Page 17 - Dainfern Precinct Living Issue 4 2025

2. ROASTED
TOMATO AND RED
ONION SOUP
COSY COMFORTS For those seeking a lighter yet warming

option, this soup is a perfect choice.
Roasting tomatoes and red onions
3 SIMPLE WINTER WARMERS enhances their natural sweetness, creating
a rich base for the soup. Blended to a
smooth consistency and seasoned with
FOR HOME COOKS herbs, it’s a comforting dish best enjoyed
with a slice of crusty bread.
Ingredients:
• 3 medium red onions, roughly
chopped
• 3 whole garlic cloves
• 3 x 400 g tins whole peeled
tomatoes
• 1 sprig each fresh thyme and
rosemary
• 30 ml balsamic vinegar
• 30 ml Worcestershire sauce
• 10 ml brown sugar
• 5 ml roast veg seasoning
• Salt and pepper to taste

To Serve:
• Freshly grated Parmesan or
Pecorino
• Sourdough bread
• Chopped fresh basil

Instructions:
1. Preheat your oven to 200°C.
2. Add tomatoes, onions, garlic and
herbs to a roasting dish.
3. Drizzle with olive oil and
balsamic vinegar, sprinkle with
sugar, salt and pepper, and toss
gently.
4. Roast for 45 minutes until golden 3. CREAMY • 125 ml fresh cream
and caramelised. • 5 ml cornflour
5. Let cool slightly, then blend until CHICKEN AND • 15 ml water
smooth. MUSHROOM PASTA • 15 ml chopped fresh or frozen
6. Transfer to a pot, add stock (if parsley
needed), simmer briefly and BAKE •
check seasoning. Instructions:
7. Serve hot with crusty bread or For the ultimate midweek comfort meal, this 1. Cook pasta according to
grilled cheese. baked pasta ticks all the boxes. Shredded instructions. Drain and set aside.
rotisserie chicken, earthy mushrooms and 2. In a large pan, heat 15 ml olive oil.
Add chicken, season and cook until
pasta are wrapped in a creamy white sauce golden. Set aside.
(or a shortcut version using sour cream 3. In the same pan, add butter and
and cheese). It’s then baked until golden, the remaining oil. Sauté onions,
bubbling and irresistible.
then add mushrooms and cook
Ingredients (metric): until soft.
• 280 g dried pasta 4. Pour in wine, deglaze the pan and
• 2–3 boneless chicken breasts, let simmer to reduce.
thinly sliced 5. Add chicken stock and cream. Mix
• 125 ml chopped white onion cornflour with water to make a
• 200 g mushrooms, sliced slurry, then stir in to thicken.
• 15 g unsalted butter 6. Return chicken and add pasta. Toss
• 30 ml olive oil, divided to coat well.
• Salt and pepper to taste 7. Transfer to a baking dish, sprinkle
• 125 ml dry white wine with parsley and bake at 180°C
• 125 ml chicken stock (or more as for 20 minutes until golden and
needed) bubbling.

THE TAKEAWAY: WARMTH WITHOUT FUSS
These three dishes prove you don’t need to spend hours or master chef-level
techniques to enjoy real winter comfort. With a few staples, a splash of creativity, and
a little slow cooking love, your kitchen can become the heart of your winter home.

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