It is very common to hear from elderly people to never miss out on seasonal vegetables and why they are important to one’s health. This dialogue may sound cliche but seasonal veggies are fresh from farms and are essential for combating health problems during those respective seasons. And when it comes to winter, nothing can beat the freshness of flavours and nutrition that can be derived from vegetables that are in season.
Winter is the season of cold breezes and hot cups of chai beside the fireplace, warming those shivering hands. And while you may love to indulge in hot beverages during this season, don’t underestimate the power of seasonal vegetables. From making vibrant soups with them to turning them into rich stews, from making delicious curries that heat up the body to making off-beat desserts, you can do plenty with winter veggies.
Beetroot
Beetroot is a vibrant pink-coloured winter season addition to any cold-weather menu. This vegetable adds a dash of natural colour and earthy sweetness to the meals. Beet is a very important veggie during winter since it is versatile and can be cooked as a curry, pickled, or simply turned into a salad or blended with soups to gain a unique flavour, colour and warmth.
Sweet Potato
The nutritional root vegetable and natural sweetener of the winter season is sweet potatoes. The natural sweetness of this vegetable enhances different dishes, such as sweet soups or heavy casseroles. One can make multiple dishes from sweet potatoes like crispy chips, chaats, smashed roasts and even curries in some parts of India. Don’t forget to give halwas and kheers made with this veggie a try.
Turnip
Turnip is a winter vegetable that shines through in the cold season melas. It is a crunchy, versatile root vegetable with a peppery zing. This hearty vegetable brings comfort to the cold season when you cook interesting meals with it. Turnip is a versatile veggie that can be prepared in various ways. The most common delicacy is turnip and potato curry, but apart from that, one can also prepare warm soup and pickles with it.
Fiddlehead Ferns
The unusual Assamese vegetable of the winter season – fiddlehead fern – is a treat that needs to be tried. These dark green spiral leaves have a distinctive flavour that tastes like asparagus mixed with spinach. The short stay of these vegetables in the kitchen adds uniqueness and great taste to your meals for this period. There are some unique dishes that can be cooked with fiddlehead ferns, such as sauteed, Assamese shaak dishes, etc.
White And Purple Yams
Their flavours and healthful nutritional benefits put white and purple yams among the winter season’s jewels, especially in the Western Indian and South Indian states. These colourful root vegetables are rich in flavour and soft texture and will surely satisfy the soul! If not in the form of curries, they will be delicious with many comforting soups and savoury meals, warming up your cold winter dining table.
Bathua
Bathua saag, also known as wild spinach and pigweed, is a leafy North Indian vegetable found especially in wintertime. Very popular across Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and other states, this winter, green is used to flavour everything from Chole to Paneer and create innovative dishes apt for the season. Other delicacies that you can cook with Bathua are stir fry, parathas, raitas, etc.
Green Peas
The green peas add a glistening flash of colour and a light, sweet flavour to any meal. Green peas are, again, versatile vegetables that can be added to various delicacies like curries, soups, Indo-Asian dishes, stews, etc., to keep you healthy and full throughout the winter. It can also be used in modern cooking by pureeing it and converted into dips and soups.
Cauliflower
Cauliflower, a type of cruciferous vegetable in the winter season, is indeed a wonderful nutritious delicacy. It is an excellent and popular vegetable to cook in vegetarian dishes like parathas, curries, tandoori items, etc. The availability of this vegetable during winter makes it possible for one to benefit from its enormous nutritional benefits and enjoy the taste.
Spinach
As a winter-season gem, spinach has many nutritional values and is used to cook many traditional recipes. Spinach is an excellent addition to in winter recipes and can be used to prepare various curries, salads, soups, and smoothies. Some of the popular vegetarian Indian dishes that are made with spinach are Palak Paneer, Palak Patte ki Chaat, Palak Saag, Palak Chicken curry, etc.
Saarso Saag
Mustard greens or saarso saag is an exemplary vegetable for every winter season, especially in North Indian states like Punjab. The winter gem has an irresistible aromatic peppery taste that adds flavour to most traditional recipes. Usually, saarso saag is popular in the northern part of India and is accompanied by a unique type of bread called makke ki roti.