5 healthy and practical meals for the Brazilian winter

Check out ideas for meals that warm and nourish, using foods that tend to be more abundant at this time of year.

Creamy pumpkin soup with ginger

• Seasonal ingredients: pumpkin, carrot, ginger.
• Quick prep: Sauté the diced pumpkin and carrot in olive oil and garlic. Cover with water, cook until tender, and blend in a blender. Adjust salt, pepper, and serve hot.
• Tip: A drizzle of coconut milk provides creaminess without the need for heavy cream.

Warm roasted cauliflower salad with chickpeas

• Seasonal ingredients: cauliflower, chickpeas, lemon.
• Quick prep: Arrange the cauliflower florets and cooked chickpeas on a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, and bake until golden. Toss with green leaves and season with lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Serve warm.
• Tip: Use the steam from the baking sheet itself to soften the cauliflower before browning, saving time.

Cassava sauté with spinach and poached egg

• Seasonal ingredients: cassava, spinach, egg.
• Quick prep: Cook the cassava until tender and cut into cubes. Sauté the spinach with garlic, add the cassava, and heat through. Finish with a poached egg on top.
• Tip: Reserve the cassava cooking water to use in the sauté, adding flavor and nutrients.

Beet risotto with grated Minas cheese

• Seasonal ingredients: beets, rice (arborio or regular), Minas cheese.
• Quick prep: Sauté the grated beets with onion and olive oil. Add the rice, stir, and gradually add warm broth until creamy. Mix in grated Minas cheese and serve.
• Tip: A homemade vegetable broth intensifies the flavor without increasing the cost.

Oat pancakes stuffed with shredded chicken and tangerine

• Seasonal ingredients: oats, cooked chicken, tangerine.
• Quick prep: Mix fine oat flakes with water and a pinch of salt to form the pancake batter, and cook in a non-stick skillet. Shred the pre-cooked chicken and mix with tangerine juice and seasonings. Stuff the pancakes with the mixture and fold.
• Tip: Take advantage of leftover roasted or cooked chicken to save time and gain flavor.