5 Foods Keeping you Warm this Winter

It’s time to crack out the blankets, throw on a scarf, light the fire and unpack the woolens. Winter is coming and we’re ready to get cosy.

Seasonally, it’s time to forage for root vegetables and winter greens. Look for parsnips, pumpkin, kale, chard and spinach, as well as winter brassicas cauliflower and broccoli.

To warm the cockles we’ll be firing up the slow cooker and enjoying rich and luxurious veggie risottos, spicy curries and winter warmers such as this wholesome pie. To really dial up the temperature, here are some foods warming by their very nature:

1. Kickin' Chilli

Did you know the sensation of mouth-heat you get from chilli is actually the activation of pain receptors in the tongue? Keep to light dashes for more warmth than burn!

We’ve got a delicious Harissa chili relish adding a kick and beautiful depth of flavour to any dish you’d like to heat up – eggs, pasta or even a humble sandwich. Check out this pulled jackfruit chilli for a midweek meal with a kick.

2. Roaring roots

Add some sizzle to your supper with a shaving, slice or squeeze of one of these blazing roots...

• Turmeric. Golden orange, thanks to the prevalence of plant pigment curcumin, this unassuming little root has been hailed as an anti-inflammatory superfood. Its nutty, bitter fragrance is often infused into winter recipes to bring warmth to the dish.
• Ginger. The more common of the roots, ginger can be found in many forms and has an exuberance that brings to life all manner of dishes and drinks. Gingery bite can spice up a soothing honey and lemon drink, fire up a curry or lend warmth to your favourite cake.
• Wasabi. A Japanese cooking mainstay, wasabi’s prevalence is testament to its blazing flavour. Dried and ground to a powder and then added to water to create a paste, potent wasabi will add heat to any dish instantly.
• Horseradish. This is a favourite of traditional English cuisine, spicing up Sunday lunches the country over. You could always break with tradition and try it paired with asparagus in a creamy pasta sauce, instead.

3. Evocative spices

Summon the sense memory of cosy fireside lounges and bustling family kitchens with winter spices to comfort and relax. Think cinnamon sticks in hot chocolate, heavily spiced chai teas, delicate star anise in a bubbling stew, the earthy scent of cumin-roasted almonds.

4. Hot herbs.

Fennel, basil, thyme and coriander are at the more warming end of the herbarium and add heat, either sprinkled fresh onto salads, at the end of cooking, or dried at the beginning.

5. Yin and Yang.

The ancient Indian tradition of Ayurvedic healing is similar to the practice of Chinese medicine, taking a holistic approach to wellbeing. In Ayurveda, winter is referred to as ‘Vata’ and the advice is to eat sweet, sour and salty tastes to keep the body in balance. In addition, avocados, bananas, asparagus, quinoa, rice, mung beans, and sesame seeds, are recommended as Vata-pacifying.

If that isn’t inspiration enough for you, peruse our recipe section for a range of warming and comforting ideas.