Food

Your guests won’t be able to get enough of this delicious dip; good thing it’s a cinch to prepare! It’s also a refreshing sandwich spread and pairs beautifully with goat cheese.    

This curry is the colour of sunset with the taste of the tropics; it’s a bowl of comfort packed with only plant-based goodness. Serve over brown basmati rice with sautéed greens or a side salad.

This “feel-good” soup is aromatic and chock full of protein and fragrant Asian flavours. It’s the perfect antidote for a miserable cold—or just miserably cold weather!

When you pack napa greens with plenty of Asian flavour and then slather on a hoisin glaze, you end up with a dish that takes ye-olde cabbage rolls to the next level. You can also use Savoy cabbage and ground turkey for the rolls.      

When you have to get dinner on the table fast, this hearty, easy-to-prepare soup is the perfect solution. Simply add a tasty side salad and loaf of fresh whole grain bread and you’ve got a nutritious meal the whole family will love.

The intense sweetness of kabocha (aka Japanese pumpkin) squash marries perfectly with the slight bitterness of kale in this antioxidant-rich soup. What’s more, the smidgen of cream lends a smoothness to its flavour that simply oozes comfort.

Here’s how to turn cabbage into a whole new vegetable. Blasting it in the oven magically transforms it into a sweet-tasting gem with a silky texture. Say hello to your new favourite side dish.        

These latke-like pancakes manage to be both homey and sophisticated. The lively curry-infused cashew sauce ensures each bite is health promoting. For gluten-free pancakes, use brown rice flour or an all-purpose gluten-free flour blend.

Red cabbage may seem like an odd addition to a puréed soup, but when blended with sweet pear, red wine, and fennel seeds, it becomes spoon and slurp worthy. Each bowlful is only made better when garnished with tangy goat cheese and crunchy pomegranate seeds.

Crispy red cabbage leaves serve as an ultra-healthy stand-in for tortillas for these seasonally inspired tacos. If desired, chicken can be the protein of choice instead of turkey, while the salsa can also be made with a not-too-ripe pear.

The addition of sour cream lends a lovely creaminess to this “super-green” vitamin- and mineral-rich soup. In addition, roasting zucchini brings out the vegetable’s natural sweetness and enhances the soup’s flavour.        

Buttery roasted squash, sweet figs, salty olives, and a creamy dressing team up for a salad that explodes with exciting flavour and texture. All components can be made and chilled separately in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. For added protein, include some roasted chicken.

If you are somewhat meh about veggie burgers, these are sure to perk up your palate. Highly flavoured dark patties and a smoky pepper sauce offer a feast for the eyes, plus body benefits courtesy of sky-high fibre levels.

Consider these a cross between biscuits and muffins. The great thing about baking them in muffin cups is you don’t have to worry about rolling out the dough and then cutting it into circles. The chia-thickened blackberry jam offers a healthier spread option than typical sugar-laden jams.

The tag team of black lentils and sweet potatoes creates a satisfying dish that is jam-packed with heart-friendly and hunger-squashing fibre. Any leftovers of the lentil mixture are a great dish on their own served as a healthy lunch.

Mexican chocolate is known for combining warming spices with dense cocoa, transitioning perfectly into the season of cinnamon-spiced everything. Normally, flan contains a far greater amount of sugar, making this a lighter yet still indulgent-feeling dessert or snack option.

If looks could kill, this dish would be doing hard time. Buttery salmon, an umami-sweet carrot sauce, and fetching black rice team up in this swoon-worthy dish.

Quesadillas make a quick, complete meal for a busy weeknight or relaxed weekend, no matter the month. Frozen corn acts as a sunny, year-round dinner solution, sparking memories of summer. And, a verdant chimichurri will make your heart healthy (thanks to the omega-3s in the salmon). This unique pairing is guaranteed to hold you over until shorts weather returns.

Homemade salad dressing should be an integral part of everyone’s cooking repertoire—the basic formula is easily adjusted based on what you have in the cupboard. The nutty flavour of pumpkin seed oil combines beautifully with peppery arugula.

Your slow cooker can be employed beyond making soups and stews. In this recipe, it’s a burbling cauldron for an autumnal spiced whole grain breakfast. Waking up to the aroma of pumpkin pie may even make you a morning person.

No slow cooker?

Skip the drive-thru and make your own breakfast sandwich. Stored in the freezer, these make a great grab-and-go option for egg lovers. Heat one up while you’re getting ready for work or school and wrap it back up in parchment to enjoy on your commute—just don’t forget a napkin and thermal mug of tea or coffee!

Why settle for the same old tuna salad sandwich when serving this iconic midday repast in whimsical bean cups is a surefire way to add the fun back into lunch. Plus, it’s a great way to sneak more nutrient-dense legumes into the diets of all generations of a household. Serve alongside cherry tomatoes. Both the bean cups and tuna salad can be made up to four days in advance, but should be assembled the same day they are being served.

Decadent French toast can be made for a crowd without the big mess or standing over a hot stove. With this recipe, entertaining at breakfast involves minimal hands-on time or kitchen cleanup. The cinnamon aroma that will welcome your guests as they walk in the door is a bonus.

(pictured with Golden Hummus) These are worth the investment of time, and the effort is minimal. Keep it interesting and switch up the type of rice (go brown, mixed grain, black, or even purple). Once you’ve nailed the technique, alter the flavour by adding in spices such as curry powder, fennel seeds, or chili flakes.