Tasty and economical meals for winter

Dish 1: Creamy pumpkin soup

Seasonal ingredients: pumpkin, ginger, onion.

• Sauté the onion and minced ginger in a drizzle of olive oil.
• Add the cubed pumpkin, cover with water, and cook until tender.
• Blend the ingredients in a blender or with an immersion blender, return to the pot, and adjust the salt.

Tip: A touch of coconut milk or heavy cream at the end can give an even more velvety texture.

Dish 2: Warm roasted cauliflower salad with chickpeas

Seasonal ingredients: cauliflower, chickpeas, lemon.

• Roast the cauliflower florets with a little olive oil until golden brown.
• Mix the cooked chickpeas into the still-hot cauliflower.
• Season with lemon juice, salt, and pepper to taste.

Tip: Toasted sunflower or pumpkin seeds add an interesting crunch.

Dish 3: Beef stew with root vegetables

Seasonal ingredients: beef (cuts like chuck or shin), carrots, sweet potatoes.

• Brown the cubed beef in a pot.
• Sauté the sliced vegetables in the same pot.
• Return the meat, cover with water, season, and cook until the meat and vegetables are tender.

Tip: Using a pressure cooker can speed up the cooking time of the meat.

Dish 4: Spinach and cheese omelet

Seasonal ingredients: spinach, eggs, cheese (like coalho or Minas).

• Beat the eggs with a pinch of salt and pepper.
• Quickly sauté the spinach and other chopped vegetables, if desired.
• Pour the beaten eggs into the skillet, add the cubed cheese, and cook until set.

Tip: Covering the skillet in the final minutes helps cook the inside of the omelet evenly.

Dish 5: Whole grain brown rice risotto with corn and leeks

Seasonal ingredients: brown rice, sweet corn, leeks.

• Sauté the chopped leeks in olive oil until soft.
• Add the brown rice, stir, and gradually add hot water, stirring frequently.
• When the rice is almost done, fold in the corn. Finish to taste.

Tip: Preparing a homemade vegetable broth and using it instead of water can enhance the flavor of the risotto.