Our top 5 comfort foods to reach for when the weather gets cold
It’s a fact that cold weather brings on thoughts of hearty and comforting food. This craving is probably due to how these foods make us feel, rather than any physical need for more calories to keep us warm. It’s the feeling the Danes call hygge, the cosy enjoyment of staying in and sharing food with family and friends.
In Tasmania, when it’s cold outside and the fire is burning, it does feel ‘right’ to enjoy a warming slow-cooked dinner. We’re all for it, and with the wonderful array of Tasmanian produce we have to choose from, you can enjoy wholesome soups, satisfying pasta dishes and warming curries with a quick visit to Hill Street.
Of course you can cook these from scratch, but we do stock a wonderful range of ready-to-eat meals made by our team for those weeknights when you’re time-pressed and want to put a wholesome meal on the table quickly, without breaking the budget. Here are our top five comfort foods and how to cook them, or source them in a hurry, when you want to get hygge!
ONE
Lasagne
Lasagne is the perfect comfort meal and brings together the magic combination of carbs, protein or veg to really satisfy on those cold nights. There are many variations on the traditional lasagne, like this Eggplant Lasagne or Veggie Rainbow Lasagne, or take your traditional beef lasagne up a notch with this delectable Pulled Beef Cheek Lasagne. If you need to get your lasagne on the table in a hurry, pick up a read-to-eat lasagne made by our team at your nearest Hill Street. Choose from the Hill Street beef lasagne or Hill Street vegetarian lasagne in individual serves or the value family size, which is perfect for feeding a family of four.
TWO
Soup
A soup simmering slowly on the stove never fails to deliver that cosy feeling and is a great way to use up any vegetables, meat or chicken you have in the fridge. Classics like French Onion Soup, Ham Hock and Lentil Soup, Roasted Pumpkin and Thyme Soup with Gruyere Cheese, Potato and Leek Soup and Greek Avgolemono are all guaranteed to satisfy. If you’re pressed for time, have a look at Wursthaus’ heat-and-eat soups, made with all-natural ingredients just like you would make at home. Choose from Pea and Ham, Italian Minestrone, Moroccan Beef and Vegetable, and Pumpkin and Coriander, in either 500g or 800g tubs. And coming soon are Chicken Noodle Soup and Potato and Leek Soup.
THREE
Pies
There’s nothing like a hot pie in the cold weather. The brilliant thing about a pie is that you can put almost anything inside! So try your hand at Creamy Fish Pie, Creamy Chicken and Vegetable Pot Pies, Silverbeet and Pumpkin Pie, Chicken, Bacon, Leek and Grana Padano Pie, Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie, and Barbecue Pulled Pork Pie.
We also stock a range of fantastic ready-to-eat home-style pies in all Hill Street stores. A Chicken, Beef or Seafood family pie will feed your family.
FOUR
Curries
A warming curry is just the thing on a cold night, and if cooking your own, you can increase the spice level to your liking. There’s a curry for everyone from vegan to pescatarian, and everything in between. Some of our favourites are Mango Chicken Curry, Lamb Curry, Prawn Red Curry, and Vegan Sweet Potato Thai Green Curry.
We have heat-and-eat curries available in all our delis, including Butter Chicken, Thai Chicken, Malay Vegetable Curry, and Lamb Rogan Josh. The range varies from store to store, so keep an eye on your Hill Street deli to see what’s on offer. These come in individual serves or an extra-large size which will feed a family. All you need is some rice and you have a warming family meal ready in seconds.
FIVE
Spaghetti Bolognese
When it comes to comfort food, not many people can go past a good spaghetti Bolognese.
A great hack is to have a tub of Wursthaus Italian Bolognese on hand in the fridge for nights when you get home too late and need to put something hearty on the table. Just cook your pasta of choice and by the time it’s done, you have warmed your Bolognese, added a shaving of Parmesan, and you’re ready to go.
The Wursthaus Italian Bolognese can also be used for a ‘cheat’s lasagne’ as the meat filling – just layer between lasagne sheets and pour over a quick bechamel (see the one in this recipe), pop in the oven for 40 minutes and you have an amazing ‘home-made’ lasagne.
And for a variation on the meat and pasta theme, try Wursthaus’ Pork and Veal Meatballs. Cooked in a rich tomato sauce, all you need to add is cooked pasta for the ultimate night in.
For the ultimate convenience you can shop these products online here.
