The Best Comfort Foods to Welcome Crisp Autumn Evenings
I don't know about you, but the cooler weather and darker evenings has my body screaming for warming, hearty meals that are loaded with deliciousness and good amounts of energy.
It's the classic winter comfort food craving, and I think most of us experience it around this time of year!
Physiologically, it makes sense: our bodies want enough energy to keep us warm during the cooler days, and thus more carb heavy meals are what our taste buds lust after.
It does make sugary and highly processed foods harder to resist… but resist we should, for the sake of our health!
To keep those tantalizing treats out of your mind, here are some autumnal comfort food ideas that are warming, filling, and most important of all, healthy!
Soup.
I was going to be more specific… but there are so many soup options out there, all of them able to warm you to the very core!
Depending on what you're after, you could go for a lighter broth-style soup (an Asian-inspired immunity boosting broth loaded with ginger, turmeric, chilli, miso paste and topped with kimchi is purely delightful!) or a heartier version featuring our classic root crops.
Leek and potato or pumpkin and kumara and two classics that will have you and your family smacking your lips in appreciation!
Casseroles.
A big bake straight out of the oven will have your house smelling incredible… you might be having to mop the drool off the floor!
Casseroles come in many forms, and, best of all, they can be made ahead, then popped in the oven on the day you're ready to chow down.
Pasta bake is a family pleaser, as is a gratin; loading any casserole with heaps of veggies (think leeks, celery, carrots, pumpkin, celeriac etc.) will not only bulk it out, it's an easy way to get your 5-plus-a-day in… and it's a sneaky way to get the kids to eat their greens.
Homemade pies.
Combining a savoury stew with flaky pastry is a match made in heaven!
You can make it as simple as you have time for: homemade pastry is fairly simple and delicious, but bought pastry will totally do in a pinch.
Slow cooking the stew will result in wonderfully tender morsels - whether you go for a vegetarian or meat version, it doesn't matter; low and slow heat is the way to go!
If the stew has too much liquid (we don't want the pie shell to collapse!), adding in a tablespoon of flour should do nicely to thicken it up.
If you have insufficient pastry to do a lid (or if you'd prefer not to), create a Shepherds pie by whipping up a thick, creamy layer of mashed potatoes (and celeriac, if you feel so inclined) and top with a sprinkling of cheese.