From one-pot wonders to slow cooked braises, these comforting casseroles will ward off the cold and your hunger.
As the mercury drops, it's time to pull out those heavy casserole dishes and search for warming culinary inspiration. Slow cooked stews or casseroles make the most of cheaper, fattier cuts of meat, including those on the bone. As they bubble away on the stove or oven, they infuse the entire dish – and kitchen – with wonderful, rich flavours. And since most of the work is done at the beginning, they leave the cook free to sit back and enjoy the mouth-watering aromas, perhaps with a glass of wine in hand.
This makes braises and casseroles the perfect weekend or entertaining dish, especially if you don't fancy slaving over a hot stove once your guests arrive. In fact many of these winter warmers improve with age, so cook them the day before to give time for their rich flavours to fully develop.
Time can be a luxury though so if you can't wait that long, there are plenty of ways to speed the process up for a mid-week meal. Vegetarian and chicken recipes are particularly suited to the role of quick crowd-pleaser, with Chanterelle Mushroom Stew highly recommended for both the plant-based and time-poor cook.
The Falstaff team wishes you lots of fun and success in the kitchen!
