If you find during the colder months that you're constantly craving comfort foods like pasta, stews, and ramen, you're definitely not alone.
As winter rages on, new data from meal-box company Chefs Plate reveals that searches for warming, comforting foods are surging as Canadians look for recipes to prepare them for the cold.
When it came to the most lusted over recipes, the data highlights that butternut squash soup was the most-searched, with 90.5k average monthly searches. This was followed by pumpkin pie and beef stew, with 60,5000 average monthly searches each.
Most Searched Recipes Nationally:
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Butternut squash soup
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Pumpkin pie
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Beef stew
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Shepherd's Pie
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Apple Pie
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Green Bean Casserole
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French Bean Casserole
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Sweet Potato Casserole
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Chicken Pot Pie
The data also reveals that in the last three months, searches for 'tourtière’ are up 311%, searches for ‘butter tart’ are up 173%, and searches for ‘nanaimo bars’ are up 83%.
“When the temperature drops, our bodies crave hearty, comforting and warming dishes, " a spokesperson from Chefs Plate said. "Eating foods like these helps to warm the body from the inside, and can also combat low energy and circulation.”
Why we love comfort food in winter
As temperatures drop, many of us find ourselves turning away from salads and instead yearning for the warmth and familiarity of dishes like mum’s chicken soup.
Research suggests that our brains react to cold weather by seeking out warm, comforting foods. Especially during the colder months, when we tend to spend more time indoors, the allure of cozy, comforting meals becomes even stronger.
Comfort food takes on various forms for different people, serving as a source of solace during times of stress, nostalgia, discomfort—such as feeling cold—or emotional turbulence. Often, these dishes we turn to are rich and laden with carbohydrates.
Moreover, studies indicate that a decrease in serotonin levels can trigger cravings for carbohydrate-rich foods like gnocchi, pasta, hearty ragouts, and creamy mashed potatoes, further emphasizing the link between our moods, cravings, and the foods we seek out during colder weather.
On a chilly winter day, nothing quite matches the comforting embrace of a homemade bowl of soup. So why not try making yourself a bowl of the most searched for soup, butternut squash. Its velvety texture and rich, earthy flavours provide the perfect remedy for winter's chill, warming both body and soul with each spoonful. For those seeking solace in the kitchen, look no further than this butternut squash soup from All Recipes, a simple yet delicious dish that promises to warm you up from the inside out.
Butternut Squash Soup
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 45 mins
- Total Time: 1 hr 5 mins
- Servings: 4
Ingredients
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2 tablespoons butter
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1 small onion, chopped
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1 stalk celery, chopped
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1 medium carrot, chopped
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2 medium potatoes, cubed
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1 medium butternut squash - peeled, seeded, and cubed
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1 (32 fluid ounce) container chicken stock
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salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Directions
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Gather all ingredients.
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Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat, and cook onion, celery, carrot, potatoes, and squash until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Pour in enough chicken stock to cover vegetables.
- Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to low, cover pot, and simmer until all vegetables are tender, about 40 minutes.
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Transfer soup to a blender and process until smooth. Return to the pot and mix in any remaining stock to reach desired consistency. Season with salt and pepper.
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Serve hot and enjoy!
