Content
Skip to Main ContentAccessibility Help
Life

What to cook in January: Nourishing hot meals to start your new year off with lots of energy

These warming, nutrient-dense dishes might really hit the spot this month.

These warming, nutrient-dense dishes might really hit the spot this month

Brittany Toole · CBC Life ·
left to right: a red pot of beans; a sheet pan with meatballs, roasted vegetables, pitas and a small bowl of yogurt sauce; a bowl of kanji, a porridge-like soup of rice and chicken
(Ed Anderson, Amina Al-Saigh, Nik Sharma)

The start of a new year can be an exciting time as we think about all the adventures we'll go on and goals we'll accomplish in the months ahead. But the early days of January can also feel daunting with a seemingly endless expanse of cold, dark winter on the horizon. If you're anything like me, you may find yourself reaching for warming bowls of nourishing foods to help fuel you through the day as you ease back into your routine post-holiday season. 

So in the spirit of satisfying cravings for something hot and healthy this time of year, we've gathered recipes for delicious meals chock full of nutrient-dense ingredients. These include ones with complex carbs such as beans, lentils, farro and potatoes to help provide you with lots of energy for whatever you've got planned this month. A couple favourites are Steve Sando's master recipe for a pot of beans  — a batch cook that will set you up for the whole week — and chef Dwight Smith's rice and peas, a classic side that pairs well with just about anything.

We've also got plenty of protein-packed options to support your body. Start your day off with a hearty breakfast of roasted eggplant with baked eggs and chickpeas from Matt Basile and Kyla Zanardi. And for dinner, try making tray-baked salmon niçoise or za'atar orange chicken and potatoes — both are simple and truly satisfying weeknight meals. 

You'll find lots of recipes based around micronutrient-loaded vegetables, too. So if you're craving plant-forward food right now, but cannot fathom enjoying a cold salad in the dead of winter, a dish like Dhivya Subramanian's roasted cauliflower with dates and herby farro or Amina Al-Saigh's Lebanese moussaka may be exactly what you're after. 

And because nothing feels more nourishing in January than a heaping bowl of soup, we've rounded up a few of our go-tos, such as Hetty Lui McKinnon's baby bok choy and rice vermicelli soup, Nik Sharma's simple but savoury chicken kanji and Bri Beaudoin's vegan cream of broccoli soup with garlicky breadcrumbs. Bonus: many of these recipes are easy to scale up, so you can make a big pot and enjoy them for a few days. 

Happy cooking — and happy new year!

Za'atar orange chicken and potatoes

Overhead shot of a white pot with cooked chicken drumsticks and potatoes. A drinking glass and a bowl with the chicken sit next to the pot.
(Photography by Amina Al-Saigh)

Red lentils with crispy garlic and greens

Overhead shot of hands adding a spoonful of dal with greens to a plate with rice on it.
(Photography by Dhivya Subramanian)

Baby bok choy and rice vermicelli soup

A bowl of soup with vermicelli and baby bok choy. It's sitting on a wood surface with a pair of chopsticks in the background.
(Photography by Hetty Lui McKinnon)

Middle Eastern stuffed onions

Overhead shot of a blue and white platter with stuffed onions in a tomato sauce. The platter is sitting on a bright blue surface.
(Photography by Amina Al-Saigh)

Tray-baked salmon niçoise

A large piece of baked salmon surrounded by potatoes, green beans and cherry tomatoes on a baking sheet.
(Photography by Jackson Roy)

Warm winter salad

Overhead shot of 3 bowls of salad on a wooden table.
(The Goods)

Cauliflower steak with crispy chickpeas and broccolini

Overhead shot of a dinner plate on a wooden table. The plate has roasted cauliflower, creamy goat cheese mash, roasted chickpeas and broccolini.
(Photography by Dennis The Prescott)

Roasted chicken noodle soup with fresh herbs

A red Dutch oven filled with chicken noodle soup, sitting on a wooden table with carrots, onions, soup bowls and spoons sitting next to it.
(Photo: David Bagosy, Styling: Melissa Direnzo)

Egg curry

Overhead shot of 2 grey plates with rice and egg curry on them sitting on a grey surface. A yellow pot of egg curry sits next to it and a bowl of rice sits in the bottom left corner.
(Photography by Dhivya Subramanian)

Master recipe for pot beans

Closeup overhead shot of a red pot of beans next to a stack of bowls.
(Photography by Ed Anderson)

Grilled radicchio salad with tahini & chive dressing

Overhead shot of a platter of grilled radicchio topped with red onion, radish slices and tahini sauce.
(CBC Life)

Split pea and spaghetti soup

Overhead shot of a white bowl of yellow soup on a terrazzo countertop. A small bowl of dill, a spoon and napkin and a blue Dutch oven surround the bowl.
(Photography by Carmen Cheung)

Roasted cauliflower with dates and herby farro

Overhead shot of 2 plates and a serving platter that have a salad with roasted cauliflower, dates and herby farro on top of yogurt.
(Photography by Dhivya Subramanian)

Lebanese moussaka

Overhead shot of Lebanese moussaka on a bright blue plate, on a blue and white tiled surface.
(Photography by Amina Al-Saigh)

Winter pappa al pomodoro

closeup on a bowl of tomato soup
(Photograpy by Dennis The Prescott)

Meatballs with mixed vegetables and tahini-yogurt sauce

Overhead shot of a sheet pan with meatballs, roasted vegetables, pitas and a small bowl of yogurt tahini sauce.
(Photography by Amina Al-Saigh)

Water spinach with fermented tofu

An overhead shot of a white plate of Stir-Fried Water Spinach with Fermented Tofu.
(Photography by Hannah Che)

No cream of broccoli soup with garlicky breadcrumbs

A closeup, overhead portrait of a bowl of green soup topped with breadcrumbs. It's sitting on a white marble plate with a silver spoon and a piece of crusty bread next to it, all on top of a white marble counter.
(Photography by Anguel Dimov)

Vegan ragu bolognese

Closeup on a plate of pasta with bolognese sauce on it. A noodle is twirled on a fork above the plate.
(Photography by Lauren Toyota)

Dal aur sabzi

Overhead shot of a green plate of Dal aur Sabzi, Lentils with Roasted Carrots and Kale on a white lace tablecloth. A yellow plate of basmati rice sits next to it.
(Photo: Shayma Owaise Saadat)

Polos ambula (young jackfruit curry)

Overhead shot of Young Jackfruit Curry in a black pot on a grey surface. The jackfruit is cut in triangular pieces and a wooden spoon is in the top left corner.
(Photography by DL Acken)

Meatball soup with white beans and greens

Overhead shot of a shallow white bowl filled with meatball soup with lots of vegetables in it. It's sitting on top of a dark blue cloth napkin on a wooden table.
(Photo: David Bagosy, Styling: Melissa Direnzo)

Misir wot (lentil stew)

overhead shot of a bowl of lentil stew with a small bowl of spices sitting next to it. a plate with flatbread (injera) sits next to that.
(Photography by DL Acken)

Chicken kanji

Overhead shot of a grey bowl of kanji, a white, porridge-like soup made with rice and chicken with oil, fried onions and chopped green herbs on top. A spoon sits in the bowl. The bowl is on a black marble table.
(Photography by Nik Sharma)

Rice and peas

Overhead shot of a plate of rice and peas with bowls of sliced limes and green onions next to it.
(Photography by Owais Rafique Marketing Inc.; styling by Matthew Chin)

Roasted eggplant with baked eggs

Overhead shot of halved eggplants on a baking sheet. They're topped with eggs and chickpeas.
(Photography by Kyla Zanardi)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Brittany Toole

Brittany Toole is an associate producer at CBC Life.

    Related Stories

    Add some “good” to your morning and evening.

    From life's little projects to its big questions; the latest in food, style, relationships, work and money, home, wellness, pets and travel delivered directly to your inbox each week.

    ...

    The next issue of CBC Life Newsletter will soon be in your inbox.

    Discover all CBC newsletters in the Subscription Centre.opens new window

    This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Google Terms of Service apply.