What to cook in January: 9 warm, seasonal and anti-waste recipes
January is the month of short days, cold air coming in through the windows, and that widespread craving for dishes that warm, comfort, and make one feel immediately at home. After the chaos of the holidays, cooking becomes everyday, concrete again, but not boring. On the contrary: January is one of the best months to cook well, spend less, and value simple, seasonal ingredients.
Winter vegetables are convenient, versatile and suitable for everyday cooking. Cabbage, legumes, potatoes and squash make it possible to prepare nutritious, inviting dishes that are perfect for the whole family, without waste and with little time at the stove.
In this article you will find 9 recipes ideal for January, designed to heat, save and make even an everyday meal special.
1. The perfect hot cabbage dish for cold days
Cabbage is a perfect ingredient for January: cheap, rich and versatile. This cabbage soup brings flavor and warmth to the table with little, ideal for making seasonal cooking special without waste.
After a few culinary excesses, there's nothing like a good cabbage soup to make your stomach feel better!
2. Winter recipe that makes use of seasonal pumpkin in a simple way
Purple squash is a winter ingredient that brings color and natural sweetness to January dishes. This velouté is an easy and tasty way to take advantage of seasonality, warm up dinner, and pamper anyone at the table.
Squash season is here! Pumpkin, butternut, and more... How to cook them? We offer you a simple and perfect recipe for autumn/winter: a velouté! Easy for beginners, just cook your ingredients for a few minutes before blending. Simple, right? Follow our...
3. A baked main course with savoy cabbage ideal for family lunches and dinners
Among January's signature ingredients, cabbage roll is perfect for simple but satisfying dishes. These baked rolls combine taste, seasonality and economy, bringing a warm, inviting family recipe to the table that is ideal for winter.
What to do with cabbage? That's the big question we've decided to answer today! Because yes, there are plenty of easy and tasty recipes to be made with this vegetable often shunned by the little ones. With these oven-baked cabbage rolls , we can...
4. Winter comfort food with legumes that never gets tired
In the heart of winter, legumes such as beans are perfect for nutritious and tasty dishes. This Veneto-style pasta e fagioli combines creaminess and authentic flavor, ideal for warming January days with simplicity and taste.
Pasta e fagioli alla veneta , also known as "pasta e fasioi ," is an iconic dish from the peasant tradition of northern Italy, rich in flavor, simple and incredibly creamy . Prepared with borlotti beans , vegetables and short pasta, this...
5. January vegetables turned into a gratin preparation.
Cauliflower is a true star of January cooking, inexpensive and versatile. This baked gratin combines softness and crunch in a simple yet special dish, perfect for warming up family dinners with seasonal ingredients.
Enjoy a gratin to make your kids discover cauliflower ! Associating grated cheese and white sauce, you are sure to make a well appreciated dish !
6. A single dish with legumes perfect for winter
Lentils are an inexpensive and versatile winter ingredient perfect for January. This Spanish soup combines flavor and substance, ideal for warming up the days with a nutritious, seasonal dish.
Looking for an easy and hearty stew recipe? Try these Spanish lentils, traditionally called "Lentejas". A meal whose recipe is passed down through generations :-) You can add your personal touch that will make all the difference! Some may like to add...
7. The baked potato preparation that gets everyone to agree.
Potatoes are a perfect ingredient for January, rich in complex carbohydrates that provide energy on cold days. In this pie with cheese and bacon, they combine taste and nutrition in a complete dish that is ideal for a simple and satisfying dinner.
Vegetable tian, you know it. Made in summer due to the seasonality of the vegetables used, it features tomatoes, zucchini, and eggplants. But how to make it when winter arrives? At Ptitchef, we have the solution with a delicious raclette tian ;-)...
8. The rich and balanced winter first course with broccoli
In winter, broccoli is at its best and is a nutritionally smart choice. This creamy pasta is ideal for bringing taste, comfort and essential nutrients to the table in one preparation.
A creaminess that envelops the palate, offering a unique sensory experience : the pasta is topped with a velvety broccoli and almond sauce , in which each ingredient combines harmoniously , creating a perfect balance of flavors. The natural...
9. Rustic recipe with cabbage and bacon typical of the cold months
Among the most popular vegetables on January tables, cabbage stands out for its versatility and convenience, as well as being a good source of fiber and vitamins. Paired with bacon, it makes for a flavorful and nutritious dish, ideal for tackling the cold months and perfect for sharing as a family with just a few seasonal ingredients.
Got some leftover cabbage? Here’s a great idea to turn it into a delicious side dish! Instead of enjoying it in a salad, cook it! Take a quick look in the fridge for that pack of bacon you have left. Perfect! Add it in, and you’ll have an ultra-easy...
Cooking in January: less waste, more intelligence
Many of these recipes come from ingredients that often go unused or are bought in large quantities. Kale, dried legumes, and potatoes are inexpensive and keep for a long time, reducing waste and allowing you to better organize your weekly grocery shopping.
In addition, they are dishes that lend themselves to creative reuse: a velouté can become a sauce, a side dish can become a filling, a soup can be frozen.
Daniele Mainieri
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