Opinion 40+ cosy winter recipes: a guide to seasonal eating in Australia

Let’s get seasonal! In Australia, we’re spoiled for choice when it comes to winter fruits and vegetables. Want to learn how to make the most of your seasonal harvest? Try these cosy, nourishing winter recipes…

As the chilly weather sets in, it’s time to hunker down and curl up with whatever warms you from the inside out – whether that’s a flickering fire, a furry friend, or a steaming bowl of your favourite comfort food 🤗

When cooking up comforting winter recipes to stay warm on a brisk night, it’s best to go for locally grown, seasonal fruits and veggies. Not only is in-season produce fresher and more nutritious, it’s also more environmentally friendly, and likely to be cheaper, too. Not only does it save you dollars – it’s also just good sense!

The good news is that seasonal eating in winter is easier than you might think. Despite how bare the trees might look at this time of year, there are plenty of winter fruits and veggies that flourish in the cooler temps in Australia:

Winter vegetables:
Artichoke, beetroot, bok choy, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, celeriac, fennel, leeks, parsnip, pumpkin, spinach, kale, silverbeet, turnip, zucchini.

Winter fruits:
Bananas, blueberries, grapefruit, lemons, limes, mandarins, oranges, passionfruit, pink lady apples, pears.

Best winter recipes to make your seasonal veg shine

Australia’s go-to winter recipes comprise cosy dishes like roasts, bakes, soups, stews, pies, and pastries. These hearty meals are, by nature, packed to the brim with seasonal vegetables, which makes them super nourishing and ideal for boosting immunity throughout those colder months. 

Why not try one of these healthy winter recipes for dinner?

Warming roasts & tray bakes

• Braised Red Cabbage with Mushroom, Hazelnut, & Parsnip Puree
• Hasselback Celeriac with Chili Peanuts
• Mushroom Ragu Lasagne with Celeriac Béchamel
• One-Tray Dinner Bake with Brussels Sprouts, Tofu & Sweet Potato
• Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Cranberries & Almonds
• Roast Celeriac with Charred Capsicum Sauce & Hemp Dukkah
• Roast Garlic Cabbage with Couscous Salad
• Spinach & Peas Stuffed Leek 

Nourishing winter soup ideas

• Creamy Soy Milk Ramen
• Curried Cauliflower Soup with Caramelised Onions
• Easy Vegan Phở
• Ginger Lemongrass Noodle Soup
• Kale & White Bean Soup
• Nanna’s Pasta Fagioli
• Nanna’s Pumpkin Soup
• One-Pot Spicy Mushroom Noodle Soup
• Pea & Zucchini Soup 
• Roast Cauliflower Soup with Deep Fried Black Olives
• Roasted Parsnip & Fennel Soup
• Swiss Chard, Fennel and Risoni Soup

Hearty pastas, curries & stews

• Beetroot, Lentil & Walnut Bolognese
• Japanese-style Vegetable Curry
• Potato & Bean Stew with Spiced Almonds
• Pumpkin, Chickpea & Spinach Curry 
• Rich Butter Bean Stew with Saffron Rice & Toasted Almonds 
• Spinach & Peanut Stew
• Superfood Green Curry
• Tofu Palak ‘Paneer’
• White Bean Stew with Crispy Roast Carrots

Tarts, quiches, pies & pastries

• Artichoke & Olive Quiche
• Mushroom & Leek Pie
• Mushroom & Leek Potato Pie with Mushy Peas
• Spanakopita
• Roast Vegetable Pasties
• French Lentil Pot Pie

Cosy winter desserts (made with seasonal fruits!)

• Banana Bread
• Banana & Raspberry Oat Muffins
• Blueberry & Coconut Oat Bake
• Chocolate & Pear Cake
• Key Lime Pie
• Lemon & Apple Olive Oil Cake
• Lemon Tart
• Mexican Hot Chocolate & Almond Orange Cookies
• Nanna’s Apple Frittole (Apple Donuts)
• Passionfruit Loaf Cake

Keen to learn more about seasonal eating in Australia?

If you’re looking to cultivate seasonal eating habits that help you make the most of Australia’s delicious fresh produce year-round, make sure you bookmark our beginner’s guide to seasonal eating for more info and practical tips, including some handy things to look out for in the grocery store.

We’ve also developed a series of guides exploring the abundance of fruit and veg each season has to offer in Australia, packed with plant-based recipe ideas to help you incorporate more seasonal produce into your meals:

🌸 Seasonal Recipes for Spring (September – November)

☀️ Seasonal Recipes for Summer (December – February)

🍁 Seasonal Recipes for Autumn (March – May)

Aligning your cooking with the seasons is a wonderful way to deepen your appreciation for the quality produce we’re lucky enough to access throughout the year.

Not only that, you’ll probably find that it’s just kind of fun to let the rhythm of nature guide your culinary journey. Less decision fatigue, more delicious cuisines!

We hope you enjoy these nourishing winter recipes – there’s nothing better than discovering a cosy new comfort meal!