I think it’s fair to say that it’s officially autumn now. Summer was incredibly generous for us in the UK this year, but I’m ready for cosy evenings and warming foods now. Every year, I gravitate towards seasonal recipes around this time of year. It’s no different this year! So, I figured I would share with you some of my favourite autumnal recipes to try. And guess what: none of them involves a pumpkin!
1. Polish Bell Pepper Stew – Leczo
Let’s start with one of my favourites: leczo. It’s a bell pepper stew, popular in Poland in the autumn, when bell peppers are in season. I believe there are regional variations of this dish in other countries in Eastern Europe too. This is one of my absolute favourite savoury recipes of all time in general. It’s great for meal prepping – throw everything into the slow cooker and enjoy the best stew in a few hours! I’ve already made it a few times this year, and have a couple of portions frozen for emergency quick meals.
2. Knedle – Polish plum dumplings
Next up, we have knedle – Polish plum dumplings. A sweet dish, though who says you can’t have it for dinner? They work for every meal, from breakfast to dessert. Sprinkle them with cinnamon and serve with a splash of yoghurt for the best experience. These plum dumplings require a specific type of plum, popular in Eastern Europe, but not so much in the west. Still, I usually have no trouble finding these plums in Polish stores in the autumn, and recently bought a whole box in M&S!
3. Almond cardamom tart
If you fancy baking something new this autumn, I have a couple of suggestions for you. This almond and cardamom tart is perfect for a cold day. Rich and seasoned with warming cardamom, it’s the ultimate comfort dessert for autumn. It’s a foolproof recipe that doesn’t require great skills and always turns out delicious!
4. Wholemeal apple tart
And if you prefer a lighter cake that still screams autumn, how about a wholemeal apple tart? It’s more of a ‘fit’ recipe, if that’s up your street. Serve heated up with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for the perfect healthy (ish) dessert this autumn.
5. Caramelised apples
Speaking of apples, one of my favourite, basic recipes are caramelised apples. This is not a recipe to eat by itself (although if you want to, I won’t blame you!). Caramelised apples are super simple to prepare, and they’re a perfect topping for porridge, or filling for an apple tart. And if you fancy trying out an Eastern European dish, enjoy your caramelised apples with some cooked white rice for dessert. Yum!
6. Chocolate coated apple mummies – Halloween treats
I don’t love pumpkins, so Halloween food doesn’t usually fill me with excitement. But, there’s one exception. Chocolate coated apples are one of my favourite snacks. When they appear in supermarkets (usually around the end of September), I eat them pretty much every day. They’re only available for a short time each year, I make sure to satisfy my cravings! Chocolate coated apples are incredibly easy to make at home too, if you have the patience. You can also customise them for your individual desires! I made these mummy and Biscoff apples and they were delicious. I don’t have the time to make my chocolate coated apples at home too often, but they’ll make an impressive snack for a Halloween party!
7. Apple crumble for one
I have two more apple-based recipes for you before we move on. This apple crumble for one is a perfect, relatively healthy dessert to make for one person, if you live by yourself and it doesn’t make sense to bake a whole cake. I love fruit crumble in general, but for a warming snack on a cold day, apples work particularly well. Serve it hot and enjoy immediately! You can add a side of vanilla ice cream if you feel like spoiling yourself a little bit more.
8. Protein apple fritters
The last recipe that contains apples is also one of my favourites, and most frequently repeated ones. These protein apple fritters make a delicious breakfast! They’re a variation of my moist high protein pancakes, which is one of my top recipes of all times – ever since I made them for the first time, I don’t think I’ve gone more than a week without making them. Filling thanks to the protein, and simply delicious. The apple variation is just perfect for autumn. Trust me, you need to try these!
9. Polish plum cake
Let’s leave the apples now and go back to plums again – and Polish specialties. But trust me, you’ll love this Polish plum cake too! It’s light and fluffy, topped with plums and sweet crumble. It’s my Dad’s favourite cake, so obviously, I make it whenever I fly home in the autumn (and in the spring, I make it with rhubarb instead). You’ll need fresh yeast for this cake – they make the cake so fluffy! I’m yet to make this cake this year, but I certainly will soon.
10. Cauliflower and bell pepper curry
To finish this list of autumnal recipes to try, I’m bringing you one of my oldest posts on this blog – a cauliflower, bell pepper and coconut milk curry. The post itself may not be polished or fancy, but I still love the recipe! A vegetable stew is generally one of the best foods for cold days, in my opinion. Bell peppers are in season, so they’re a staple in my menu right now. They fit perfectly in stews in general!
Bon Appetit
So there you have it – my list of 10 recommendations for autumnal recipes to try this year. It’s a solid list, in my humble opinion, with some of my favourite foods of all times. I’ve already made some of these recipes this year, and you should too. If you’re not a fan of pumpkin (like me) but still want to cook and bake with seasonal products this autumn, I have just the perfect ideas for you. Enjoy!
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