Winter in South Africa calls for food that does more than fill you up. It needs to warm you from the inside, fill the house with good smells and bring the family to the table without too much effort.

These five recipes do exactly that, from a simple butternut soup on a Tuesday night to a slow-cooked beef curry that takes care of itself while you get on with your evening.

What You Will Find in This Article

• Five tried-and-tested winter recipes suitable for South African households
• A mix of soups, stews, pasta and curry to cover the full week
• Appliance tips for each recipe, including the Bennett Read Superchef 6 Multi Cooker, 600W Jug Blender and Fusion Forged Pot Set
• Quick FAQ answers on winter cooking

1. Creamy Butternut Soup

Perfect for a simple, comforting winter lunch or light dinner.

Serves: 4

Appliances: Large pot, blender or stick blender, stove. Optional: air fryer or oven for roasting.

Ingredients

• 1 medium butternut, peeled and cubed
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 carrot, chopped
• 750 ml vegetable stock
• 250 ml fresh cream (optional)
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• ½ tsp nutmeg
• Salt and pepper
• Optional toppings: pumpkin seeds, a swirl of cream, crusty bread

Method

1. Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat.
2. Cook the onion until soft, then add the garlic and carrot.
3. Add the butternut and cook for a few more minutes.
4. Pour in the stock and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes until the vegetables are tender.
5. Stir through the cream if using and season to taste.
6. Serve hot with fresh bread.

Bennett Read tip: Roast the butternut in the air fryer at 200°C for 15 to 20 minutes first to develop a sweeter, caramelised flavour before adding it to the pot.

2. Broccoli and Cheddar Soup

A rich, cheesy winter comfort meal.

Serves: 4

Appliances: Large pot, stove, stick blender (optional).

Ingredients

• 2 heads broccoli, chopped
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tbsp butter
• 2 tbsp flour
• 750 ml vegetable or chicken stock
• 500 ml milk
• 200 g mature cheddar, grated
• Salt, pepper and a pinch of paprika

Method

1. Melt the butter in a pot using the Bennett Read Fusion Forged 24cm casserole pot and cook the onion until softened.
2. Add the garlic, then stir in the flour and cook for one minute.
3. Slowly whisk in the stock followed by the milk.
4. Add the broccoli and simmer for about 15 minutes.
5. Blend part of the soup if you prefer a creamier texture, leaving some broccoli pieces intact.
6. Stir in the grated cheddar until melted.
7. Season and serve with toasted bread.

3. Lentil Dahl

A budget-friendly winter dinner that is full of flavour.

Serves: 4

Appliances: Large pot, stove. Optional: Bennett Read Superchef 6 Multi Cooker.

Ingredients

• 1 cup dried brown lentils
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1 tbsp grated fresh ginger
• 2 tbsp mild curry powder
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• ½ tsp turmeric
• 400 g chopped tomatoes
• 400 ml coconut milk
• 500 ml vegetable stock
• 1 tbsp cooking oil
• Salt and black pepper
• To serve: basmati rice, plain yoghurt, fresh coriander, chutney or sambals

Method

1. Rinse the lentils under cold water.
2. Heat the oil and cook the onion until softened.
3. Add the garlic, ginger, curry powder, cumin and turmeric. Cook for another minute until fragrant.
4. Stir in the chopped tomatoes, coconut milk and vegetable stock.
5. Add the lentils and bring to a gentle boil.
6. Reduce the heat and simmer for 35 to 45 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the lentils are tender. Add a splash of water if the dahl becomes too thick.
7. Season and serve over fluffy rice with yoghurt and fresh coriander.

Superchef 6 shortcut: Use the sauté preset to cook the onion and spices, then switch to the pressure cook function. The dahl is ready in a fraction of the time with the same depth of flavour.

4. Chicken and Bacon Pasta Bake

Perfect for family dinners and meal prep.

Serves: 6

Appliances: Large pot, frying pan, oven, casserole dish.

Ingredients

• 400 g penne
• 2 chicken breasts, diced
• 200 g bacon, chopped
• 250 g mushrooms, sliced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 250 ml cream
• 250 ml chicken stock
• 200 g mozzarella, grated
• 100 g cheddar, grated
• Olive oil, salt and pepper

Method

1. Cook the pasta until just al dente, then drain.
2. In a frying pan, brown the chicken in olive oil, then add the bacon and mushrooms.
3. Stir in the garlic, cream and stock and simmer for a few minutes until the sauce reduces slightly.
4. Combine the sauce with the drained pasta and season to taste.
5. Transfer to a casserole dish and top generously with mozzarella and cheddar.
6. Bake at 180°C for 20 to 25 minutes until golden and bubbling.

Bennett Read tip: The Bennett Read Fusion Forged 24cm casserole pot works directly on the stove for the sauce stage and is oven-safe, reducing the number of dishes at the end.

5. Slow-Cooked Beef Curry

A hearty winter dinner with leftovers worth looking forward to.

Serves: 6

Appliances: Large pot or Dutch oven, stove. Superchef 6 Multi Cooker recommended.

Ingredients

• 800 g beef chuck, cubed
• 2 onions, diced
• 3 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1 tbsp grated ginger
• 2 tbsp curry powder
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp ground coriander
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 400 ml coconut milk
• 500 ml beef stock
• 2 potatoes, cubed
• 2 carrots, chopped
• Oil and salt
• To serve: fluffy rice, warm naan, fresh coriander

Method

1. Brown the beef in batches over high heat and set aside.
2. Cook the onions until softened, then add the garlic, ginger and spices and cook for a minute until fragrant.
3. Stir in the tomato paste.
4. Return the beef to the pot and add the stock and coconut milk.
5. Simmer gently on the stove for around two hours until the beef is tender, or use the Superchef 6 on pressure cook to achieve the same result in a fraction of the time.
6. Add the potatoes and carrots for the final 30 minutes of cooking.
7. Serve with fluffy rice or warm naan and fresh coriander.

Superchef 6 shortcut: Use the sauté function to brown the meat and cook the aromatics, then switch to pressure cook. Rich, tender beef curry in under an hour rather than two. The 6L pot handles the full recipe in one batch.

The Right Tools Make Winter Cooking Easier

Bennett Read Superchef 6 Multi Cooker

10-in-1 functionality, including pressure cook, slow cook and sauté, in a single 6L pot.

Cuts cooking times by up to 70% and handles family-sized batches of dahl, curry and stew with 17 one-touch presets. The silent mode runs in the background while you get on with your evening.

Bennett Read 600W Jug Blender

Tornado-Tech cyclonic action and four precision-engineered stainless steel blades turn a pot of cooked vegetables into silky smooth soup in seconds.

The 1.5L glass jug handles the full batch of butternut or broccoli soup without multiple rounds of blending.

Bennett Read Fusion Forged 6-Piece Pot Set

Dual-layer non-stick coating, induction-compatible base and cool-touch Bakelite handles make stovetop cooking easier from start to finish.

The set includes the 24cm and 20cm casserole pots and a 16cm saucepan, covering every recipe in this article.

Winter cooking does not have to be complicated. The right recipe and the right appliances make it straightforward to put warm, satisfying meals on the table every night of the week.

Still not warm? We have even more soup recipes and other treats for you in our blog posts!

Browse the full Bennett Read kitchen appliance and cookware range and register your products online to extend your warranty at no extra cost.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are good winter dishes?

The best winter dishes are hearty, warming and practical.

Soups like butternut or broccoli cheddar are quick and comforting. Dahls and curries are budget-friendly and improve overnight. Pasta bakes feed a family and reheat well. Slow-cooked beef or lamb dishes take time but require minimal effort.

The common thread is food that warms the house while it cooks and keeps well for the next day.

How do you make a simple curry?

Start with onion, garlic and ginger cooked in oil until soft. Add your spices and cook briefly until fragrant.

Stir in tomato paste, stock and coconut milk, then add your protein or lentils. Simmer until tender and season to taste.

A basic lentil dahl follows this formula and takes around 40 minutes on the stove. Using the Bennett Read Superchef 6 on pressure cook cuts that to under 20 minutes.

How do you make simple soup at home?

Cook your chosen vegetables with onion, garlic and oil until soft. Add stock and simmer until everything is tender.

Blend until smooth using a jug blender or stick blender. Season with salt, pepper and any spices you like, then finish with cream if desired.

The Bennett Read 600W Jug Blender handles a full pot of soup in one round of blending, producing a smooth, consistent result in seconds.