Winter: Recipes in Season

Red berries in winter
Image by m01229

When the cold winter wind blows through the trees and the ground freezes hard as a rock, nothing warms a body faster than hearty comfort food. Soups and stews are favorites during the snowy time of year, as are braised dishes and roasted meats and vegetables. And holiday feasting has its own place among mid-winter dining pleasures.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking there is no good, fresh produce available during the winter months. Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and greens are at their peak of sweet flavor. Root vegetables and avocadoes come into their own as well. A wide variety of citrus fruit adds a bright note to an otherwise bleak landscape of fruits. And shellfish are abundant.

Here is a list of items that are abundant, fresh and seasonal for winter.

December Ingredients

Vegetables

Beets | Cabbage | Cauliflower | Celery | Celery Root | Collard Greens | Chanterelle Mushrooms | Parsnips | Rutabagas | Turnips | Winter Squash

Fruits

Apples | Coconuts | Dates | Grapefruit | Grapes | Persimmons | Pomegranates | Tangerines

Fish and Seafood

Clams (U.S. West Coast) | Dungeness Crab | Oysters

January Ingredients

Vegetables

Avocados | Beets | Broccoli | Brussels Sprouts | Cabbage | Cauliflower | Celery | Celery Root | Chanterelle Mushrooms | Greens | Parsnips | Rutabagas | Turnips

Fruits

Apples | Dates | Grapefruit | Kiwi | Lemons | Limes | Oranges | Papayas | Pears | Pommelos | Tangerines

Fish and Seafood

Clams (West Coast) | Oysters | Tuna, Bigeye

February Ingredients

Vegetables

Avocados | Brussels Sprouts | Cabbage | Celery | Celery Root | Chanterelle Mushrooms | Greens | Parsnips | Rutabagas | Salsify | Turnips

Fruits

Apples | Dates | Grapefruit | Kiwi | Lemons | Limes | Oranges | Papayas | Pommelos | Tangerines

Fish and Seafood

Clams (West Coast) | Oysters | Tuna, Bigeye

International Recipes for Winter

Try these warming wintertime dishes.

Kugelis 
(Lithuanian savory potato pudding)
Plated serving of kugelis

Kugelis 
(Lithuanian savory potato pudding)

Lanttulaatikko 
(Finnish mashed rutabaga casserole)
Half-served casserole dish of lanttulaatikko

Lanttulaatikko 
(Finnish mashed rutabaga casserole)

Xihu Cu Yu – West Lake Fish 
(Chinese fish in sweet vinegar sauce)
Xihu Cu Yu (Chinese West Lake vinegar fish)

Xihu Cu Yu – West Lake Fish 
(Chinese fish in sweet vinegar sauce)

Ärtsoppa 
(Swedish yellow pea soup)
Artsoppa (Swedish yellow split pea soup)

Ärtsoppa 
(Swedish yellow pea soup)

Minestra de Ceci 
(Italian chickpea and pasta soup)
Bowl of minestra di ceci

Minestra de Ceci 
(Italian chickpea and pasta soup)

Latkes 
(Israeli Jewish potato pancakes)
Latkes cooling on the counter

Latkes 
(Israeli Jewish potato pancakes)

Bigos 
(Polish hunter's stew of meat, cabbage and sauerkraut)
Bigos stew in a dish

Bigos 
(Polish hunter's stew of meat, cabbage and sauerkraut)

Apfelmus 
(German applesauce)
A spoonful of chunky applesauce from a bowl.

Apfelmus 
(German applesauce)

Jambalaya 
(American Cajun-Creole rice with chicken, shrimp and andouille sausage)
A cast-iron skillet with shrimp jambalaya

Jambalaya 
(American Cajun-Creole rice with chicken, shrimp and andouille sausage)

Aquavit 
(Swedish herb-infused vodka)
A bottle of homemade aquavit.

Aquavit 
(Swedish herb-infused vodka)

Sorrel Punch 
(Jamaican hibiscus flower beverage)
Dried hibiscus flowers

Sorrel Punch 
(Jamaican hibiscus flower beverage)

Fabada Asturiana 
(Spanish sausage and bean stew)
Fabada Asturiana (Spanish sausage and bean stew)

Fabada Asturiana 
(Spanish sausage and bean stew)

Linzertorte 
(Austrian jam tart)
Linzertorte on platter with a serving cut out

Linzertorte 
(Austrian jam tart)

Soon Dubu Jjigae 
(Korean spicy tofu stew)
Bowl of soon dubu jjigae with poaching egg

Soon Dubu Jjigae 
(Korean spicy tofu stew)

Roast Prime Rib 
(English roast rib of beef)
Roast prime rib of beef

Roast Prime Rib 
(English roast rib of beef)

Candied Sweet Potatoes 
(American sugar-baked sweet potatoes)
Casserole dish of candied sweet potatoes

Candied Sweet Potatoes 
(American sugar-baked sweet potatoes)

Boston Brown Bread 
(American steamed whole-grain molasses bread)
Slices of Boston brown bread with cream cheese

Boston Brown Bread 
(American steamed whole-grain molasses bread)

Cranberry Sauce 
(American cranberry compote)
Glass bowl with cranberry sauce

Cranberry Sauce 
(American cranberry compote)

Daube de Boeuf Provençale 
(French Provencal beef braised in red wine)
A large dish of daube de boeuf provancale.

Daube de Boeuf Provençale 
(French Provencal beef braised in red wine)

Khoresht-e Aloo 
(Persian lamb stewed with prunes)
Plate of khoresht-e aloo

Khoresht-e Aloo 
(Persian lamb stewed with prunes)

Eggnog 
(American egg and cream Christmas beverage)
Eggnog Recipe (American egg and cream Christmas beverage)

Eggnog 
(American egg and cream Christmas beverage)

Crêpes Suzette 
(French thin pancakes with orange sauce)
Plate of crepes Suzette with sauce and orange segments

Crêpes Suzette 
(French thin pancakes with orange sauce)

Oysters Rockefeller 
(American oysters with green sauce appetizer)
Plate of oysters Rockefeller

Oysters Rockefeller 
(American oysters with green sauce appetizer)

Dong Gu Dofu 
(Chinese braised tofu with mushrooms)
Bowl of simmered tofu and mushrooms.

Dong Gu Dofu 
(Chinese braised tofu with mushrooms)

Apple Fritters 
(Jewish batter-fried apple rings)
Deep-fried apple fritters

Apple Fritters 
(Jewish batter-fried apple rings)

Brussels Sprouts Gratin 
(English roasted Brussels sprouts with cheese sauce)
Fresh Brussels sprouts on a countertop

Brussels Sprouts Gratin 
(English roasted Brussels sprouts with cheese sauce)

Zuppa di Lenticchie 
(Italian lentil soup)
Bowl of lentil soup

Zuppa di Lenticchie 
(Italian lentil soup)

Law Bok Gow 
(Chinese steamed radish cake)
Plate of Chinese steamed radish cake

Law Bok Gow 
(Chinese steamed radish cake)

Lefse 
(Norwegian potato flatbread)
Fresh lefse on a plate

Lefse 
(Norwegian potato flatbread)

Hausgemachtes Sauerkraut 
(German, Austrian, Swiss homemade fermented cabbage)
Jar of homemade fresh sauerkraut

Hausgemachtes Sauerkraut 
(German, Austrian, Swiss homemade fermented cabbage)

Kotmis Satsivi 
(Georgian chicken with walnut sauce)
Small bowl of kotmis satsivi garnished with pomegranate arils

Kotmis Satsivi 
(Georgian chicken with walnut sauce)

Dušené Zelí 
(Czech braised cabbage)
Seasoned, braised cabbage

Dušené Zelí 
(Czech braised cabbage)

Mulled Wine 
(English spiced wine)
Simmering mulled wine with spices and fruit

Mulled Wine 
(English spiced wine)

Ragù Bolognese 
(Italian tomato-meat sauce)
Bowl of pasta bolognese

Ragù Bolognese 
(Italian tomato-meat sauce)

Erdélyi Rakott Káposzta 
(Hungarian pork and sauerkraut casserole)
Sauerkraut for sale

Erdélyi Rakott Káposzta 
(Hungarian pork and sauerkraut casserole)

Brasato al Chianti 
(Italian beef braised in red wine)
Slices of beef brasato al Chianti on a plate with polenta

Brasato al Chianti 
(Italian beef braised in red wine)

Shou Mian – Longevity Noodles 
(Chinese egg noodles in broth)
Chinese longevity noodles

Shou Mian – Longevity Noodles 
(Chinese egg noodles in broth)

Cranberry Pudding 
(American steamed Christmas pudding)
Flaming Christmas cranberry pudding

Cranberry Pudding 
(American steamed Christmas pudding)

Blaukraut 
(German braised red cabbage)
Blaukraut on a plate with sausages

Blaukraut 
(German braised red cabbage)

Borshch 
(Ukrainian beet soup)
Bowl of borshch with smetana sour cream

Borshch 
(Ukrainian beet soup)

Fondue 
(Swiss melted cheese dish)
A full cheese fondue set and place setting

Fondue 
(Swiss melted cheese dish)

Fesenjan 
(Persian chicken in pomegranate-walnut sauce)
Fesenjan (Persian chicken in pomegranate-walnut sauce)

Fesenjan 
(Persian chicken in pomegranate-walnut sauce)

Carbonade Flamande, or Vlaamse Stoverij 
(Belgian beef and beer stew)
Plate of beef carbonade with fries

Carbonade Flamande, or Vlaamse Stoverij 
(Belgian beef and beer stew)

Gratin Dauphinois 
(French potatoes baked with cream)
Baking dish of partially served gratin dauphinois

Gratin Dauphinois 
(French potatoes baked with cream)

Schweinebraten 
(German roast pork)
Slices of schweinebraten roast pork

Schweinebraten 
(German roast pork)

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