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Photo: Greg DuPree
As the days get shorter, we could all use a little pick-me-up. That’s why we’ve pulled together these recipes that rely on nourishing ingredients like kale, salmon and yogurt thatresearch has linked to improved mood and lower stress. These satisfying meals also include delicious winter produce, like sweet potatoes, beets, cranberries and winter squash, for a seasonal meal that will hit the spot. Recipes like our Sheet-Pan Salmon with Sweet Potatoes & Broccoli or our Farro Risotto with Mushrooms & Greens are cozy ways to brighten winter’s short days.
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Sheet-Pan Salmon with Sweet Potatoes & Broccoli
photography / Caitlin bensel, Food Styling / Emily Nabors Hall
View Recipe
02of 24Roasted Sweet Potato & Beet SandwichesPhotography: Rachel Marek, Food stylist: Lauren McAnelly, Prop stylist: Gabriel GrecoView RecipeThese hearty sandwiches are piled high with veggies—including earthy roasted beets and sweet potatoes, lemony arugula and quick-pickled onions—for a satisfying dinner.
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Roasted Sweet Potato & Beet Sandwiches
Photography: Rachel Marek, Food stylist: Lauren McAnelly, Prop stylist: Gabriel Greco
These hearty sandwiches are piled high with veggies—including earthy roasted beets and sweet potatoes, lemony arugula and quick-pickled onions—for a satisfying dinner.
03of 24Farro Risotto with Mushrooms & GreensGreg DuPreeView RecipeGuests who choose to wander around Oak Hill Café in Greenville, South Carolina, know that chef David Porras has his own farm out back. This dish is a tasty way he uses up stems from leafy greens, flowers from bolted herbs, and other odds and ends from his copious beds.
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Farro Risotto with Mushrooms & Greens
Greg DuPree
Guests who choose to wander around Oak Hill Café in Greenville, South Carolina, know that chef David Porras has his own farm out back. This dish is a tasty way he uses up stems from leafy greens, flowers from bolted herbs, and other odds and ends from his copious beds.
04of 24Spinach & Artichoke Dip SoupPhotographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Josh HoggleView RecipeThis creamy soup captures the essence of spinach-artichoke dip perfectly. A touch of lemon juice adds a refreshing zing. Mop up every last bit with a hearty slice of whole-grain country bread or garnish the soup with crushed pita chips for extra crunch.
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Spinach & Artichoke Dip Soup
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle
This creamy soup captures the essence of spinach-artichoke dip perfectly. A touch of lemon juice adds a refreshing zing. Mop up every last bit with a hearty slice of whole-grain country bread or garnish the soup with crushed pita chips for extra crunch.
05of 24Buffalo Cauliflower Grain BowlPhotographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Lindsey LowerView RecipeThis Buffalo cauliflower grain bowl is a delicious and healthy alternative to traditional Buffalo wings, packing plenty of gut-healthy fiber and plant-based protein. It features a variety of fresh and colorful vegetables on a bed of precooked brown rice to keep prep speedy. Feel free to swap out the rice for another whole grain.
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Buffalo Cauliflower Grain Bowl
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Lindsey Lower
This Buffalo cauliflower grain bowl is a delicious and healthy alternative to traditional Buffalo wings, packing plenty of gut-healthy fiber and plant-based protein. It features a variety of fresh and colorful vegetables on a bed of precooked brown rice to keep prep speedy. Feel free to swap out the rice for another whole grain.
06of 24Rosemary Roasted Salmon with Asparagus & PotatoesView RecipeYukon Golds are great here because they get crispy on the outside but completely creamy on the inside. A brush stroke or two of balsamic glaze provides a rich color and a sweet finish to the roasted salmon.
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Rosemary Roasted Salmon with Asparagus & Potatoes
Yukon Golds are great here because they get crispy on the outside but completely creamy on the inside. A brush stroke or two of balsamic glaze provides a rich color and a sweet finish to the roasted salmon.
07of 24Slow-Cooker Kale & Sausage StewAli RedmondView RecipeTurkey sausage gets transformed in this rich stew made with hearty winter vegetables like carrots, kale and potatoes. Perfect for meal prep or family dinners, this stew comes together easily in the slow cooker.
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Slow-Cooker Kale & Sausage Stew
Ali Redmond
Turkey sausage gets transformed in this rich stew made with hearty winter vegetables like carrots, kale and potatoes. Perfect for meal prep or family dinners, this stew comes together easily in the slow cooker.
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Sheet-Pan Chili-Lime Salmon with Potatoes & Peppers
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Roasted Chickpea & Cauliflower Pitas with Sun-Dried Tomato Sauce
These pitas are piled high with roasted veggies for a satisfying vegetarian dinner. Bibb lettuce works well with these pitas, but a handful of arugula leaves would be just as nice. If you have it, a garam masala or shawarma spice blend can be used in place of the spices.
10of 24Skillet Salmon with Orzo & Green Pea PestoPhotographer: Rachel Marek, Food stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop stylist: Gabriel GrecoView RecipeThis delightful one-pan dinner combines salmon fillets with fresh green pea pesto and orzo pasta. Green pea pesto adds a unique twist to the traditional pesto, bringing a hint of sweetness, body and a vibrant green color to your plate.
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Skillet Salmon with Orzo & Green Pea Pesto
Photographer: Rachel Marek, Food stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop stylist: Gabriel Greco
This delightful one-pan dinner combines salmon fillets with fresh green pea pesto and orzo pasta. Green pea pesto adds a unique twist to the traditional pesto, bringing a hint of sweetness, body and a vibrant green color to your plate.
11of 24Sheet-Pan Chicken Thighs with Sweet Potatoes & BroccoliniPhotographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Lydia PursellView RecipeChicken thighs and sweet potato get crispy in the oven while broccolini roasts alongside in a foil packet for even cooking and easy cleanup. Pro tip: Place the chicken thighs in the corners of the baking sheet, where there is more air circulation, for crispy skin.
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Sheet-Pan Chicken Thighs with Sweet Potatoes & Broccolini
Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell
Chicken thighs and sweet potato get crispy in the oven while broccolini roasts alongside in a foil packet for even cooking and easy cleanup. Pro tip: Place the chicken thighs in the corners of the baking sheet, where there is more air circulation, for crispy skin.
12of 24Lemon-Garlic Vegetable SoupJacob FoxView RecipeThis light and lovely soup features fresh vegetables, herbs and a splash of lemon juice to brighten the flavor. Serve with a dollop of homemade pesto.
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Lemon-Garlic Vegetable Soup
Jacob Fox
This light and lovely soup features fresh vegetables, herbs and a splash of lemon juice to brighten the flavor. Serve with a dollop of homemade pesto.
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Roasted Salmon with Spicy Cranberry Relish
14of 24Chickpea Pasta with Mushrooms & KaleGreg DuPreeView RecipeLoading up your pasta with vegetables like the kale and mushrooms here is not only delicious, it also makes the meal more satisfying.
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Chickpea Pasta with Mushrooms & Kale
Loading up your pasta with vegetables like the kale and mushrooms here is not only delicious, it also makes the meal more satisfying.
15of 24Creamy Spinach-Artichoke SalmonPhotographer / Brie Passano Styling / Annie Probst / Holly RaibikisView RecipeFor this quick and easy dinner for four, the vegetables and sauce come together in one skillet in a matter of minutes while the salmon broils. Plus, salmon is swimming in heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids and loaded with vitamins and nutrients like B vitamins and potassium.
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Creamy Spinach-Artichoke Salmon
Photographer / Brie Passano Styling / Annie Probst / Holly Raibikis
For this quick and easy dinner for four, the vegetables and sauce come together in one skillet in a matter of minutes while the salmon broils. Plus, salmon is swimming in heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids and loaded with vitamins and nutrients like B vitamins and potassium.
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Baharat Spiced Eggplant
Ryan Liebe
17of 24Kale, Wild Rice & Chicken StewView RecipeChicken thighs get perfectly tender in just a few hours in the slow cooker. Plus, cooking everything together low and slow infuses all the flavors together for complexity in every bite.
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Kale, Wild Rice & Chicken Stew
Chicken thighs get perfectly tender in just a few hours in the slow cooker. Plus, cooking everything together low and slow infuses all the flavors together for complexity in every bite.
18of 24Red Lentil Fritters with Ginger-Yogurt SauceCharlotte and Johnny AutryView RecipeHere we soak lentils instead of fully cooking them, which gives them just enough added moisture to be whirred up into a fritter without being too wet. Serve these curry-spiced fritters on top of a green salad or tucked into a pita.
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Red Lentil Fritters with Ginger-Yogurt Sauce
Charlotte and Johnny Autry
Here we soak lentils instead of fully cooking them, which gives them just enough added moisture to be whirred up into a fritter without being too wet. Serve these curry-spiced fritters on top of a green salad or tucked into a pita.
19of 24Vegetarian Chopped Power Salad with Creamy Cilantro DressingBrie PassanoView RecipeThis healthy vegetarian salad recipe features chickpeas and quinoa for a boost of protein. Cilantro adds color and flavor when blended to make a creamy dressing. Serve this cold salad for lunch or dinner.
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Vegetarian Chopped Power Salad with Creamy Cilantro Dressing
Brie Passano
This healthy vegetarian salad recipe features chickpeas and quinoa for a boost of protein. Cilantro adds color and flavor when blended to make a creamy dressing. Serve this cold salad for lunch or dinner.
20of 24Slow-Cooker Citrus Salmon with Melted LeeksSlow-Cooker Citrus Salmon with Melted LeeksView RecipeWe’ve discovered the perfect pairing for this moist, lemony, slow-cooker salmon—slightly chewy leeks. Like other alliums, leeks become sweet and rich when roasted slowly for a long time. When cooked in the slow cooker they “melt,” becoming jam-like but still retaining pleasant chewiness. Garnish with fresh sage leaves and thyme sprigs, if desired.
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Slow-Cooker Citrus Salmon with Melted Leeks
We’ve discovered the perfect pairing for this moist, lemony, slow-cooker salmon—slightly chewy leeks. Like other alliums, leeks become sweet and rich when roasted slowly for a long time. When cooked in the slow cooker they “melt,” becoming jam-like but still retaining pleasant chewiness. Garnish with fresh sage leaves and thyme sprigs, if desired.
21of 24Charro Beans with Chorizo & Kale SlawEllen SilvermanView RecipeThis dish gets its name from the Mexican cowboys (charros) who cooked these soupy beans over campfires as they traveled the open range. The kale slaw is a bright foil for this earthy dish. Enjoy a bowl as is or scoop it up with warm tortillas. Look for Mexican-style chorizo near other sausage in well-stocked supermarkets or Latin American markets.
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Charro Beans with Chorizo & Kale Slaw
Ellen Silverman
This dish gets its name from the Mexican cowboys (charros) who cooked these soupy beans over campfires as they traveled the open range. The kale slaw is a bright foil for this earthy dish. Enjoy a bowl as is or scoop it up with warm tortillas. Look for Mexican-style chorizo near other sausage in well-stocked supermarkets or Latin American markets.
22of 24Lemongrass-&-Coconut Poached SalmonPhotographer: Rachel Marek, Prop stylist: Holly Dreesman, Food stylist: Gabriel GrecoView RecipeThis poached salmon dish features a trifecta of inflammation-fighting ingredients: turmeric, ginger and salmon. For a more filling meal, serve with a whole grain like brown rice, or over rice noodles.
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Lemongrass-&-Coconut Poached Salmon
Photographer: Rachel Marek, Prop stylist: Holly Dreesman, Food stylist: Gabriel Greco
This poached salmon dish features a trifecta of inflammation-fighting ingredients: turmeric, ginger and salmon. For a more filling meal, serve with a whole grain like brown rice, or over rice noodles.
23of 24Baked Sweet Potatoes with Cranberries & TurkeyView RecipeGive leftover turkey new life with these delicious stuffed potatoes. A drizzle of homemade honey-mustard dressing soaks into the hot potatoes, adding tons of flavor.
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Baked Sweet Potatoes with Cranberries & Turkey
Give leftover turkey new life with these delicious stuffed potatoes. A drizzle of homemade honey-mustard dressing soaks into the hot potatoes, adding tons of flavor.
24of 24Sheet-Pan Teriyaki Salmon with Green BeansPhotographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Lydia PurcellView RecipeThink of this sheet-pan teriyaki salmon as a stir-fry without the stirring! Instead, rice and veggies are baked on a hot sheet pan alongside green beans and salmon coated in a sweet teriyaki glaze.
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Sheet-Pan Teriyaki Salmon with Green Beans
Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Lydia Purcell
Think of this sheet-pan teriyaki salmon as a stir-fry without the stirring! Instead, rice and veggies are baked on a hot sheet pan alongside green beans and salmon coated in a sweet teriyaki glaze.
Jessica Ball, M.S., RD
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