10 Wonderful Recipe Ideas to Get You Through Even the Harshest Canadian Winters

Comfort food is an absolute necessity during the cold months of a Canadian winter. Whether you live on the relatively mild west coast or you’re trudging through 4 feet of snow in Montreal, it always helps to come home to a wonderful, hot meal.

Winter is one of the best times to experiment with all kinds of new recipes. After all, you’ll probably be spending less time outdoors, especially when temperatures start to drop and the days get darker. Standing in front of your hot stove while you watch a branch new recipe simmer away could be just what you need to fight away those winter blues.

In addition, cooking up new recipes can also lead to a healthier overall lifestyle. When you cook your own food and avoid processed, quick snacks, you may notice that you have higher levels of energy over winter. Eating nutritious new meals can lead to all kinds of health benefits, including a better immune system. It can even help your wounds heal faster, believe it or not.

Here are 10 wonderful recipes to get you through even the harshest Canadian winters:

• Jackfruit Stew with Cashew Cheese Biscuits

It tastes just as good as it sounds. There are many variations on this Canadian-inspired recipe, but a highlight includes the combination of cashew cheese and shallots for some truly rich flavors. This recipe is also quite easy to make, as the biscuits involve a fairly straightforward pastry recipe while the stew is very beginner-friendly.

• Oyster Mushroom Pot Pie

Even the words “pot pie” are sure to warm even the most frozen Canadians this winter. Get out of the cold and whip up this simple, classic meal. Look for recipes that call for herbs in the pastry, as these simple additions can really add another dimension to your pot pie.

• Tempeh Noodle Soup

Although this recipe idea might seem fairly “standard,” you can definitely spice things up a little by searching for imaginative spins on this winter staple. Fermented tempeh can turn this meal upside down (in a good way). You can also add top-notch pasta for an additional gourmet touch.

• Slow Cooker Pulled Seitan

If you haven’t tried it yet, winter is definitely the season to try your hand at slow cooking. If you’re just starting out, why not slow cook some pulled seitan? You can use it in pretty much everything – from sandwiches to tacos or even salads. Add some tangy sauces to your pulled seitan for even more mouth-watering satisfaction.

• The Tourtiere

With roots in Quebec, a variation of this pie dish involves tofu and a variety of spices such as cinnamon or cloves. If you really want to unleash your inner Canadian, try stuffing this pie with some wild mushrooms – such as oyster mushrooms, chanterelles, or pine mushrooms.

• Saskatoon Berry Pie

If you’re never tried a Saskatoon berry before, you’re definitely missing out. This rare berry has a slightly nutty flavor, which lends itself well to this time-honored pie in Saskatchewan tradition. Serve it warm with a touch of coconut milk vanilla ice cream.

• French Canadian Baked Beans

While other parts of the world may serve their baked beans with pork stock or tomato sauce, the Canadian method is a little sweeter. French Canadian baked beans are cooked in glorious maple syrup, which makes it a match made in heaven for a nice slice of tempeh.

• Beaver Tails

If you’ve never tried a beavertail, you’ve never lived. No, these aren’t actually cooked beaver tails, although suggesting that makes for a brilliant prank to play on foreigners. These are actually deep-fried pastries covered in lemon & sugar, maple syrup, cinnamon sugar, or Nutella.

• Bannock

Bannock is an ancient recipe that dates back to the First Nations people of Canada. It’s still just as tasty today, and it’s also quite simple to make. Like beaver tails, these satisfying pastries can be topped with a wide range of condiments, such as lemon juice, sugar, dark chocolate, or whatever else you might be thinking of.

• Halifax Donair

We’ll end things with a recipe that most Canadians have probably never heard of. The Halifax donair is a pita sandwich filled with a wide range of ingredients, which can include falafel, tomatoes, and a special garlic sauce. It’s the perfect way to keep your energy levels up during winter.

There you have it! Plenty of ideas for the coming winter. Remember – cooking up your own food is always more satisfying than eating in – and it’ll come with the bonus of heating up your house due to the temperature of your oven…!

Guest Post By:

Elliot Figueira is an experienced analyst and journalist with over seven years of experience in content creation. Elliot has written for major blogs, news, and wound care sites. In his mind, one of the best things about writing for a living is the chance to learn new things every single day. Outside of writing, Elliot enjoys science-fiction literature and cultivating various types of cacti.