One of the things I love most about winter is the opportunity to slow down. In winter we are invited to turn inwards, to examine the beauty around us instead of just piling on more and more. These four cozy winter dinner recipes all celebrate the art of slow. With minimal ingredients and simple preparations, their magic lies in the length of time they simmer, stew and braise on the stove or in the slow cooker. Dried beans turn into velvety soups, large roasts transform into bite-size tender bits, and vegetables caramelize into complex morsels. Take it as an offering of winter’s beauty and abundance.
Slow-Cooker Chuck Roast
This recipe is a mainstay for regenerative farmer Jen Riemer. She loves it because of how wonderfully flexible it is. You can experiment with different types of savory herbs or other root vegetables to keep things interesting all winter long. Just keep the proportions about the same and you can’t go wrong. She also enjoys soaking up the drippings from the pan with crusty bread. If you prefer gravy, you can remove the liquid into a saucepan, add 1 to 2 tablespoons of cornstarch and simmer the liquid over low heat until it's thickened.
White Bean, Kale and Sausage Soup
No one knows beans quite like local farmer Lucy Doudlah who has loads of recipes and a quick reference guide for how to cook dried beans on her farm’s website. Her favorite no-soak method for cooking dried beans uses a pressure cooker or Instapot. If you want to try this method for the following recipe, just combine the beans and 3 cups of water in a pressure cooker or Instapot, and cook for 35 minutes instead of completing steps 1 and 2 of the recipe.
Braised Pork Shoulder Roast with Chestnuts and Sweet Potatoes
Chestnuts and sweet potatoes bring an unusual, yet festive twist to this slowly braised roast. A little sweet, a little nutty and endlessly tender, it’s a winter meal worthy of dinner guests—or perhaps even a holiday table. Cliff Gonyer makes this meal frequently each winter, and likes to enjoy it with a medium-bodied Côtes du Rhône wine.
Creamy Vegetable Stew with Cheddar Dumplings
In winter, nothing sounds better to me than a meal that smells amazing as it cooks slowly in my kitchen all day. The aromas entice while the flavors build, making way for an easy, early dinner. The most hands-on part of this recipe is the dumplings. Technically they’re optional, but if it’s a dark and cold winter night, why not lean in with some quick decadent cheddar dumplings?
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