Eating seasonally – meaning using what’s locally in season – is a great way to ensure you are buying the freshest, highest quality produce. But what do you make with all those fruits and veggies? Keep reading to see 21 recipes for winter produce.
Soups + Salads
Great for a light lunch, with dinner or anytime in between, these soup and salad recipes for winter produce combine the best seasonal offerings with incredible flavors. While winter may be widely considered “soup season,” the cold weather crops also fare well in filling, flavorful salads. No wilty red lettuce here!
Cauliflower Salad with Yogurt Sauce and Pomegranate
Fried cauliflower and fresh pomegranate arils combine as a winter produce super duo in this salad recipe. A herbaceous yogurt sauce ties it all together for a well-balanced dish that could stand on its own or serve as a side to a grander holiday meal.
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Quinoa, Butternut and Kale Salad
This quinoa salad combines roasted butternut, crispy kale, chewy dates and chopped hazelnuts for the perfect bite! Top with an Easy Tahini Dressing as a side or main course served with crusty bread.
Shaved Fennel, Zucchini and Celery Salad
A medley of winter produce comes together in this fresh, crisp seasonal salad. Butter beans lend creaminess and a boost of protein amidst the greenery of fennel, zucchini and celery. Prep an hour before serving for best flavor.
Tuscan Kale Soup
The classic Tuscan Kale soup gets a vegan twist. A delicious comfort soup recipe for winter produce. Orzo makes this veggie-forward dish a hearty meal.
Sweet Potato and Roasted Pumpkin Curry Soup
Indulge in all the fall flavors with this brightly colored and richly flavored fall soup. Make in a slow cooker, or for a quick dinner, pressure cook in an Instant Pot. Seasonal Kabocha squash is the star of the dish, caramelized in the oven for extra flavor. Easily swap with another winter squash to your preference.
Sides
A selection of delectable seasonal sides, using all the incredible produce winter has to offer. From favorites like crispy potatoes and collard greens to out-of-the-ordinary, like brown butter mashed turnips, you’re sure to find something you’ll like!
Crispy Salt and Vinegar Smashed Potatoes
Do you like salt and vinegar chips? Chances are you will love these Crispy Salt and Vinegar Smashed Potatoes. Pair with a yogurt dip for some creamy balance.
Simple Swiss Chard
Swiss chard simply sauteed with olive oil, garlic and lemon juice. For this recipe, quality is key. Using farm-fresh produce will yield the tastiest winter side.
Vegetarian Collard Greens
Collard Greens are easily my favorite green to cook. Their hearty leaves hold up well to sautéing. This vegetarian version eliminates the classic ham hocks, resulting in a more inclusive recipe, perfect for potlucks or intimate dinners at home.
Labneh Dip with Caramelized Onions and Fennel
Labneh is a creamy yogurt cheese, originating in the Middle East. This recipe incorporates seasonal stars fennel and onions alongside thyme and garlic to create a flavorful dip that goes great with just about anything.
Easy Kale Chips – Vegan & GF via Edible Ink
Satisfyingly crunchy, deliciously cheesy and ready in less than 30 minutes. Use your own seasoning blend to spice it up or make as directed for an easy nutritious snack! Vegan and gluten-free, these chips are a fresh take on kale that is sure to convert even the most seasoned skeptic.
Brown Butter Mashed Turnip with Roasted Garlic
Anything that starts with “brown butter” has my attention. Turnip gets a royal treatment here, paired with the always irresistible roasted garlic. Unexpected, but sure to be a delicious winter dish.
Grilled Cabbage with Tahini Dressing
Grilled cabbages renders crisp charred outer leaves and perfectly tender inside. Enjoy a perfect complementary tang from the Easy Tahini Dressing. Simply delicious. Using a stovetop grill pan makes these a simple winter dish.
Mains
Time for the entrees. Here, one recipe makes an entire meal – full of seasonal produce that brings unique winter flavors to each dish.
Fresh Herb Polenta with Parsnip Chips and Maple Butter
In the mood for something different? Humble polenta gets a VIP treatment in this comforting winter recipe. Parsnips are crisped into perfect savory chips, contrasted with a touch of sweet from maple butter drizzled over the top.
Vegetarian Stuffed Acorn Squash
Acorn squash is the perfect vessel to stuff with a flavorful cheesy quinoa filling. Not only is it deliciously satisfying, but also makes a great visual impression on the table.
Creamy Lemon Pasta
Lemons are the star of this pasta dish. Bright and unexpectedly creamy, it’s the perfect comfort food for dark winter nights. With only a few simple ingredients, this would make a great weeknight dish.
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Roasted Chicken with Winter Vegetables
Easily feed a crowd from this one pan Roasted Chicken with Winter Vegetables recipe. Here, turnips, fennel and potatoes accompany a whole roasted chicken. Flavorful, seasonal, and easy to put together.
Sweets
You didn’t think I’d forget dessert did you? It’s the best part! Check out a range of desserts from poached pears, to cakes to sorbet. Yep, even sorbet has winter flavors.
Spiced Poached Pears via Edible Ink
These absolutely candy-like spiced poached pears will warm your stomach and heart this season with subtle notes of ginger. These pears pair beautifully with vanilla ice cream, a glass of Sauv Blanc, and honestly are a star on their own.
Rosemary Citrus Sorbet
Sorbet may not be top-of-mind in the cold of winter, but this bright, flavorful, prettily pastel dessert caught my eye. Comes together in ten minutes and uses seasonal grapefruit for a quick and easy crowd-pleasing dessert.
Maple-Pear Upside Down Cake
Winter’s answer to a Pineapple Upside Down Cake. Fresh pears turn into a eye-catching cake. Maple and cardamom combine for a sweet, complex and flavorful bite.
Orange Bars
A sweet treat for a rainy day, these Orange Bars are just as they sound. Succulent seasonal oranges turn into a velvety custard over a simple crust. Bake, dust with powdered sugar, and enjoy!
What’s your favorite winter produce recipe?
