A Dash of Heat: Warming Spices and Comforting Recipes for Winter

We have something to spice up your days! Like literally bring in a whole lot of spice-based recipes to woo you this winter. We all know the magic of spices that can enhance any sweet or savoury to the next level. During the season of the cold, some of these spices take the front seat to not just rattle your palette but also boost your immune system. These recipes are not remedies for the common cold or flu, but a delectable array of dishes that will not just do the job of keeping you warm but also please your appetite.

1. Ginger Orange Chicken Wings

The popular and fibrous ginger brings magic to chicken wings with a hint of seasonal citrus zing from oranges. Let those sweaters warm you from the outside and let us warm you up from the inside with a sweet and spicy dish.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Origin: American
Serves: 4

Ingredients:

• 1 kg chicken wings (cut as preferred) 
• 2 spring onions (thinly sliced) 
• 1/2 cup orange juice 
• 1 tbsp lemon juice 
• 1/3 cup hoisin sauce 
• 1 tbsp oil (vegetable oil)
• 1/4 cup honey 
• 2 tbsp ginger (minced) 
• 1 1/2 tbsp soy sauce 
• 1 tbsp hot sauce 

Method:

1. Take a bowl or a plastic bag and mix in all the ingredients except for green onions and the chicken.
2. Add the chicken wings and cover it well with the above mix. Seal the plastic bag or cover the bowl with a plastic wrap and refrigerate it for 3-4 hours.
3. Preheat the oven to 400°.
4. Line a baking sheet with foil and grease with non-stick spray or oil. You can even use a baking tray for the same.
5. Arrange the chicken wings on the baking sheet/tray. Coat the leftover marinade on the wings.
6. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until cooked. Flip the wings over after the first 15 minutes, so both sides are cooked equally well.
7. Place it on a plate or serving dish and sprinkle the chopped green onions before serving.

2. Miso Turmeric Soup

Miso sauce is a popular spice mix used in various foods in China and Japan. We thought why not bring you a recipe that will set the cosy mood during the cold days with a delicious soup? And, guess what? It has the goodness of turmeric, which is one of the medicinal spices popular during winter. It contains anti-inflammatory and immune-enhancing benefits. Get. Set. Soup. Slurp!

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Origin: Chinese
Serves: 2

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup carrots (grated) 
• 1/2 red bell pepper (sliced thin)
• 200 gms tofu (cut into small cubes) 
• 7 cloves of garlic (finely chopped) 
• 1 1/2-inch ginger (minced) 
• 1-2 tbsp miso
• 1/4 cup spring onions 
• 2 tsp tamari or soy sauce 
• 1 tsp turmeric powder
• 1 tsp apple cider or white vinegar 
• Sugar as preferred
• 1/2 tsp black pepper (ground) 
• 1 tsp oil
• Salt to taste
• Water as required
• You can add some seasonal vegetables of your choice (optional)

Method:

1. Take a saucepan and heat oil over medium flame. Add garlic and ginger. Sauté till the raw aroma leaves.
2. Add grated carrots and sliced red pepper. Continue to sauté for 4-5 minutes.
3. Toss in the tofu and mix. (You can add other chopped veggies and cook after this step).
4. Add water, ground black pepper and all of the ingredients except miso. Bring to a boil on low-medium flame.
5. Simmer for 4 minutes. Add the miso and mix well.
6. Adjust salt, sweet, and tang (vinegar) as per taste preference. Continue to simmer for 5 minutes.
7. Garnish with chopped green onions and serve hot.

3. Strawberry and Cinnamon Streusel Bars

Here’s an amalgamation of winter’s favourite fruit – strawberry and one of the beloved spices – cinnamon. Bring them together to make this crunchy dessert on the outside and gooey on the inside. Cinnamon is one of those spices that gives you a warm hug when consumed. Bake and store them this holiday season for you to relish with a cuppa and for your kids and loved ones to nibble on in the evenings.

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Origin: German
Serves: 10-12

Ingredients:

• Base 1 cup (approx. 225gms)
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter (softened at room temp.) 
• 1/3 cup white sugar
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tbsp cornstarch 
• 1/4 tsp salt

Strawberry Layer:

• 2 cups strawberries (sliced) 
• 1 tbsp white sugar
• 2 tsp cornstarch
• 2 tsp orange zest or lemon zest
  

Streusel Topping:

• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup brown sugar 
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon powder 
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter (melted)

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 300° degrees.
2. Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper. Leave an extension of the parchment paper on both sides If using aluminium foil, lightly grease with butter or non-stick cooking spray.

Base:

1. Take a large bowl and beat the butter and sugar using a hand blender or beater machine till the sugar blends in.
2. Add the flour, cornstarch and salt, and continue beating till the mixture combines and turns crumbly.
3. Pour the mixture into the lined pan and press it till it is flat. Bake for 20 minutes.
4. Remove from the oven and set it aside. Turn the oven to 350°.

Strawberry Layer:

1. Take a medium bowl and mix the sliced strawberries, sugar, cornstarch, and orange zest. Make sure the strawberries are coated evenly.

Streusel Topping:

1. Take a medium bowl. Add and mix well flour, brown sugar, white sugar, cinnamon and salt.
2. Pour in the melted butter and mix till it turns grainy and soft.

Setting it up:

1. Take a spoon or a spatula and coat the shortbread base evenly with the strawberry mixture.
2. You can leave the juicy bit at the end as is to avoid making the biscuits too soggy. It can be used to garnish other things.
3. Sprinkle the topping over the strawberry layer using your palm and fingers.
4. Bake for 30-35 minutes until the streusel topping turns golden brown and the strawberry layer starts to bubble.
5. Take it out and set it aside to cool. Cut it only once it cools.
6. Remove the whole streusel by lifting up the parchment paper and placing it on a chopping board or mat. Slice and serve!

4. Honey-Glazed Winter Veggies with Black Pepper Yoghurt

Super easy and super healthy recipe on the way! When you go shopping for veggies and can’t decide what to choose, grab a handful of winter vegetables and we will give you the recipe to make it work like wonder together. Black pepper, the evergreen spice hero, gives this recipe the perfect spiciness needed for the subtle-tasting combo of vegetables, sweet honey and citrus zing. It’s not just the recipe that works magic but also the ingredients that create a wholesome meal.

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Origin: Fusion
Serves: 5

Ingredients:

• 1 beetroot (peeled and chopped) 
• 2 turnips (peeled and chopped) 
• 1 sweet potato (peeled and chopped) 
• 250g pumpkin (peeled and chopped) 
• 2 carrots (peeled and chopped) 
• 1 zucchini (chopped) 
• 1 tsp cumin (ground or powder) 
• 3-4 tbsp olive oil 
• 2 tbsp honey 
• 1/2 cup greek yoghurt
• 1/2 cup mint leaves (chopped) 
• 3-4 tsp lemon juice 
• 2 cups spinach leaves (chopped) 
• Black pepper to taste 
• Salt to taste

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C. Line 2 baking trays with baking/parchment paper.
2. Clean and cut the pumpkin into small cubes. Place on one of the lined baking tray.
3. Arrange the carrots and other veggies except for spinach on another baking tray.
4. Sprinkle cumin onto both trays and drizzle olive oil and honey over the vegetables in both trays.
5. Season with salt and ground black pepper.
6. Bake for 40 minutes until the vegetables are cooked through and caramelised gently. Set it aside to cool.
7. Take a small bowl, add and mix the Greek yoghurt and chopped mint.
8. Season with lemon juice, salt and ground black pepper as per your taste.
9. In a small pan, quickly stir-fry the spinach with a bit of oil and salt.
10. Take a large platter and arrange the veggies and spinach. Drizzle the yoghurt dressing on top and place it in the bowl while serving.