Recipes  

10 Comforting, Low-Cost Recipes to Cheer Up on Grey Days

Smoking hot broths, simmering stews, strong and spicy flavours… These are the types of dishes that warm us up when the weather is grey and cold. Enjoy a dose of comfort with these 10 suggestions that are not only good for your heart, but also your wallet.

1. Pork and Cheese Casserole for Tortillas

A single dish that concentrates a bunch of flavours together is a call for friendly sharing. This casserole combines ground pork, vegetables, black beans, spices and cheese that cook slowly before ending up stuffed into tortillas. Place this family meal in the middle of the table for a most pleasant experience.

2. Tofu and Sweet Potato Curry Soup

Tofu, sweet potatoes and curry. Three ingredients that become allies in this economical recipe that’s both sweet and spicy. You’ll love the creamy touch of coconut milk and the light saltiness of miso. It’s a good time to stay warm inside and serve yourself a big bowl of soup.

3. Chicken Cutlets, Gnocchi and Kale with Creamy Mushroom Sauce

In addition to being versatile, chicken breasts are cheap, which allows you to use them in a ton of fall dishes, such as this one. Here, they’re served with gnocchi and slightly wilted kale in a velvety mushroom sauce. A meal as warm as your favourite sweater.

4. Tuna Melt

Our gourmet version of this American classic is delicious. The base is similar to the famous grilled cheese: toasted bread with extra melting cheese. But its tuna, mayo, gherkins and dill garnish makes all the difference. We melt for this affordable sandwich that will fill you up nicely.

5. Sausage and White Bean Soup with Parmesan Croutons

A big bowl of hearty soup is among the most accessible remedies against the cold weather. Here’s one that combines sausages, orzo and cannellini beans in a tomato broth. Garnish it with Parmesan croutons and you’ll be back in good spirits in no time.

6. Vegetable and Pork Meatloaf with Red Pepper Barbecue Sauce

If there’s a recipe that’s as comforting as it is affordable, it has to be meatloaf. This homegrown classic, which includes ground meat, onions, breadcrumbs and spices, is among the dishes we love to come back to when the cold weather hits.

7. Beef Stew with Green Vegetables

Among well-priced cuts of beef, the blade roast is a good choice. When you cook it long and slow in broth with beer, ketchup and soy sauce, it soaks up all the flavours and becomes incredibly tender. In this recipe, it stews slowly with green vegetables of your choice, such as broccoli and green beans. It’s the perfect dish to serve when you return from a long hike.

8. Vegetarian Harira Soup

A colourful, fragrant soup is always welcome to deal with rainy days. Inspired by Moroccan harira soup, this recipe combines a lightly spiced tomato broth, legumes and aromatics, which spruces up a meal and delights your taste buds on a dime.

9. Spaghetti Squash Marinara

Squash is THE star of fall. And we love it even more because it’s inexpensive and can be adapted to various dishes, starting with this one, which features spaghetti squash instead of pasta. Served with tomato sauce, Parmesan and basil, it will warm you up from the inside when it’s cold outside.

10. Apple Crumble (The Best)

With its layers of warm apples, crunchy oat topping and enveloping, caramelized brown sugar aromas, this crumble has everything going for it in this season. Just settle in comfortably at home and savour this indispensable dessert, a veritable ode to fall.

For more recipe ideas to cook when the weather is depressing, check out our flavours of fall section.