Warming Recipes To Make This October

Staying healthy and warm during the cooler seasons can be a challenge. Often the warming foods we love are not the healthiest around, but today we want to share some recipes that will bring you the best of both worlds. 

All of these recipes have some nutrition as well as provide you with an amazing warming meal to enjoy when it’s cold outside. 

7 vegetable risotto 

This easy and vegetable packed risotto can be made with any veggies you have lying around the house and will instantly warm you up and give you the most amazing recipe. 

Ingredients: 

• 1 red bell pepper 
• 1 butternut squash 
• 1 carrot 
• 1 zucchini
• 1 eggplant 
• 1 sweet potato 
• 2 cloves garlic 
• 1 bunch vine tomatoes 
• 500g arborio rice 
• 1 litre vegetable stock 
• 300ml white wine 
• Juice and zest of 1 lemon 
• 1 bunch coriander 
• 150g Parmesan cheese 

1. Chop up all of your vegetables except garlic and place them in a baking dish. Season with salt and pepper and drizzle with olive oil. Roast for 45 minutes at 220C. 
2. In a large saucepan, add some oil and heat. Chop your garlic and add this to the pan. Add your arborio rice and coat with the oil. 
3. Add your lemon juice and white wine and heat until thickened. 
4. Add lemon zest, and add a small ladle of stock. Stir until it is mostly absorbed. 
5. Keep adding small amounts of stock and stirring, until the sauce is thick and you have used all of your stock. 
6. Simmer for 10-15 minutes until the rice is cooked through. 
7. Add your coriander and stir through, adding half of your Parmesan. 
8. Add in your cooked vegetables and stir. Heat for a few minutes and then turn off the heat. 
9. Let sit for 1 minute before serving in a bowl, top with the remaining Parmesan. 

Stuffed spaghetti squash 

This simple recipe will be the ideal way to enjoy a midweek bolognese without all of the carbs from spaghetti. Easy to make and super warming, this is a great choice for a rainy day. 

Ingredients: 

• 1 spaghetti squash 
• 500g lean beef mince 
• ½ white onion 
• 1 tin chopped tomatoes 
• 1 tbsp tomato purée 
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce 
• 2 tbsp mixed herbs 
• Parmesan cheese or cheddar 
• Basil for garnish

1. Cut your spaghetti squash in half lengthways. Remove the seeds and place on a baking sheet. Poke holes throughout the squash to allow steam in, season with salt and pepper, and drizzle with oil. Roast for 1 hour. 
2. Meanwhile, chop your onion and add to a saucepan with oil. Sweat for 5 minutes. 
3. Add your beef mince and cook for 10 minutes until completely cooked and browned. 
4. Add mixed herbs, tomato purée, and Worcestershire sauce and heat for 1 minute. 
5. Add chopped tomatoes, cover with a lid, and simmer for 30 minutes. 
6. Once the squash is cooked, take it out of the oven and use a fork to fluff up the flesh, allowing the ‘spaghetti’ to loosen. 
7. Add in your meaty sauce, followed by some cheese and basil to garnish. 

Protein punch cupcakes 

Looking for some amazing cupcakes with a healthy kick for a cold day? These cupcakes use Protein Powder Supplement as well as some oat flour to make for a less carby and healthier cake. 

Ingredients: 

• 2 tbsp protein powder 
• 3 tbsp oat flour 
• 1 banana, mashed 
• 1 tsp cocoa powder 
• 1 tsp cinnamon 
• 4 tbsp coconut sugar 
• 4 tbsp butter 
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp baking powder 
• 100g dark chocolate chips

1. Cream the butter and sugar together until light and creamy. Add in your egg and banana and beat until airy. 
2. Add your dry ingredients and fold in to form a thick batter- you can add more oat flour here if needed. 
3. Add your dark chocolate chips and mix evenly into the batter.
4. Scoop into cupcake cases and bake at 200C for 15 minutes – check after 12 minutes. 
5. Cool and eat as they are or top with some whipped coconut cream. 

Cauliflower crust pizza 

This easy pizza crust recipe will be the best thing you’ve ever substituted for bread, and it will change your midweek meal game for the better. 

Ingredients: 

• 400g cauliflower rice (or you can make your own)
• 2 tbsp Parmesan cheese 
• 1 large egg 
• 1 tsp flour 
• 1 tbsp garlic salt 
• 1 tbsp mixed herbs 
• Tomato sauce 
• Pizza toppings – cheese, peppers, mushrooms etc. 

1. Preheat the oven to 200C and line a baking sheet. 
2. In a large bowl, add your cauliflower, Parmesan cheese, egg, flour, garlic and herbs. Mix until thick and when you squeeze it together it forms a ‘dough’. 
3. Add to a baking sheet and form into your desired pizza shape. You can also mould yourself a crust here if you like. 
4. Bake for 15 minutes. 
5. Take out of the oven and increase the temperature to 220C. 
6. Top your pizza with tomato sauce, cheese, and toppings of your choosing. 
7. Add back into the oven and cook for a further 10 minutes. 
8. Enjoy! 

Slow cooker garlic chicken pasta 

For a super simple and delicious meal prep, there is nothing better than this garlic butter chicken pasta for your lunch. Add to a slow cooker on a Sunday morning and pack into lunchboxes on Sunday evening ready for the week. 

Ingredients: 

• 4 chicken breasts 
• 500g penne pasta 
• 100g Parmesan cheese 
• 3 tbsp butter 
• 150ml water
• 3 cloves garlic 
• 200g chantenay carrots 
• 200g broccoli 

1. Add chicken into the slow cooker, top with butter and Parmesan. 
2. Chop your garlic finely and add to the chicken. 
3. Add pasta and water on top of the chicken, followed by your veggies. You can cut these smaller for bite size pieces. 
4. Cook on high for 4 hours, add more water if needed throughout. 
5. Once cooked, take out the chicken and shred it before adding it back in and mixing. Add some extra Parmesan and taste for seasoning. 

If you are looking for some amazing recipes to enjoy this season, try a few of the ones we’ve shared today.