Top Ten Winter Warmer Recipes

The clocks have gone back, Halloween has been and gone, there's a definite nip in the air and mince pies are in all the shops. It's officially winter. The time for salads and light snacks is gone, we need proper comfort food now.

On those days when you have to thaw your feet out after the walk from the bus stop, you need substance and warmth. Well, hello, Jambalya! You'll do just fine! So would chorizo and chickpea stew. Hell, even beans on toast would be a welcome treat, assuming the beans are the Boston baked sort.

Chilli is nature's body warmer, sinus de-blocker and general happiness-maker. That's science so you'll have to believe me. You want proof?! Stir up a batch of this steak and smokey chorizo chilli and tell me that all of the above isn't true. Try our braised steak chilli on those days when you've got a Sky+ box full of The Face to catch up on. It cooks while you pledge allegiance to Team Naomi, Erin or Caroline.

If all else fails, smothering all your food in smoky chilli sauce will give you that delicious heat, no matter what's for dinner. And we've got a list of top ten chilli recipes for when that cold just won't quit.

So, you dropped your mittens in a puddle and you're pretty sure you've got frostbite. Wrap yourself around a bowl of Breton chicken and soon you'll forget why you were grumpy when you got home. Lemon and garlic chicken is another sure-fire way to make the day a million times better (the mountain of carbs you'll serve it with also helps).

If the weather's got you too grumpy to hop into the Tesco Metro on your way home, try a brilliant store cupboard dish - pasta is your friend here. We love crab linguine for those can-be-arsed day when shopping is one task too many. If you're not a shellfish fan, then give chorizo and mushroom tripoline a go instead.

Soup is absolutely your best friend this winter (make sure you bookmark our top ten soup recipes). Make it something substantial and you'll never regret your decision to opt for a bowl of this most wonderful food. Chicken noodle soup is possibly the most comforting of all the soups. 

Try rice noodles or soba noodles if you're gluten free. Lentil soup is a hearty choice, add sausage, chorizo and butter beans and you've got a gorgeously warming dinner. French onion soup is one of my favourites, the fact that it comes complete with a cheesy crouton is neither here nor there.

What are your winter warmers?

Still peckish? Check out more of our top ten recipe posts.