16 recipes that let winter veggies shine


Don’t let the final days of winter prevent you from tasting all the season has to offer. 

Eating seasonally is nothing new. But with fruit and veggie prices on the rise, turning to the cold-hardy stars of winter can pay off in more ways than one. Frost-tolerant veg such as beetroot, silverbeet, spinach, kūmara and cavolo nero are usually at their cheapest and freshest in winter; here’s how to use them from breakfast to dessert.

BREKKIE

Fridge-Raid Frittata

Frittati in a skillet with broccoli, onion and leftover vegetables.

Let whatever is in your fridge take centre stage in this easy-to-make frittata.

Rosti with Creamed Spinach

Breakfast spread with creamed spinach and a potato rosti eaten with poached eggs.

This versatile meal can be served with poached eggs for breakfast, or with salmon or sirloin for a main

Greens and Feta Pancakes

Savoury green pancakes on a plate with a side of yoghurt sauce and a lemon wedge.

Make these savoury pancakes using any garden greens you’ve got.

STARTERS, SOUPS AND SIDES

Green Leek & Potato Soup

A bowl of potato leek soup sprinkled with feta and parsley.

Don’t forget the leek greens, particularly from smaller leeks as they are sweet and add excellent flavour to this soup.

Beetroot Cashew Dip

A wooden chopping board with a jar of homemade beetroot cashew dip and a side of seed crackers.

Serve this creamy homemade dip with a zippy butter bean salad and homemade seed crackers

Ruth Pretty’s Cabbage, Pear & Fennel Slaw

A person begins to serve a fennel and cabbage salad.

Cider vinegar, mustard and caraway punch up this simple, elegant slaw.

Roasted Butternut & Orange Soup

Four pretty bowls of butternut and orange suit are on display with feta on top, surrounded by a funky tablecloth.

Pumpkin can be substituted for butternut in this soup, depending on availability.

Beetroot & Goat Cheese Tarte Tatin

A beetroot and goat cheese tarte tatin served on a wooden chopping board.

Sweet, caramelized beetroot and tart goat cheese results in a delicious savoury dish.

Brussels Sprouts with Honey & Toasted Pepitas

A person carries a long plate with honey roasted brussels sprouts and pepitas.

Fresh brussels sprouts are the star of the show in this healthy-yet-tasty side dish.

MAINS

Cavolo Nero, Lemon & Ricotta Pizza

A cutting board with homemade cavolo nero (or kale) and lemon pizza.

This is pizza made simple: crispy cavolo nero, lemon zest and a medley of cheeses.

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Recipe: Asparagus & Strawberry Salad with Feta

Broccoli Tart with Red Onion Jam & Walnut Pesto

A birds eye view of two homemade broccoli and onion jam tarts.

Feel free to experiment with other veggies in this tart — it will taste just as good.

Coriander & Lime Pesto with Noodles and Greens

A bowl of noodles with coriander and fresh winter greens, with a pair of chopsticks resting on top.

Polish off a bowl of this, and you’ll feel not only satiated but virtuous!

Silverbeet Gnudi

A bowl of gnudi made with silverbeet (or chard).

These green-speckled ricotta dumplings are like gnocchi’s rustic cousins.

Braised Lamb Shank & Kūmara Pie

A plate with a braised lamb shank and sweet potato (kumara) pie.

Waiting for the lamb to work its magic in the oven requires patience, but the end result is completely worth it.

Cauliflower Fritters with Fried Halloumi

A salad topped with fried halloumi and cauliflower fritters.

A zingy lime emulsion is the perfect dressing for these scrummy cauli fritters.

DESSERT

Four Ginger Parsnip Sticky Date Pudding

A large baking dish with a parsnip sticky date pudding and bowl with ice cream.

The addition of parsnip that really makes this a real show-stopper.

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NZ Life and Leisure    NZ Lifestyle Block
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