Though it may not seem like the most fruitful season for produce, the winter is still a prime time for select fruits and vegetables. Citrus, for example, is at its peak of flavor and nutrients in the winter. These fruits also serve as a great source of vitamin C to help boost immunity during cold and flu season. Root vegetables like carrots, beets, parsnips, and leeks are said to be sweeter in the winter. Additionally, dates, figs, cranberries, fennel, and cabbage are versatile seasonal choices.
Check out the recipes below, which are filled with these nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables.
Cabbage Salad with Citrus Dressing and Radishes
Slice cabbage thicker than you would when making a slaw, giving it a substantial crunch that remains even after it’s drenched with tangy, creamy dressing.

Pomegranate Molasses-Glazed Chicken and Carrots
Pomegranate molasses, a staple ingredient in the Eastern Mediterranean, gives this one-pot dish a delectable tang.

Bison with Hazelnut Spätzle and Charred Carrots
This dish pairs tender, perfectly seared bison steaks with homemade hazelnut spätzle and roasted carrots. The rich beef stock reduction and whole-grain mustard add depth to the plate, while black currants and sunflower shoots provide a touch of brightness. Sliced shallots and a final sprinkle of flaky sea salt give it a textural pop.

Udon Nabemono
You know what’s better than soup to warm you up on a cool night outside the tent? Hot pot, particularly packed with well-spiced noodles.

Inside-out Carrot Cakes
Fun and portable, this easy dessert stuffs sweet cream cheese icing between two flat cylinders of spiced carrot cake.

Winter Panzanella
Refreshing yet comforting, a winter panzanella offers the key to low-stress holiday hosting. It’s simple, quick, and an all-around favorite, so you can easily switch out ingredients and make it what you want. Bonus: The sturdy radicchio won’t wilt, so you can prep this in advance.

Root Vegetable Gratin
This hearty dish shows off the beautiful root vegetables of fall and winter. All you need with it is warm, crusty bread and a good bottle of well-structured merlot.

Winter Beet Soup
A beauty to look at, this hearty vegetarian soup will brighten any winter table.

Chicory and Beet Salad with Champagne Vinaigrette and Saffron Aioli Drizzle
Bittersweet chicory and luscious beets are napped with saffron aioli.

Blood Orange and Bittersweet Chocolate Sorbet
The marvelous merger of orange and chocolate gets even better when you pair blood oranges’ raspberry nuances with dark chocolate and a little Campari for complexity. The herbal, slightly bitter liqueur also helps keep the sorbet from getting icy.

Roasted Carrot Platter
Scoop up these spiced carrots and seasoned yogurt with freshly toasted pita chips.

Roasted Beets with Tahini
“Even if you don’t like beets, you’ll love this salad,” promises Chef Alon Shaya. “The nutty flavor from the sesame in the tahini pairs well with the earthiness of the beets.” Shaya suggests adding Aleppo peppers for a spicy kick or substituting orange juice for lemon to add more sweetness.

Spicy Beef Cross-Rib Roast with Caramelized Clementine Sauce
Chinese orange-peel beef was the inspiration for this roast.

Chicory Salad with Winter Citrus, Avocado, and Fennel Vinaigrette
Says Sonoma chef Kelly Mariani of this recipe: “When I think of a classic ‘California winter’ salad, this is what comes to mind. It celebrates how special California is. Our coldest season is still amazing.”

Citrus Salad with Spiced Vanilla Syrup
This easy fruit salad looks especially striking made with multiple varieties and colors of blood oranges and grapefruit, but it’s just as delicious with a single kind of each. You’ll have enough syrup left over for flavoring sparkling water or lattes.

Spicy Blood Orange and Lemongrass Chicken
Attention, citrus lovers: This dish includes zest in the lemongrass-chile rub, juice in the refreshing dressing, and peeled segments in the crunchy cucumber and shallot topping.

Pork Shoulder Roast with Figs, Garlic, and Pinot Noir
Stuffing this roast with figs and garlic slivers will make you feel like a modern-day Julia Child, and the results are stunning: mosaic-like slices infused with rich fruit and wine flavors.

Figs in Mosto Cotto (Grape Syrup) with Fresh Ricotta
Mosto cotto (also called saba) is nothing more than the freshly pressed juice of wine grapes, simmered down to syrup. If you can’t find wine grapes, try our mosto cotto recipe—it’s a good approximation of the real thing.

Crispy Duck Breasts with Balsamic-Glazed Tangerines
Duck breasts have thick skin, so it’s best to cook them slowly over a low flame to render the fat. Here, we used that fat to make a decadent glaze studded with citrus segments.

Almond Torte with Grilled Figs
This lovely, not-too-sweet torte is equally good for dessert, a late-afternoon treat, or even breakfast. Almond flour gives it a rich, buttery texture; almond extract and sliced almonds heighten the flavor.

Black Rice Salad with Butternut Squash and Pomegranate Seeds
Dramatic-looking black rice–which has a mellow, sweet taste–comes from several places in the world, including Thailand and Indonesia. If you can’t find it, wild, brown, or red rice would also work (cook according to package directions).

Chicken in Saffron Butter and Leeks
Humble chicken thighs are ennobled by a saffron-tinged honey brine, creating a dish that’s by turns comforting and luxurious.

Poached Orange-Fennel Salmon with Dill Crème
Kristen Murray, pastry chef and owner of Maurice restaurant in Portland, learned the easy technique of oven-poaching fish in a foil pouch from her grandmother. (You’ll need wide, heavy-duty foil.) The salmon works beautifully made a day ahead and served at room temperature. For a bit of green, top with fennel fronds, carrot tops, or chervil.


