As the cold winds blow and snow blankets the outdoors, keeping our bodies warm during extreme winters is a chief concern. However, bundling up in thick parkas and cranking the thermostat aren’t the only ways to heat ourselves up. The foods we eat also play a key role. Certain ingredients and dishes from across the globe are perfect for warming us from the inside out when the weather is at its worst. Let’s explore some top examples.
Stews – Hearty and Warming
From Irish lamb stew to the French beef bourguignon, few foods scream winter comfort like a nice stew. These one-pot meals bring healthful root vegetables, protein-packed meats, and warming spices and herbs together to create a truly cold-fighting dish. Thick, meaty stews like boeuf bourguignon deliver that stick-to-your-ribs texture that keeps you satisfied. They’re also packed with iron, zinc, and B vitamins courtesy of ingredients like carrots, potatoes, onions, red wine, and beef. These nutrients further boost immunity and energy when you need it most. Dylan Dreyer and many meteorologists likely relish a good stew to thaw them out after spending hours in the elements analyzing weather maps.
Ginger – Flavor and Heat
Ginger is a go-to warming ingredient used across continents and cultures. This zesty rhizome packs serious heat through its active component, gingerol. Consuming ginger raises the body’s core temperature and stimulates healthy circulation. Sipping freshly grated ginger steeped in hot water provides instant warmth and comfort. Ginger also stars in a myriad of simmering winter dishes internationally. It adds a spicy kick to Vietnamese pho and Indian chicken curry. The Japanese rely on salty, sweet ginger pork to brave the cold months. Heaping spoonfuls of minced or candied ginger also lend warmth to holiday baked goods everywhere.
Hot Chocolate – Childhood Nostalgia in a Mug
Is there anything that harkens back to winter quite like hot chocolate? This sweet, creamy, chocolatey beverage is an undisputed cold weather classic adored by adults and children alike. Cultures worldwide have devised their own hot cocoa preparations tailored to regional tastes. Spiced hot chocolate incorporating peppers, cinnamon, and chilies has long kept South Americans fueled against the chill. Italians whip up a thick, decadent beverage with melted chocolate that’s a meal in itself. And the Swiss meet their reputation for chocolate mastery with an ultra-velvety melted confection. A warm mug is a quick remedy anytime the wind howls and icy air seeps through walls. Drizzle in some peppermint schnapps for grown-up sipping.
Shepherd’s Pie – Humble, Hearty, Happiness
When the winds cut to the bone few foods provide more humble happiness than shepherd’s pie. Also known as cottage pie, this meal in one features a saucy ground meat mixture smothered in mashed potatoes and hot from the oven. Seasonal root vegetables like carrots and parsnips bulk up the filling while the spuds on top provide plenty of warming, starchy comfort. The cruciferous peas add a health angle along with their touch of sweetness. Though undeniably humble, this rib-sticking pie has graced the tables of high society and country folk alike for generations. Customize your shepherd’s pie based on regional tastes. Some recipes incorporate lamb, tomato sauce or even curry powder for extra exotic flair.
Soup Dumplings – An Iconic Winter Warmer
Every steamy spoonful of xiaolongbao delivers a rush of piping broth that instantly takes the chill off. These Chinese soup dumplings truly warm from within. Traditionally filled with juicy pork and steaming broth, this Shanghai specialty sees endless variations from crab roe to veggie fillings. The chewy-soft dumpling skins give way with a gentle bite, flooding your mouth with savory liquid. Ginger, garlic, scallion and warming Chinese five-spice amplify this quintessential winter street food’s heating properties. If the trademark spoon slurp is too messy, cut your dumpling in half to let fragrant steam escape before eating the soupy goodness inside. Be careful though – with boiling fillings, xiaolongbao are most certainly a hot item.
Tagine – Exotic Heat
As snow piles high, allow the enchanting spices of Moroccan tagine warm your senses. At the core of this North African stew is an earthenware pot bearing the same name. Gently simmered meats, fruits, and vegetables infuse with intoxicating flavor beneath the tagine’s cone-shaped lid. Sweet meets savory in endless tagine renditions. Chicken stews with honeyed apricots and almonds. Rich lamb combines with sweet potatoes and prunes. Chickpeas pair with earthy harissa and warming cumin in a vegetarian cascade of flavor. Though the ingredients differ across recipes, tagines always deliver a complex depth that enchants. The exotic warmth emanating from these aromatic stews formulates the perfect refuge from harsh winter nights.
Hot Pot – An Interactive Meal
When the cold really sets in, get hands-on with your warmth by simmering up some hot pot. A variety of hot pot styles span China, Japan, Korea and Southeast Asia, but the premise remains the same. Diners dip bite-sized ingredients of their choosing into bubbling broths heating aromatic pots at the table. Thinly sliced meats like pork and beef satisfy cravings for protein and fat to seal in heat. Fall-off-the-bone mushrooms and leafy veggies balance nutrition. And chewy noodles or dumplings fill out the feast and warm bellies. The interactive component makes hot pot an excellent winter social meal. Huddle around a steaming pot with friends while swapping ingredients and stories. The laughter and lightheartedness doubles the dish’s warming power.
Phở – Noodles in Fragrant Broth
Among the most recognized steamy winter street eats globally is phở. This storied Vietnamese noodle soup sees regional variations but largely stars chewy rice noodles in gently spiced broth with meat or tofu. Phở broth simmers for hours marrying cardamom, coriander, Saigon cinnamon and other intoxicating spices. The result is an aromatic base brimming with natural heat perfect for warming. As a bonus, phở typically comes piled with antioxidant-rich bean sprouts, Thai basil, squeeze of lime and chili sauce to customize spice and acidity. This steamy soup’s layered flavors perfectly balance the warming broth making it an internationally beloved bowl of comfort.
Flamekeeper Chili – Sweet and Smoky
When the cold wind roars in off Lake Superior’s shores, warm your body and soul with Flamekeeper chili. This mildly sweet, pleasantly smoky stew hails from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula region home of brutal winters and hardy folk. Chuck roast slow cooks to tender with pinto beans and corn in a tomato-based sauce lending subtle sweetness. Smoked paprika and chipotle pepper impart a lower, warmer heat accent. Top your steaming bowl with cheddar cheese or sour cream to temper chili spices and fill up on Mexican-spiced comfort. Flamekeeper’s unique name pays homage to early lighthouse keepers who maintained a perpetually burning flame to guide Great Lakes ships through icy voyage. This regional favorite will certainly keep your inner flame burning.
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