Comfort food is both universal and specific. Particular dishes connect us to our memories, family, culture, and community. As the nights draw in many of us will be indulging in some of our favourite comfort foods to stave off the winter blues. And like us mere mortals, most celebrities will be reaching out for comforting, hearty dishes to keep them warm this season. Comfort food is there to make us feel better – and even celebrities indulge occasionally!
Today we reveal what the famous will be turning to, to get them through the dark winter months –
The Princess of Wales loves simple winter classics
The Princess of Wales enjoys traditional home-cooked meals and often turns to a roast chicken dinner to satisfy her comfort food cravings. Princess Catherine is also partial to the ultimate winter pudding: sticky toffee pudding, which she is known to order often at her local pub in Norfolk.
Jennifer Aniston has a thing for Nachos
In a recent interview Jennifer admitted that tortilla chips are her vice. In an interview with SELF Magazine, She explained that she adds her own healthier twist, “I fry the chips myself. Just take a tortilla, cut it into triangles, and throw ’em in coconut oil.”
Kourtney Kardashian calls her macaroni and cheese ‘the ultimate comfort food’
‘Who doesn’t love mac and cheese?!’ she said recently when sharing her favourite comfort food recipe. Kardashian opts for easy substitutes in the recipe to give it her healthy spin—like adding turkey bacon instead of traditional bacon. She also incorporates almond milk for a touch of sweetness, non-dairy cheeses and gluten-free pasta.
Gok Wan likes street food from Southeast Asia.
‘My comfort food is a really simple dish that my family in Hong Kong makes, which is essentially just noodles and oyster sauce, but it is absolutely delicious. Street food in Southeast Asia is cheap and healthy and packed with flavour, I love it.’
Holly Willoughby loves cheesy baked potatoes
She recently said: ‘I love a baked potato with real butter, cheese, and beans. But which do you put on first? I think cheese then beans to get the cheese really melty’.
Our clever team have recently developed some delicious new seasonal, comforting recipes for you to try this winter. With delicious dishes like a Turkey Taco bowl and a creamy Tarragon Chicken with Mashed Potato and Winter Vegetables, order your box and try for yourself today.
Chunky Red Lentil Soup
Our chunky red lentil soup recipe is a real comfort food winner. Perfect to whip up when the cupboards are bare, this warming winter soup is also packed full of vitamins.
Serves: 2
Preparation time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 25 minutes
Wheat free, gluten free, dairy free.
Ingredients
2 teaspoons groundnut oil
50g cubed pancetta
1 medium onion, peeled and roughly chopped
75g dried red lentils, rinsed and drained
400g tin chopped tomatoes
400ml vegetable stock
To serve:
Freshly ground black pepper
Small handful flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
Method:
Add the oil to a medium-sized non-stick saucepan and place over a medium heat. Add the pancetta and fry for 2 minutes, followed by the onions. Leave to sweat for about 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add the carrot and stir to mix with the onion. Cover and leave for another 4-5 minutes, shaking the pan occasionally to prevent sticking.
Add the lentils and tomatoes (along with their juices), then the stock. Bring to the boil, the reduce the heat so the soup simmers steadily.
Cover the pan and leave for 10-15 minutes, or until the lentils have collapsed and the vegetables are soft.
Season the soup with black pepper, then ladle into warmed serving bowls.
Sprinkle with the parsley and serve immediately.
Image from Jennifer Irvine’s ‘The Balance Diet’ book available on Amazon (Orion Publishing Group) (Photography by Dan Jones)