Warm, festive and perfect for anyone craving warm winter comfort.
December has a special kind of magic- cooler evenings, soft lighting, cozy home dinners and that slow build-up to Christmas. It’s the perfect time to cook dishes that feel warm, comforting and a little indulgent.
If you’re looking for wintery recipes that feel festive but are still easy and doable in India, here are three cosy dishes to make this month:
- a glowing warm winter salad
- a creamy Tuscan-style pasta
- a golden herb-butter roasted Chicken (you can also substitute a cauliflower if you’re a vegetarian)
These dishes create a beautiful mini-December menu, perfect for date nights, dinner with family or hosting close friends.
Let’s get cooking.
I. Warm Winter Salad with Roasted Beet, Feta, Caramelised Walnuts & Apples
A vibrant, cosy, café-style salad with festive colours.
This warm salad brings together roasted beets, creamy feta, candy-like walnuts and crisp apple slices. It’s comforting but still fresh. The perfect modern winter dish.
Ingredients
For the Salad
- 2 medium beets, peeled & cut into wedges
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Salt & pepper
- 1 small apple, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup feta, crumbled
- 1 handful rocket or mixed greens
For Caramelised Walnut
- 1/2 cup walnut
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 1/2 tbsp brown sugar or jaggery
- Pinch of salt
For Dressing
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- Sal & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Roast the Beets
- Preheat oven to 200 degrees Celsius.
- Toss beet wedges with olive oil, salt, pepper.
- Roast 25-30 mins until soft & caramelised. (Air fryer: 180 degree celsius for 15-18 mins.)
2. Caramelise the Walnuts
- Heat a pan on low.
- Add butter + brown sugar and melt into syrup.
- Stir in walnuts until coated, glossy & sticky.
- Add a tiny pinch of salt.
- Spread on parchment to cool.
3. Make the Dressing
Whisk olive oil + balsamic + honey + Dijon + salt + pepper.
4. Assemble the Salad
- Add warm roasted beets to a bowl.
- Top with greens.
- Add feta, caramelised walnuts and fresh apple slices.
- Drizzle dressing and serve slightly warm.
II. Creamy Tuscan Pasta with spinach & Sun-Dried Tomatoes
(Add chicken for a non-veg option)
This Creamy Tuscan Pasta is the definition of Winter comfort: silky sauce and garlicky. It feels luxurious but is incredibly simple.
Ingredients
- 200 gms pasta (penne, farfalle or any of your choice)
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 5-6 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- 1 1/2 cup fresh spinach (I like using baby spinach)
- 1 cup cream (or half cream + half milk)
- 1/4 cup parmesan (or regular cheese if you prefer that)
- Salt & pepper
- 1 tsp Italian herbs
Optional (for meat-eaters)
- 1 Chicken Breast, sliced & sautéed in olive oil, salt & pepper
Instructions
- Cook Pasta
Boil pasta with salt until al Dante. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water.
2. Make the Tuscan Sauce
- Heat butter + olive oil.
- Add garlic and sauté till fragrant.
- Add sun-dried tomatoes and cook for 1 minute.
- Add cream, parmesan, herbs, salt & pepper.
- Let it simmer and thicken.
- Add spinach and let it wilt.
3. Combine
- Add cooked pasta (+ chicken)
- Add a splash of pasta water if you want a silkier consistency.
- Toss until everything is creamy and coated.
4. Serve
Garnish with more parmesan and cracked black pepper.
This pasta is rich, cozy and extremely December-friendly.
III. Herb-Butter Roasted Chicken
A golden, aromatic roast perfect for December evenings.
This dish is simple but extremely rewarding. The aroma of garlic, herbs and butter fills the home, instantly giving you that festive Christmas season, December warmth.
Ingredients
- 1 whole chicken (1-1.5 kgs) or 4 large chicken legs
- 3 tbsp softened butter
- 6-7 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp salt
- 1tsp thyme (fresh or dried)
- 1 tsp rosemary (fresh or dried)
- juice of 1 lemon
- Extra: sliced potatoes, onions, beans and carrots for roasting tray.
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken
Pat it dry.
Mix butter + garlic + herbs + lemon juice + salt + pepper.
Rub under the skin (important) and all over the chicken
2. Roast
Preheat oven at 200 degrees celsius.
Place the chicken on the tray (add the veggies around it)
Roast for 50-60 minutes or until golden and cooked through.
Baste once halfway with the melted butter in the tray.
3. Rest & Serve
Let the chicken rest for 10 minutes before cutting.
Serve with the Roasted veggies.
Tip: for extra crisp skin, turn the broiler/ grill mode for 3-5 minutes at the end.
And that’s your cozy December trio. Warm, modern, comforting dishes that make winter evenings feel special. Whether you’re cooking for yourself, planning a relaxed date night at home or hosting some friends and family, these recipes bring the perfect balance of ease and winter indulgence.
If you and up making any of these, tag @contactthehostedit. I’d love to see your cozy December evenings come to life. Here’s to slow nights, good food and the season of warmth.
– D
My Host Edit