Are you getting tired of eating the same meals week after week? Are you lacking inspiration in the kitchen? Embracing seasonal produce is one of my favorite ways to add variety to meals and break out of a cooking rut.
Today, I’ve compiled a list of some of my favorite seasonal winter produce and meal ideas. So consider this our coffee date after you asked, “what meals have you been making lately?” And my response? A loud, “let me tell you!”
Seasonal Produce: Winter
Let me preface this by saying, it’s OKAY to eat out-of-season produce. It’s not a rule to eat ONLY seasonal produce. Rather, shopping seasonal is an invitation to try something new based on Mother Nature’s natural cycle.
Plus, seasonal food is often tastier and less expensive. Talk about a win-win! To find out what’s in season in your area, bookmark and visit this website: https://www.seasonalfoodguide.org/
I browsed the list for winter produce across the US and highlighted my favorites:
Cauliflower
Kale
Broccoli
Oranges
Apples
Avocado
You might look at that list and think, “well how do I make a meal out of cauliflower?” Below, I’ve selected a specific recipe you can try for each item. The recipes are a combination of my own and favorite food bloggers. Enjoy!
#1: Cauliflower
Did you know that Cauliflower is packed with vitamin C? One cup contains 85% of your daily recommended value (1).
Cooking with cauliflower is like painting on a blank canvas. The flavor of cauliflower is pretty mild, which means you can transform it with a variety of herbs and spices.
Personally, I love cauliflower with the bold flavors of Mexican food. That’s why this Roasted Cauliflower and Lentil Tacos recipe by Cookie + Kate has become a new favorite!
The cauliflower is roasted in the oven until golden and slightly crisp. If you have an air-fryer, I imagine the cauliflower prepped in that would be delicious.
Try this recipe for your next Meatless Monday or Taco Tuesday. Make a taco salad for lunch the next day with the leftovers!
Featured Recipe: Roasted Cauliflower and Lentil Tacos by Cookie + Kate
*The only substitution I make in this recipe is Greek Yogurt for mayo in the creamy chipotle sauce.
#2: Kale
Oh kale! Kale doesn’t have to be intimidating. Enjoy kale in homemade pesto, stirred into soup, or blended in a fruit smoothie.
The trick to a yummy kale salad is prepping it first. No one likes a tough piece of kale that takes hours to chew! I prefer to prep kale for salad by massaging it first. It sounds silly, but massaging kale with a little olive oil begins to break down its fibers, which makes it easier to chew.
That’s what I do with the kale in this Citrus Quinoa Salad. Try this recipe for a hearty winter salad. Bonus: citrus fruits are another seasonal ingredient in this salad!
Featured Recipe: Citrus Quinoa Salad
#3: Broccoli
Fun fact about broccoli – it’s an excellent source of calcium! We often think of dairy products as the sole source of calcium in one’s diet, but veggies (like broccoli) can help you meet your calcium needs, too!
An easy way to eat more broccoli (or any veggie) is by mixing it into an egg bake or scramble. While home for the holidays, my mom made this Vegetarian Breakfast Casserole, and it was a crowd-pleaser.
This is the perfect recipe for a weekend brunch or meal prep. Make ahead and reheat leftovers for a quick breakfast or lunch.
Featured Recipe: Vegetarian Breakfast Casserole by Well Plated
*We omitted the sweet potatoes and served roasted potatoes on the side.
#4: Oranges
Everyone loves this immune-boosting fruit! Lately, I’ve been making a citrus green juice at home as a way to get more nutrients in the winter. I shared a little recipe video of it here on Instagram.
Don’t let the green color scare you away! The fruit really shines in this combo. The best part? You don’t need a juicer! A high-speed blender will work for this juice!
Featured Recipe: Everglow Green Juice
INGREDIENTS:
- 2-3 handfuls spinach
- 1 orange, peeled & segmented
- 1 banana
- 2 stocks celery, chopped
- Juice of 1 lime
- 1/2 tsp ginger (optional)
- 1.5-2 cups filtered water
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Combine all ingredients in a high-speed blender. Blend on high for 1-2 minutes. Serves 2!
#5: Apples
A naturally sweet treat, apples are high in fiber, which can aid in blood sugar management and digestion. Apples are excellent raw – sliced & dipped in peanut butter or chopped in a salad – but have you tried stewed apples?
Warming apples with cinnamon brings out their natural sweetness. In my Stewed Apples recipe, I share how I elevate oatmeal bowls in the winter.
Make a batch of sweated apples for your next bowl of yogurt or overnight oats. You won’t regret it!
Featured Recipe: Stewed Apples with Cinnamon
#6: Avocado
I’m the girl who named her dog, Avo, short for avocado. So of course I had to include avocados on this highlight for seasonal produce!
Avocados have numerous nutritional benefits including their composition of healthy fatty acids Omega 3 and 6, which aid in brain health (2).
Jazz up your next avocado toast with these 3 ideas:
Featured Recipe: Avocado Toast – 3 Ways!
BASIC
- bread/toast of choice
- 1/2 mashed avocado
- salt + pepper to taste
- 1-2 eggs cooked to preference
EVERYTHING BAGEL
- bread/toast of choice
- 1/2 mashed avocado
- generous amount of Everything but the Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend
MEDITERRANEAN
- bread/toast of choice
- 1/2 mashed avocado
- 6 cherry tomatoes, halved
- 2 tablespoons crumbled feta cheese
- drizzle of balsamic
- basil as garnish (optional)
So there you have it! Seasonal produce I’ve been enjoying this winter and tried and true recipes for you to try at home.
Did you enjoy this article? Comment below to let me know! I’ll be working on a Spring Edition here soon if you enjoyed this format!