrot cake is filled with chocolate chips, orange zest and warming spices like cinnamon and cardamom. Plus, the icing on the cake is the best brown butter cream cheese frosting you’ve ever tasted and shavings of milk chocolate.
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Duck pie
A hearty, warming duck pie which is topped with mashed potato and cheese. It also uses a nifty shortcut – shop-bought confit duck legs. This would be great served with a green salad, green beans or carrots.
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Pork and onion curry
Sweet and mild, this curry dish is full of caramelized onions, tender pork, ginger and a splash of soy sauce. The secret to getting it right is the low and slow simmer which makes fall-apart meat and an irresistibly sticky sauce.
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Spicy beef chili
Chili is a slow cooker classic for good reason. A low and long cooking time allows flavors to mingle and produces a well-rounded dish. Just add guacamole, sour cream and rice, and dinner is served.
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Roast leg of lamb with pecorino and garlic
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Classic moussaka
A traditional recipe in Greek and Cypriot cuisines, this is one of those dishes that everyone has a variation of. You could make it with pork, beef, a mix of the two, or lamb. Whatever you choose, it’ll be utterly delicious.
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Toffee apple and salted pretzel rocky road
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Pumpkin curry
A comforting dish that shows off hearty squash, this pumpkin curry is a winner for cooler evenings. You can use any winter squash you like – it’s very good made with kabocha squash or crown prince.
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Plum and blackberry bake
Inspired by friands (small, light and moist almond cakes), here the batter is tipped into a baking dish and cooked whole. The fruit can be played around with, depending on the season. Raspberries and peaches can be used in the early summer months or plum and blackberries in fall and winter.
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Cornbread with manchego and chorizo
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Roast chicken with ginger mayonnaise
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Mac ‘n’ cheese
On a wintry evening, it’s hard to beat pasta baked in a mustardy and cheesy sauce. Try our fail-safe mac ‘n’ cheese recipe which is also a great way to use up leftovers – you can add whatever cheese and cooked meats you have in the fridge to the dish.
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Fish pie
A creamy, comforting fish, sweetcorn and potato chowder with a puff pastry lid. This recipe uses crayfish but you could use an equal weight of any cooked fish or shellfish you like.
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French toast-style crumpets
On dull gray mornings when it’s particularly difficult to wake up, French toast-style crumpets will lure you out of bed. Crispy bacon, salty Parmesan and black pepper works perfectly with the squidgy, eggy crumpets.
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Double chocolate chip cookies
The secret to best-ever soft and chewy double chocolate cookies is using the highest quality dark chocolate you can find. Homemade cookies are miles better than their shop-bought counterparts and will have everyone coming back for more.
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Hot chocolate cake
Celebrate a special occasion with a spicy hot chocolate cake. Spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg and cayenne pepper, and topped with whipped cream and marshmallows, it’s reminiscent of the popular warming drink.
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Slow-cooked chicken with a crisp corn crust
This slow-cooked chicken with a crisp corn crust is a wonderfully warming meal on a cold day. Chicken thighs are simmered in tomato, garlic, harissa, red peppers and a hint of chocolate for a stew that’s packed with flavor. The dish is topped with a crunchy, golden gluten-free corn crust.
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Baked double chocolate pudding
A pudding with a surprise: when the spoon hits the bottom of the dish, a rich chocolate sauce comes oozing out. Baked double chocolate pudding is simple to make and a crowd-pleaser. Serve it with ice cream and cream.
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Saffron chicken korma
Brighten up your day with a fragrant and creamy saffron chicken korma. Tender chicken thighs marinated in Greek yogurt are cooked in garam masala, cilantro, saffron-infused milk and ground almonds for a golden curry with a sweet, mellow flavor.
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Butternut squash with labneh
Get cozy with a wholesome dinner of roasted butternut squash with labneh, a natural yogurt strained for a couple of days to produce a thick curd (although you could also use Greek yogurt). Its savoriness and tang is excellent with sweet roasted butternut squash and a sharp parsley, cilantro, garlic, lemon and olive oil dressing.
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Sticky cinnamon buns
Making cinnamon buns takes time but they’re well worth the wait. The smell that fills the kitchen when baking the sweet and sticky treats is just heavenly. These Swedish cinnamon buns are your next rainy weekend project.
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Easy chocolate torte
Few can resist chocolate when comfort food cravings call and this smooth and chocolatey torte is the perfect cocoa fix. It’s easy to make with just five ingredients, so you could be eating it in no time.
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Spiced pumpkin, olive oil and orange cake
Lift your mood with the scent of freshly-baked spiced pumpkin, olive oil and orange cake. The olive oil gives it a supremely soft, moist crumb – delicious with refreshing and zesty orange and lemon icing. Save time by using tinned pumpkin purée instead of roasting and blending your own.
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Slow-cooked lamb stew
Slow cooking draws out intense flavor and makes joints of meat incredibly tender. On chilly spring days, hunker down and reap the rewards of this richly spiced lamb stew.
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French toast with apples and cream
This French toast with apples and cream is a great quick dessert using ingredients you probably already have in the house. Give it a whirl to use up stale bread and spare apples, but throw in a splash of calvados to make the sautéed fruit taste extra luxurious.
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Cheese-stuffed bread
Homemade bread is one of life’s simple pleasures, particularly when colder weather calls for a healthy dose of carbs. Put on your apron and get baking this luscious loaf stuffed with tomatoes and cheese.
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Fudgy espresso brownies
Brownies are the perfect pick-me-up on a dull day. These fudgy, chocolatey, espresso brownies are great on their own or with fresh berries and raspberry sauce for dessert. What’s more, they’re vegan.
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