#yule recipes
The holiday season offers dishes that warm the body and comfort the soul. At the Winter Solstice the focus is on rich, hearty, and nurturing. The season celebrates displays and masterful cooking through roasted dishes, slow cooked stews, bright salads with pops of fruity flavor, and sweets that double as delicious gifts. Seasonal fruits and vegetables include beets, bok choy, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, Citrus Fruits, Cranberries, dates, escarole, fennel, horseradish, kale, parsnips, pears, persimmons, pomegranate, radishes, sweet potatoes, and winter squash.
At this time of the year I like to honor the traditions and the foods that my family cooked. I love the nostalgic feeling of creating recipes that my parents had at Christmastime, so you may find recipes inspired by that. Do you have a dish that reminds you of the winter season and December holidays? Is there something you traditionally make for your Yule or Winter Solstice celebrations that I didn’t put on this list? Please let me know and I will add it!
Main Courses
The main courses of the winter holidays are warm and inviting for a full table of friends and family. Common main courses are rich, filling, and lavish – classic main courses include roasted or baked bird, hearty beef dishes, pot roasts, and meat pies.
· Chicken and Dumplings with Mushrooms
· Cranberry Hazelnut Turkey Wellington
· Fennel & Rosemary Beef Tenderloin with Creamy Mustard Sauce
· Herb-Crusted Roast Beef with Horseradish
· Old-Fashioned Honey Glazed Ham
· Pomegranate and Fennel Chicken
· Pork Schnitzel with Creamy Mushroom Sauce
· Simple Crock Pot Turkey Breast and Dressing
· Spaghetti with Olive Oil, Garlic, and Anchovies
· Stuffed Cornish Hens with Cranberries and Apples
· Tourtiere: French-Canadian Meat Pie
Soups, Stews, and Chilis
There is nothing like a rich and hearty soup to warm you up during the winter season. Soups that kick up their spice game are a great feature at the Winter Solstice.
· Creamy Spinach and Pear Soup with Pancetta
· Farro and White Bean Soup with Swiss Chard and Herb Oil
· Golden Turmeric Chickpea Chicken Soup
· Pasta e Fagioli with Escarole
· Parsnip Soup with Pears, Ginger, and Coconut
· Slow Cooker Winter Vegetable Soup with Split Red Lentils
· Sopa Azteca (Mexiccan Chicken Tortilla Soup)
· Turkey and Butternut Squash Chili
· Wintertime Braised Beef Stew
Salads
During the winter months salads become creative dishes featuring root vegetables, nuts, and citrus fruits.
· Brussels Sprouts Salad with Apples and Walnuts
· Millet & Pumpkin Winter Salad
· Roasted Beet and Winter Squash Salad with Walnuts
· Warm and Roasted Winter Salad Bowl
· Winter Chicory Salad with Kumquats and Date Dressing
· Winter Persimmon and Pomegranate Salad
Breads
There are many traditional breads baked at this time of year all around the world – some favorites are featured in this list below, along with flavors perfect for the holidays.
· Panettone (Italian Christmas Bread)
· Krendel (Russian Christmas Bread)
· Savory Rosemary Goat Cheese Quick Bread
· Stollen (German Christmas Bread)
Side Dishes
Casseroles featuring in season vegetables and rich side dishes, all served piping hot, are familiar fares at the Winter Solstice.
· Farro Risotto with Walnut Cream and Roasted Butternut Squash
· Macaroni and Cheese in Acorn Squash Bowls
· Parsnip Latkes with Horseradish and Dill
· Persimmons and Watercress Salad with Candied Walnuts and Goat’s Cheese
· Roasted Winter Squash with Kale Pipian
· Seared Radicchio and Roasted Beets
· Spicy Broccoli Rabe with Parmesan and Pine Nuts
· Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Rosemary Parmesan Cream Sauce
· Twice-Baked Cheddar Potato Casserole
Desserts
Sweets flavored with nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, or peppermint work out perfectly for Yule. Other classic sweet treats for Yule include traditional holiday cookies like shortbread, snowball, caraway, or ginger snaps. Pears and oranges are also a nice touch to a dessert at Yule.
· Cardamom Orange Sugar Cookies
· Chocolate Pavlova with Spiced Pears and Butterscotch Sauce
· Cranberry and Peppermint Honey Cake
· Cuccia
· Gingerbread Oatmeal Cream Pies
· Grand Fir Dark Nougat: Winter Solstice Sweets
· Partridge in a Pear Tree Pie
· Salted Caramel Brownie Truffles
· Salted Dark Chocolate, Pecan, and Rosemary Bark
· Sparkling Butter Toffee Cookies
· Spiced Brown Butter Linzer Cookies
· Sugar Plum Cupcakes and Sugar Plums
· Vegan Gingerbread Man Donuts
· Winter Solstice Cake (Festive Carrot Coconut Cake)
· Woodland Shortbread: Evergreen Biscuits Three Ways
Beverages
Nothing says “Happy Holidays” quite like a warm and rich drink curled up in front of the fire. Yule and the Winter Solstice feature beverages that warm the soul and bring cheer to hearts.
· Harry Potter’s Hot Butter Beer
· Slow Cooker Gingerbread Latte
· White Chocolate Peppermint Mocktini
· Winter Sangria (Non-Alcoholic)
· Yule Tea
A WITCH’S COZY BUTTERNUT WINTER SOUP
This soup is sooooo good! It really puts me in the spirit for yule, and the ending of fall, into the transition of winter. Stir in a clockwise motion to bring cozy vibes into your houses atmosphere and dance to some winter songs to release stagnate energy from a days hard work! P.S. Yule Log Cake recipe coming up in a few day so look out for that !
Ingredients:
- 1 large butternut squash
- 1 large yellow onion
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 red pepper
- 2 cloves garlic
- Salt and Pepper
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 sweet potato
- 3 cups chicken stock
- Sprigs of thyme and rosemary
- 2 (28 oz) cans whole tomatoes
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground ginger
- ¼ tsp ground cloves
- ½ tsp cayenne pepper
Directions:
1. Preheat your oven to 375 F. Cut your butternut squash in half and scoop out the seeded part. Do the same for your red pepper and sweet potato. Brush with olive oil and season with the spices listed above. Bake for 1 ½ hours.
2. In a deep large pot, cook your onions and garlic until fragrant and translucent. Transfer that into a large food blender and add your tomatoes, pepper, flesh of your butternut squash and the insides of your sweet potato. Blend until very smooth and transfer back into the pot.
3. Add more seasoning to taste, chicken stock, and your sprigs of thyme and rosemary. Bring to a boil over high heat. Then turn it down to a lower heat, cover, and let simmer for at least 30 minutes.
4. Serve with grated parmesan, toasted bread, and laddle into bowls. Enjoy!