Comfort food may be healthy, even if it contains cheese sauce and carbohydrates. Everybody has comfort food their favorite dishes that trigger nostalgia and take us back to our childhood, reminding us of good moments spent with loved ones. Recently, these dishes have grown in significance to us since they provide a feeling of community and connection during a period when many of us are spending more and more time away.
Comfort Food with a Twist: 5 Easy Recipes by Women Chefs
Re-creating your favorite childhood dishes with modern twist might help you eat a little healthier while still satisfying your nostalgia. Enjoy traditional, mouthwatering comfort dishes that have been inspired by some of the best women chefs of today and recreated with a modern twist. These dishes offer a new twist that elevates the familiar, are simple to make, and are accessible to home chefs.
Truffle Macaroni and Cheese
Chef Sylvia Fountaine’s version of the childhood classic is richer and more indulgent. The twist: For an exquisite and earthy aroma, sprinkle some truffle oil over the top. For added crunch and taste, sprinkle on some crispy breadcrumbs and green onions.
Ingredients: Elbow macaroni, Gruyere, sharp cheddar, milk, butter, flour, truffle oil, breadcrumbs, and green onions are among the ingredients.
Recipe: Mix the cooked macaroni with the cheese sauce, pour the truffle oil over it, sprinkle the bread crumbs and green onions on top, and bake until it’s bubbling and brown.
Chicken Pot Pie with a Veggie-Packed Upgrade
Chef-inspired comfort meets nutrition in Sylvia Fountaine’s version, which uses puff pastry or biscuit topping as a shortcut and packs the filling with rainbow vegetables (think butternut squash, kale, and peas).
Ingredients: Butter, flour, milk, chicken broth, shredded cooked chicken, various veggies, puff pastry or store-bought biscuits, and fresh herbs.
Recipe: Add the chicken and herbs to a creamy sauce made from sauteed veggies, then pour the mixture into a baking dish and cover with pastry and bake till it becomes golden.
Farmer’s Market Vegetarian Enchiladas
Black beans and colorful, roasted seasonal vegetables are used in place of typical fillings in Chef Fountaine’s enchiladas, which are then completed with a spicy green enchilada sauce. Instead of using sour cream, use cashew crema, which is dairy-free.
Ingredients: Cashew crème, green enchilada sauce, corn tortillas, black beans, and assorted veggies are among the ingredients.
Recipe: To prepare it, roast vegetables, wrap beans in tortillas, line a baking dish, pour sauce over it, bake, and then pour crema over it.
Vegan Pot Pie
A hearty, plant-based take on a traditional comfort dish, this recipe has a flaky vegan pastry top and a meaty mouthfeel from lentils and mushrooms and chef Nora loves it because it is hearty and satisfying.
Ingredients: Lentils, celery, carrots, mushrooms, vegan butter, flour, vegetable broth, seasonings, and vegan puff pastry are among the ingredients.
Recipe: Saute vegetables, add lentils and herbs to a broth, boil until thick, transfer to a casserole, top with pastry, and bake.
Polenta Lasagna
Traditional pasta is replaced by creamy polenta pieces stacked with spinach, ricotta, and tart tomato sauce for a lighter, gluten-free twist.
Ingredients: tomato sauce, spinach, ricotta, mozzarella, garlic, basil, and store-bought or handmade polenta.
Recipe: Arrange the cheese, spinach, and sauce on top of the thick polenta slices; bake until brown and bubbling.
How do women chefs put a unique twist on comfort foods
Women chefs are experimenting with new ingredients, international tastes, and inventive presentation strategies to give unique twists on traditional comfort dishes. Furthermore, they are working on providing unique dining experiences and using plant-based substitutes. Here are four ideas to give twist to traditionally delicious dishes:
- Change the sides- The use of creamy mashed potatoes and side salads in many classic recipes is quite acceptable. Reimagining these accompaniments can draw more attention. Take inspiration from different plant-based purees and roasted vegetable treatments, or start with a blended mash to accompany the traditional potatoes.
- Try Different Garnishes- Using garnishes is an easy way to showcase your restaurant’s own style. Think of house-made pickled jalapenos or wild garlic-mustard chimi-churri as examples of how these toppings let you experiment with textures and acidity to reimagine traditional comfort meals.
- Cover with Sauce- Although fan favorites include deli sandwiches and decadently cooked steaks on soft buns, there is opportunity to try more modern sauces and spreading fresh tastes over bread slices and buns can easily enhance these comfort dishes.
- Reimagine The Entrée- Comfort foods are popular for a reason; there is a taste combination at work that keeps drawing in customers. Using the same ingredients in a different way can sometimes be the twist that elevates these recipes to a new level.