Winter Menu Wins: Unique Ingredients for Comfort Food Classics

Discover fresh new ingredients to transform your traditional winter recipes.

As the days grow colder and menus shift to incorporate warm winter favorites, the need for fresh ingredients is more apparent than ever. To elevate soups, stews, cozy pasta dishes and more, we’ve selected some of our favorite items that add memorable seasonal flavor and unique appeal to any comfort food dish.

Part 1: Infuse Your Comfort Food Dishes with Fresh Flavors

Comfort food is a menu must-have in the winter months, but fresh and unexpected ingredients can take your dishes to the next level. Check out these microgreens and mixes for seasonal inspiration sure to enhance your cold weather creations.

Micro Bull's Blood

Incredibly versatile and easy to use, Micro Bull's Blood is a staple for winter dishes in need of a touch of color and contrast. With vibrant red leaves and stems and an earthy beet flavor, this simple addition adds complexity and freshness to braised meats or creamy soups. Find more information about Micro Bull's Blood here.

Open Faced Sando: Buttered Como Loaf, Smoked Beef Brisket, Gouda, and Micro Bull’s Blood Served with Yukon Fries
Chef Steven Woerdehoff

Tiny Veggies™ Crudité Mix™

Tiny Veggies™ Crudité Mix™ may be small in size, but this mix of fresh veggies packs a major flavor punch. A thoughtfully curated combination of beets, carrots, onions, leek, parsnip, radishes, turnip, fennel root, and celery work well with a variety of comforting cuisines. Don’t forget to incorporate the stems and leaves of your Tiny Veggies™ Crudité Mix™ in your next creation – they are equally as delicious! Find more information about Tiny Veggies™ Crudité Mix™ here.

Petite® Watercress Pink Ice™

Don’t miss out on incorporating one of this season’s trendiest vegetables in your winter dishes. Brighten up a comfort food classic like a sandwich or burger with the addition of Petite® Watercress Pink Ice™. A visual stunner, Petite® Watercress Pink Ice™ has dark green stems and leaves that open to vibrant pink veins and edges. With a light crunch and fresh, peppery taste, these beautiful Petite®Greens add a mild flavor profile and bold, brilliant look to many warm winter dishes. Find more information about Petite® Watercress Pink Ice™ here.

Petite® Fines Herbes Mix™

Petite® Fines Herbes Mix™ perfectly encapsulates the comforting flavors and aromas of French cuisine. The classic combination of parsley, chives, tarragon and chervil shine in this mix of fresh herbs, ideal for topping roasted chicken dishes or incorporating in a vinaigrette. Adding depth to any dish with notable flavor and a distinct aromatic experience, Petite® Fines Herbes Mix™ is a must-have for French-inspired winter menus. Find more information about Petite® Fines Herbes Mix™ here.

Part 2: Looking to Add Wow Factor to Your Winter Menu?

Stand out from the crowd and elevate your cozy comfort food classics with beautiful and aromatic edible flowers and microgreens from Fresh Origins®. These eye-catching ingredients provide beautiful visual contrast and fresh flavor to a wide breadth of winter dishes.

Borage Blossom

Borage Blossoms showcase pale blue and lavender star-shaped blossoms with a refreshing cucumber flavor, making them a versatile addition to your winter menus. Strikingly beautiful while also complex in flavor and texture, Borage Blossoms are the perfect complement to rich and comforting seafood dishes or luxurious desserts. Find more information about Borage Blossom here.

Sunset Geranium Leaf™

To add the ultimate wow-factor when it comes to plating classic comfort food fare, incorporate the bold rainbow hues and eye-catching patterns of Sunset Geranium Leaf™. With its tie-dyed lily-pad appearance, this leaf serves as the perfect bed for seared scallops or a stunning topper on roasted root vegetables. Its tangy and tart flavor and beautiful look adds a bold twist to any dish. Find more information about Sunset Geranium Leaf™ here.

Petite® Mint Lavender™

Petite® Mint Lavender™ showcases a familiar appearance with bold flavors, perfect for accompanying lamb, sprinkled over a chocolate dessert or even blended into an herbaceous sauce. It features textured light green leaves with a distinct blend of lavender and mint flavors, complemented by a very aromatic scent, adding a unique and fragrant touch to many comfort food creations. Find more information about Petite® Mint Lavender™ here.