Healthy Winter Recipes for Cold People

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Assortment of healthy winter recipes for people who are always cold

Are you that person who is always cold? We know how it feels. So we’ve compiled our favorite healthy winter recipes to help warm you up from the inside out! These mains, sides, breakfasts, and beverages are also plant-based and easy to prepare. Stay warm, friends! (Note: Dietary symbols listed throughout for easy navigation!)

Main Dish

Spoon in a bowl of Instant Pot chili
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Easy Instant Pot Chili (Vegan, Oil-Free)
Instant Pot chili that’s fast, easy to make, and versatile. Hearty, warming, incredibly comforting, and savory-sweet thanks to sweet potatoes and kidney and black beans.
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Wooden spoon in a pot of Butternut Squash Chili alongside ingredients used to make it
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1-Pot Butternut Squash Quinoa Chili
Incredibly delicious, 1-pot chili with butternut squash, fire-roasted tomatoes, quinoa, and two kinds of beans! Hearty, flavorful, and so easy to make!
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Bowls of our delicious 1-Pot Black Bean Soup topped with avocado, tortilla chips, and avocado
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Easy 1-Pot Black Bean Soup
Easy-to-make, comforting black bean soup made with simple ingredients in 1 pot! A 30-minute meal or side that’s customizable and incredibly satisfying.
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Blue linen with a spoon and bowl of Vegan Tomato Veggie Mung Bean Soup
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Fire-Roasted Tomato & Mung Bean Soup
Easy, 10-ingredient vegetable soup with fire-roasted tomatoes, tons of vegetables, and detoxifying mung beans! A hearty soup for the colder months that’s entirely vegan and gluten-free!
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Bowls of Everyday Vegan Lentil Soup beside a tray of vegetables
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1-Pot Everyday Lentil Soup
An easy, everyday recipe for lentil soup with potatoes, carrots, kale, and simple herbs and seasonings. The perfect plant-based main or side that requires just 10 ingredients, 1 pot, and about 30 minutes to make.
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Big pan of Cauliflower Dal Green Curry packed with fresh greens
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1-Pot Cauliflower Dal Green Curry
Green curry with coconut milk, moong dal, cauliflower, and loads of greens! A hearty, flavorful, 1-pot meal inspired by Indian and Thai cuisines!
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Bowls and skillet of our Amazing Vegan Yellow Pumpkin Curry recipe
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1-Pot Pumpkin Yellow Curry
Easy, 1-pot Pumpkin Curry with yellow curry paste, coconut milk, fresh vegetables, and pumpkin. A simple yet satisfying plant-based, gluten-free dinner!
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Simple Curried Lentil Veg Soup SQUARE
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Curried Kale, Potato & Lentil Soup (1-Pot!)
Hearty, comforting curry lentil soup with potatoes and kale! Big curry flavor in this 1-pot soup that comes together in less than 45 minutes. The perfect satisfying, healthy, plant-based meal.
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Using a spoon to grab a bite of our delicious 1-pot Golden Curried Lentil Soup
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1-Pot Golden Curry Lentil Soup
1-pot goodness in the form of curried lentil soup! Rich with flavor, fiber, and protein and incredibly comforting. The perfect 30-minute healthy meal or side!
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Metal tray filled with Vegan Palak Paneer with cubes of tofu
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Vegan Palak Paneer with Curried Tofu
An incredibly flavorful, vegan take on classic palak paneer with curried tofu in place of cheese! 30 minutes required, big flavor, and so delicious!
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Holding a bowl of creamy sweet potato lentil soup topped with coconut milk and pepitas
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Warming Red Lentil Sweet Potato Soup (Instant Pot!)
Creamy sweet potato and red lentil soup infused with coconut milk and warming spices. The ultimate fall and winter dish. Made in the Instant Pot and perfect for meal prep!
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Coconut milk swirled in a pot of roasted butternut squash soup
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Roasted Butternut Squash Soup
The PERFECT butternut squash soup with plenty of natural sweetness, a bit of spice, and unbelievably creamy texture. Simple methods and just 10 ingredients required for this dreamy soup perfect for the holidays and beyond!
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Pan of Cauliflower Rice Kitchari topped with fresh cilantro
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1-Pot Cauliflower Rice Kitchari
A hearty 1-pot meal of kitchari — a traditional Ayurvedic dish for when comfort food is on the brain. Easy to digest and incredibly soothing, our inspired take on this flavorful dish can be served atop greens, grains, or roasted vegetables.
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Big pot of vegan Curried Cauliflower Lentil Soup
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Creamy Curried Cauliflower Lentil Soup (1 Pot!)
Creamy, Indian-inspired 1-pot curried cauliflower soup with carrots, ginger, and red lentils! Subtly spiced, quick and easy to make, and perfect for meal prep!
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Wooden spoon in a pan of Vegan Tempeh Bolognese topped with fresh parsley leaves
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1-Pan Tempeh Bolognese
Hearty, saucy 1-pan tempeh bolognese! Easy to make, ready in just 30 minutes, and perfect for pasta, eggplant parmesan, lasagna, and more!
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Plate of our Vegan Spaghetti Squash and Meatballs recipe
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Cheesy Spaghetti Squash Pasta
Flavorful, wholesome spaghetti squash pasta sautéed with onion and garlic and mixed with a cheesy cashew ricotta-style cheese! The perfect 9-ingredient side or entrée when topped with vegan meatballs!
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Pan of Vegan Sweet Potato Shepherd's Pie with a spoonful removed
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Lentil & Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie
A colorful take on classic shepherd’s pie with lentils, vegetables, and a fluffy sweet potato topping. You’ll love this 10-ingredient plant-based meal!
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Plate and baking dish filled with our vegan Sweet Potato Black Bean Enchiladas
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Sweet Potato Black Bean Enchiladas
Smoky, hearty vegan enchiladas with black beans, roasted sweet potatoes, and kale! This recipe puts our Easy Red Enchilada Sauce to use. The perfect simple, 9-ingredient meal for Mexican night!
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Plate of Moroccan Eggplant Tomato Stew with fresh parsley served over white rice
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Moroccan-Spiced Eggplant and Tomato Stew
Moroccan-spiced tomato stew with roasted eggplant, smoky spices, and chickpeas! An incredibly comforting, satisfying 10-ingredient meal inspired by the flavors of zaalouk. 
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Lemon wedges and fresh cilantro on a platter of our Cauliflower Rice Mujadara recipe
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Curried Cauliflower Rice with Lentils & Crispy Shallot (Mujadara-Inspired)
A grain-free, healthier take on Middle Eastern-inspired mujadara with cauliflower rice, lentils, and crispy shallot! A satisfying, affordable, flavorful side dish or main.
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Bowls of our Sweet Potato Sheet Pan Dinner recipe beside a bowl of tahini sauce
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Sheet Pan Meal: Curried Sweet Potato & Chickpeas
We love when dinner is made entirely on 1 pan! Enjoy this simple sweet potato, chickpea, and cabbage dish seasoned with Indian spices like garam masala! Serve with fresh or steamed greens, tahini, lemon, and sides of choice!
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Sides

Bowl of Crispy Baked Cauliflower made with curry powder
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Quick Crispy Cauliflower
Our go-to method for making crispy, flavorful cauliflower FAST! Ready in 30 minutes with 4 simple ingredients, this cauliflower is a perfect side dish or addition to bowls, salads, and more!
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Baking sheet of perfect roasted carrots with fresh rosemary and thyme
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Perfect Roasted Carrots (Quick & Easy)
Perfect roasted carrots that are tender with caramelized, crispy edges. Simple ingredients and methods required, plus options for adding flavor with spices or herbs!
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Breakfasts

Spoon in a bowl of Cozy Turmeric Porridge with pomegranate arrils
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Cozy Turmeric Porridge (1 Pot!)
Cozy turmeric porridge with steel cut oats, coconut milk, turmeric, and spices, and naturally sweetened with maple syrup. Just 1 pot required!
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Using a fork to grab a bite of Gluten-Free Buckwheat Crepes topped with fresh fruit
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5-Ingredient Buckwheat Crepes
Easy, 5-ingredient buckwheat crepes that are both vegan and gluten-free, plus sugar-free! Simple methods, fluffy and tender, and so delicious!
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Close up shot of a plate of homemade Vegan Sausages made with quinoa and mushrooms
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Easy Vegan Sausage (Soy- & Gluten-Free!)
Easy vegan sausage made with pinto beans, quinoa, nuts, and spices! Flavorful, comforting, and perfect for breakfast, brunch, and beyond!
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Beverages

Wood platter with a mug of vegan Golden Milk alongside ingredients to make it
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5-Minute Vegan Golden Milk
Creamy, easy golden milk with dairy-free milk, ginger, turmeric, and coconut oil. Naturally sweetened, incredibly healthy, and so delicious. Ready in just 5 minutes!
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Two glass mugs of our Turmeric Tonic drink on a wood cutting board
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Healing 3-Ingredient Turmeric Tonic
A 5-minute, 3-ingredient, 1-pot healing tea tonic with ginger, lemon, turmeric, and cayenne. The perfect way to detox the body, recover from a cold, or relax before bed.
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Jar of our simple homemade caffeine-free Chai Mix alongside fresh spices
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5-Minute Caffeine-Free Chai Mix
A quick-and-easy caffeine-free chai mix! The perfect solution for making this classic Indian beverage without caffeine in a snap. Just 6 ingredients and 5 minutes required!
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A mug of our creamy caffeine-free Moringa Latte for an antioxidant-rich drink
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3-Ingredient Moringa Latte (Caffeine-Free “Matcha!”)
If you love the flavor of matcha but don’t want the caffeine, this creamy, 3-ingredient moringa latte is for you! Loaded with minerals and antioxidants, no caffeine rush, pleasant flavor, and so easy to make!
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Cutting board with mugs of our homemade Mushroom Latte recipe
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5-Minute Mushroom Latte (2 Ways!)
Creamy, hearty mushroom lattes ready in just 5 minutes (2 ways!). Mushroom powders blend with cacao or coffee to create the ultimate cozy hot beverage.
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Holding the handle of a mug of vegan Hot Chocolate made with adaptogens
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Adaptogenic Hot Chocolate (5 Minutes, Low Sugar)
Low caffeine, low sugar hot chocolate with raw cacao and adaptogens including reishi mushroom, maca, ashwagandha, and he shou wu. The perfect cozy beverage to replace coffee or matcha in the morning, or to wind down with in the evening.
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If you give any of these recipes a try, let us know! Leave a comment, or take a picture and tag it #minimalistbaker on Instagram. Enjoy, friends!

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  1. Adrienne says

    Just would like for you to know that you are a Culinary Angel. Thank you, thank you, thank you for filling our tummies and homes with such glorious goodness – I have purchased your cookbook twice but keep giving them away so, once again, I will do so and hopefully, keep a hold of this one so we can enjoy more of your fantastically delicious inspirations!

    Please know how much we appreciate the efforts you make – wishing you and yours SO MUCH SUCCESS in 2024, and of course, BEYOND!

    With warmest regards from a devoted Fan,

    Adrienne

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Adrienne! This is just the sweetest. We SO appreciate your kind words and support! Thank you for being here! xoxo