Autumn Recipes and Best Comfort Foods

Across New Zealand we are enjoying the last vestiges of summer as autumn beckons, the days get shorter and it becomes that much harder to get out of bed in the morning. For most of us the BBQ got a thorough workout over summer but now it is time to get back into the Kitchen and fire up some of those classic autumn recipes.

As the weather gets cooler and crisper, the urge for comforting and hearty casseroles, chutneys, soups, pies and crumbles sets in. Here are some of our favorites to wrap your mittens around this autumn (by some of the worlds best chefs).

Roast Carrot & Fennel Soup

Recommended and devised by none other than Jamie Oliver, this soup is sweet and aromatic best coupled with flatbread. Roasted carrots, fennel, onion and garlic in soup form make for a fantastically simple and reassuring autumn meal.

Chicken Mushroom and Bacon Pie

“Even the word pie is comforting,” Nigella Lawson. Streaky and crisp bacon mingling alongside sliced mushrooms and chicken strips make for wholesome eating. The allure of pastry, as Nigella describes, is always powerful because when you get it right that puffy magnificence is simply delicious!

Boeuf Bourguignon

A sumptuous and slow-cooked stew recipe from Gordon Ramsay makes for the perfect autumn supper. This French classic originates from Burgundy: a stew prepared with beef braised in red wine and beef broth, flavored with garlic, onions and a bouquet garni, with pearl onions and mushrooms added as final touches. Delish! 

Apple Crumble 

Inspired by Dave Lieberman, this dish can be enjoyed anytime of the year but is a real treat in the crisp atmosphere of autumn. Golden apples peeled and sliced tossed with sugar, lemon, flour and cinnamon baked until crispy. A sprinkling of nuts, oats, sugar and cinnamon served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and you sir are in heaven!