Top Ten Hearty Dishes for Fall

Fall has definitely arrived and that cool weather had me scrambling for some nice warm dishes - it's comfort food season! I went through our recipes and pulled together my Top Ten Hearty Dishes for this coming month. These all-natural, healthy meals provide the warmth you’re looking for, with a touch of spices and traditional Greek flavors to keep you from getting too bored. There's something for everyone here, from vegetarians to pescatarians to vegans to good old-fashioned carnivores 😊 Happy cooking!

1. Lamb Youvetsi 

Youvetsi is a classic Greek oven-baked dish, with meat slow-cooked in a tomato-based sauce and baked with orzo. You can make it with cubed lamb or beef, and the all-natural flavors of Elli & Manos' sauces and Agrozimi's robust spelt orzo give a wonderful texture and taste. Try our Lamb Youvetsi recipe and enjoy the leftovers, too, because it's even tastier the next day!

2. Venia's Chicken with Red Wine and Sparoza Spices 

My friend Venia is a big fan of Sparoza's cooking blends and spices. When she sent me this chicken recipe, I jumped on it because you can always use a new chicken recipe! She enhanced hers with Sparoza's Cooking Blend with Spices & Orange Zest, which made for a really nice, comforting dish for my family. Give Venia's Chicken with Red Wine and Sparoza Spices a try tonight!

3. A Greek-Colombian Fusion Minestrone Soup

If you've followed my blog for a while, you know I have a soft spot for anything from Latin America. So when a Colombian fan of ours sent us his soup recipe earlier in the year, I completely fell for it! Juan, who lives in northern California, used Agrozimi's egg & milk kritharaki with a selection of fresh vegetables a hearty, filling minestrone-type of soup - and it's fast enough for a warming lunch break for everyone working and studying at home. Try Juan's Greek-Colombian minestrone soup!

4. Traditional Greek Baked Fish - Plakí 

I took a traditional Greek baked fish dish, plakí, and added two favorites from Tragano Greek Organics - pitted organic Kalamata olives and my secret ingredient to add a punch to all sorts of dishes -  sea fennel! The condiments make all the difference when baking any white fish. Try Traditional Greek Baked Fish for your next Friday Fish Night!

5. Louise-Audrey's Easy Shrimp Pasta Plate  

I had originally shared this recipe from our friend, college student Louise-Audrey, last summer, while I was back home in Thessaloniki. But this easy-to-make recipe is just as delicious in fall, thanks to the hearty flavors of  Agrozimi hilopites with real eggs and milk (a traditional Greek pasta that looks like fettuccine).Louise-Audrey used Sparoza's handmade Cooking Blend with Herbs and Lemon Zest, and a nice dollop of Tragano Greek Organics extra virgin olive oil, which should bring back nice summer memories when you make this easy shrimp pasta dish! 

6. A Fast French Quiche with Spinach and Feta

Our French-born intern, Leonore, had shared this recipe last year and I loved the extra intense flavor she gave this classic dish by adding Elli & Manos Spinach & Feta Greek Flavor Burst. This is another nice dish for anyone wanting a filling hot lunch break while working or studying from home, without spending hours in the kitchen. Try out Leonore's Fast French Quiche with Spinach and Feta. 

7. Trahanoto, a Greek Risotto 

Trahaná is usually eaten as a soup, a typical Greek winter comfort dish. My grandmother used to make it with flour and yogurt during the summer, then air-dry and store for the winter. The past few years have seen Greek chefs turn this into a Greek version of Italian risotto, slowly cooking it with broth and adding mushrooms and other condiments. Try our trahanoto for a different pasta night!  

8. Lentil Soup  

It's hard not to get in the mood for soup with this damp, chilly weather and lentil soup is high on the list of classic comfort food! With such a high content of plant-based protein and fiber, this makes for a filling, healthy meal for any vegan, especially when you give it a punch with Sparoza's Cooking Blend and accompany it with good Greek olives! Try Lentil Soup and tell us what you think!

9. Bison Meatballs with Tomato & Thyme  

This is another easy and flavorful recipe using the oh-so-versatile Elli & Manos Greek Flavor Bursts. I like to use bison instead of beef because it is leaner, cooks faster, and is more tender, but you can prepare the meatballs with beef or veal or pork or any combination of ground meat. I had shot this picture with steamed jasmine rice that nicely absorbs the sauce, but it's also nice with Agrozimi's handmade pearl couscous. Enjoy our Bison Meatballs with Tomato & Thyme and tell us your favorite accompaniment!

10. Cincinnati Chili Revisited 

What kind of Cincinnati girl would I be if I didn't talk about chili?! Decades ago, Greek immigrants broughtmakarónia me kimá to my town, and it was transformed into the famous Skyline Chili, a staple of Cincinnati still today. When I started Zelos, I was inspired to go for a lighter version of this homestyle classic with our newly-arrived products(I admit to leaving out the oyster crackers and kidney beans!). The secret is to slowly simmer everything - the longer you simmer, the more the flavors will develop. Enjoy our version of Cincinnati Chili for a relaxing weekend meal.

We'd love to hear your own go-to hearty dishes, as we head into colder weather - send us a picture and recipe because we'll all need even more of these during winter!