Winter Warmers: Meals to Heat You Up.

Looking for alternative ways to stay warm this winter?

Try our delicious winter warming recipes for a more environmentally friendly way to heat yourself this winter.

At Utopi we talk a lot about warming yourself and not just the room - it’s better for the environment, and also better for our bills - but, how can you warm yourself more? What better way than delicious food!

As the winter chill sets in, there's nothing like a comforting, warming meal to cheer you up and keep you cosy. If you are not used to living away from parents, creating affordable yet nutritious winter meals is a valuable skill. In this blog, we'll share three budget friendly and warming recipes along with a handy grocery list, ensuring you can whip up a delicious and warming dinner without breaking the bank. Each ingredient list will be enough for 2 portions, so you can share with a friend, or pack the other for lunch!

Meal 1: Tomato Gnocchi.

Ingredients:

• ½  Onion

• 2 Garlic Cloves

• 400 g Gnocchi

• ½ tsp Chilli Flakes

• 75 g Tomato Purée

• 75 ml Water

• Mixed herbs of your choice

• Olive Oil

Instructions:

Step 1. - Finely chop garlic and onion.

Step 2. - Add a good splash of olive oil to a pan, add onion and cook until soft and translucent.

Step 3. - Place your gnocchi into a pot of salted boiling water.

Step 4. - Add garlic, chilli flakes and dried herbs to your pan with the onion. Before the garlic starts to brown, add your tomato purée and give it a good mix. Cook until the tomato purée starts to caramelise.

Step 5. - Add some of the Gnocchi water to the pan holding your tomatoes until you get a thick starchy sauce.

Step 6. - When the gnocchi is al dente (this should take about 2 mins), add it to the tomato pan. Get a fork and mix the gnocchi thoroughly to make sure the gnocchi doesn't stick together.

Step 7. - Season with salt and pepper. Tuck in.

Meal 2: Bacon Packet Noodles.

Ingredients:

• 200g Smoked Bacon

• 2 packs of Instant Noodles

• 1 tbsp Peanut Butter

• 1 tbsp Soy Sauce

• 1 tbsp Chilli Oil

• 1 tbsp Rice Wine Vinegar

• Chinese Five Spice to taste

• 2 tsp Minced Ginger

• 5 Spring Onions

Instructions:

Step 1. - Spoon your peanut butter into a bowl and mix together with your soy sauce, chilli oil, rice vinegar and 2 tbsp of water until you get a thick, creamy sauce. Then set aside.

Step 2. - Cut your bacon into chunks and fry in a non-stick pan until crispy.

Step 3. - Meanwhile, finely chop your spring onion (setting aside a handful for garnish) and ginger. Add to the pan along with your five-spice for an aromatic kick, then stir together.

Step 4. - In another pan bring your noodles to the boil. Simmer for about 3 minutes then add to your bacon pan. Set some of the noodle water aside.

Step 5. - Next, take your peanut sauce and stir it through the noodles until they are evenly coated - add a splash of the noodle water to loosen it.

Step 6. - Plate up and garnish with a sprinkle of spring onion and a tsp chilli oil then you’re ready to tuck in.

Meal 3: Minestrone Soup.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 Red Onion

• 1 Carrot

• 1 stick Celery

• 1 Potato

• 3 Garlic cloves

• 1 tbsp Tomato Puree

• 1 tbsp Dried Oregano

• 1 tbsp Smoked Paprika

• 1 tsp Chilli Flakes

• ½ tin of drained Butter Beans

• ½ tin chopped Tomatoes

• 600ml Vegetable Stock

• 75g Pasta

• 25g Basil

• 50g Spinach

• Olive Oil to serve

Instructions:

Step 1. - Finely dice the onion, carrot, celery and potato, then mince the garlic.

Step 2. - In a large saucepan, heat 2 tbsp of olive oil on a medium heat. Once warmed, add the onion, carrot, celery and potato with a large pinch of salt.

Step 3. - Cook on medium heat for 5-10 minutes until softened and slightly catching on the pan, then add the garlic, frying until fragrant.

Step 4. - Add the tomato purée with the oregano, paprika and chilli flakes, cooking out for another 2-3 mins. Add in your wine and let that cook out for a bit too.

Step 5. - Add the butter beans, chopped tomatoes, vegetable stock, then season with salt and pepper and bring to the boil.

Step 6. - Lower the heat to a simmer for 10-15 mins.

Step 7. - Add the pasta once the soup has simmered + cook until almost al dente. Once cooked, chuck in the spinach and basil, allowing to wilt.

Step 8. - Spoon into bowls, top with fresh basil, olive oil, and more chilli flakes. Enjoy!

Enjoy your winter warmer meals!

This winter, warm yourself up with these affordable and nutritious meals. Embrace the joy of cooking, and share these recipes with your flatmates for delicious shared dinners. Making a healthy, warming meal is not only a culinary achievement but also a step towards a cosy and sustainable student life. Stay warm and eat well!

Grocery List.

Produce:

• Red Onions

• Carrots

• Celery Stick

• Medium potato

• 1 pack of Gnocchi

• Bulb of Garlic

• Bacon Lardons

• Small bag of Spinach

• Bunch of Spring Onions

• 1 tin of chopped Tomatoes

• 1 tin of Butter Beans

• 2 packs of Instant Noodles

• Minced Ginger

• Tomato Puree

• Fresh Basil

Pantry:

• Smoked Paprika

• Chilli Flakes

• Chinese Five Spice

• Vegetable Stock cubes

• Dried mixed herbs of your choice

• Olive Oil

• Pasta

• Peanut Butter

• Soy Sauce

• Chilli Oil

• Rice Wine Vinegar