Healthy comfort food

We all want a little extra warmth and comfort in winter. Blankets and endless cups of rooibos tea won’t do any harm, but unhealthy comfort food might. Don’t get us wrong, an occasional chocolate or slice of cake is good for the soul. Unfortunately frequently devouring comfort foods with lots of sugar, carbohydrates and unhealthy fats messes with your blood sugar, cholesterol and blood pressure.

Try these healthy winter recipes and let us know how it goes via Facebook or Twitter!

Quick and easy butternut soup

Always delicious and a winner everytime, try this awesome recipe which makes enough for six servings

Ingredients

2 big butternuts or 3 medium butternuts

180 ml plain cream cheese

10 ml mustard powder

salt and pepper

Method

1. Cut the butternut into medium chunks. You can remove the peel now or you can wait until they’re cooked (much less effort).

2. Put the butternut chunks into a microwave dish and add water until the chunks are covered.

3. Depending on your microwave power level, microwave on high for 10 to 15 minutes (until soft).

4. Drain the water and remove the peel if you haven’t already done so.

5. Use a food processor or masher to puree the butternut chunks.

6. Add 1.5l boiling water.

7. Add mustard powder and salt and pepper to taste.

8. Simmer for 20 minutes.

9. Add 30ml (two tablespoons) cream cheese to each serving.

10. Stir, serve and enjoy!

Hearty veggie (or veggie and meat) soup

Makes 6 portions

Ingredients

2 radishes

3 carrots

3 turnips

3 leeks

125 ml dried split peas

125 ml dried lentils

125 ml tomato puree

20 ml Ina Paarman vegetable spice

Optional: 1 pack beef shin (sometimes sold as “soup meat”) with 2 or 3 shins

Method

1. Chop all the vegetables finely or use a food processor.

2. Add the dried ingredients, vegetables and finally the meat to the pot.

3. Cover the ingredients in cold water.

Slow cooker

4. Set the slow cooker to high.

5. After an hour, add the tomato puree.

6. Leave in slow cooker on high for 3 hours. (Total cooking time: 4 hours).

Stove

5. Bring the pot to boil and then lower the temperature until the contents simmer.

6. After an hour, add the tomato puree.

7. Let the pot simmer for three to four hours and check every 30 minutes. Add more water if the ingredients are no longer covered.

8. Serve hot – or freeze for a great lunch option.