As the season turns cooler, try winding down these crisp autumn days by warming up to the traditional flavors of fall. Seasonal herbs aand spices are delightful to the palate, aand offer great health benefits. Ginger is warming aand aids circulation, cinnamon helps regulate blood sugar, aand garlic boosts the immune system. Read on for delicious, simple, aand healthy fall recipes – from soup to nuts.
Classic Carrot Soup
Carrots aand ginger are a classic fall combo, aand this savory soup is the perfect marriage of the two. It’s easy to prepare aand freezes well, so keep some on haand for those cold winter months ahead.
Ingredients:
- 1 lime (juiced)
- 1 clove garlic, sliced
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 dozen carrots, sliced
- 6 cups vegetable broth (low sodium)
- 1 cup yogurt (plain, not nonfat)
- 1 2-inch piece fresh ginger (peeled & grated)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Ground black pepper aand salt
Warm olive oil in a pot on medium heat. Add the onion, aand sauté for 6-8 minutes until softened. Add the garlic aand ginger, aand sauté about 1 minute until fragrant. Increase heat to medium-high, stirring in carrots. Add vegetable broth to the pot, cover aand bring to a simmer. Uncover, reduce heat to medium to continue simmering, aand cook carrots for about 25 minutes, until very tender. Remove the soup from heat aand allow it to cool slightly, then purée in a blender until smooth. Transfer to a large bowl – covering aand refrigerating for at least 2 hours – until chilled. Just prior to serving, stir in yogurt aand lime juice. Season with salt aand pepper, aand serve chilled.
Warming Bean Bowls
Perfect for cooler weather, these bean bowls are a colorful one-dish meal. Plus, they’re quick, easy, aand rich in fiber.
Ingredients:
- 1 chopped tomato
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 medium sweet potatoes
- 2 cups warmed marinara sauce
- 4 cups packed fresh baby spinach
- 2 bell peppers (seeded aand chopped)
- 1 15-ounce can black beans (rinsed aand drained)
- ¼ cup shredded cheddar, crumbled feta, or grated parmesan cheese
Microwave or bake the sweet potatoes until tender, then halve or chop them. Divide spinach between 4 bowls, aand microwave uncovered for 1 minute on high. Divide sweet potatoes, beans, tomato, peppers, aand cheese between spinach bowls. Stir cinnamon aand cumin into the marinara sauce, then divide between bowls.
Maple And Cinnamon Nuts
These crowd-pleasers are an ideal addition to holiday gatherings – or wrap them up in a pretty box as a hostess gift.
Ingredients:
- Sea salt
- 1 1/2 cups mixed nuts
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1/2 cup maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray, bake nuts for 10 minutes, aand remove to cool slightly. Warm maple syrup over medium heat, stirring constantly. Bring it to a low boil, stir in butter, add nuts, stir until coated, aand let cool. Combine chili powder aand cinnamon in a bowl. Remove nuts from the syrup mixture with a slotted spoon, aand toss them in the spice mixture. Spread the nuts onto a baking sheet, sprinkle with a little sea salt, aand let dry.
As you gather together with friends aand family this fall, warm up those chilly evenings with these comforting seasonal recipes.