EnVi Eatery: 2023 Winter Recipes

Welcome to EnVi Eatery! Winter is upon us and it is undeniable that one of the best companions during this season is good food. In this edition, we round up some of our favorite winter recipes from different countries. Ranging from breakfast dishes to desserts, try out these easy recipes to explore local specialties around the world and enjoy your cold winter days.

Miso Soup

Bring Japanese cuisine to your dinner table with this traditional soup. Though it can be made with just miso and dashi stock, this healthy soup is rich with umami flavor which can bring warmth to your cold winter days.

Ingredients:

• 4 cups dashi stock
• ½ block silken tofu, cut into cubes
• 3 tablespoons white or yellow miso paste
• Chopped green onions
• Salt to taste

Directions:

1. Simmer your dashi stock in a pot.
2. Add your tofu and green onions to your dashi stock. Cook for 5 minutes then add your miso mixture. Stir and let it simmer for a minute.
3. Add salt if desired. Serve while hot.
4. In a bowl, mix your miso paste with hot water until smooth.

Basic Congee

Stay warm and cozy with this easy-to-cook rice porridge meal. Congee, which comes from the Tamil word kanjī (“boilings”), is a comforting rice-based meal that is popular in different Asian countries. Due to its simple base, it is a versatile dish that can be served with different toppings, be it savory or sweet. This staple meal is often eaten as breakfast. It is also known as a “healing soup” as its soft and smooth texture is the perfect go-to meal to comfort a sick person.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup jasmine white rice
• 8 cups water (or chicken stock, for flavor)
• 1 boiled egg (optional)
• Chili oil, sesame oil, soy sauce (optional)
• Chopped scallions and sesame seed for garnish (optional)
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. In a large pot, boil your chosen liquid base (water or chicken stock) on medium heat then add your rice.
2. Let it boil. Stir, then lower the heat.
3. Simmer with a lid on the pot. Make sure that the water is not overflowing the pot.
4. Let it cook for 30 to 45 minutes. Stir every once in a while.
5. Once it has a thick and velvety texture, turn off the heat. Add salt and pepper.
6. Serve immediately with your chosen garnish.

Kimchi Jjigae

This hearty Korean stew is a really famous dish across the globe, with kimchi as its main ingredient. It is a superfood rich in probiotics, which makes it a healthy alternative to the usual instant noodles. Kimchi jjigae is commonly paired with rice to balance the heat from the broth. If that’s not your style, it is very tasty on its own. Kimchi jjigae can be enjoyed as a full meal, a hangover remedy, warmth from the cold, and many more.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups fully fermented kimchi
• 180 g pork belly, sliced into bite-sized pieces
• 130 g tofu, cubed
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon gochujang
• 1 tablespoon gochugaru
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 4 cups water
• 1 teaspoon dashi (optional)
• 2 scallions, thinly sliced (optional)

Directions:

1. For the seasoning paste, mix the garlic, gochujang, gochugaru, soy sauce, and sugar together in a small bowl, then set aside.
2. Add the sesame oil on the pot over medium heat. Then, add the pork belly and cook until the fat renders.
3. Add the kimchi and seasoning paste in the pot and cook for 5 minutes or until the kimchi softens.
4. Add the water and let it simmer for 10 minutes on medium high heat, then put in the dashi.
5. When the pork belly is tender, add the tofu and scallions and cook for another 3 minutes.
6. Serve with a bowl of rice and enjoy.

Winter Horchata

Beat the cold with this favorite summer refresher. The Mexican variety of horchata is creamy and best paired with your favorite flavorful and spicy dishes. Commonly served ice cold, this traditional Mexican drink can also be enjoyed hot, making it a good companion during summer as well as winter. It is fairly easy to make and keeps fresh for up to five days when refrigerated.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups uncooked rice
• 1 cup toasted almonds
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 7 cups water
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup evaporated milk
• 1 cup condensed milk
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon powder

Directions:

1. Wash the rice, then soak overnight with the cinnamon sticks in 3 cups of water.
2. Pour all the ingredients in a blender, then add the almonds and puree until you get a very smooth mixture.
3. Strain it using a cheesecloth or fine mesh strainer. Then, add the vanilla extract, evaporated milk, condensed milk, and 4 cups of water. Stir well.
4. Pour the horchata into a pan and heat it carefully on medium low heat.
5. Garnish with cinnamon powder and serve while hot.

Mango Graham Float

Mangoes are the national fruit of the Philippines. A variety called the Carabao mango, or more well-known as the “Philippine mango,” is the locals and tourists’ favorite for its sweet taste. It is also a popular ingredient for different desserts and dishes. One of the easiest and most delicious holiday favorites is the mango graham float, sometimes called mango icebox cake, which you can make using just four simple ingredients.

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Ingredients:

• Graham crackers, whole and crushed
• 3 ripe mangoes, sliced
• 2 cups all-purpose cream
• 1 cup condensed milk

Directions:

1. Add 2 cups of chilled all-purpose cream in a bowl. Whisk it until stiff peaks form.
2. Add 1 cup of chilled condensed milk to the same bowl and mix thoroughly.
3. Cover the bottom of your dish evenly with whole graham crackers.
4. Spread a generous layer of the cream mixture on top.
5. Arrange the sliced mangoes until the cream mixture is fully covered.
6. Repeat the process until you form three layers, then sprinkle crushed graham crackers on the final layer.
7. Refrigerate overnight and enjoy!

Liked these recipes? Check out our recap of 2021’s most viral recipes on TikTok here.