Venison Meatballs With Baby Eggplant
When the gloomy weather steps on to the plate our tummies automatically crave hearty food - that's exactly why this venison meatball recipe made the list. These babies paired with baby eggplant is sure to hit the spot when the weather takes a dip. Don't worry, we'll take any excuse to snuggle up and eat this dish any day.
Beef & Spinach Cannelloni
The Italians perfected comfort food, so don't be too surprised if pasta makes it on to this list more than once. This creation not only boasts a perfect pairing of ground beef and spinach but calls for not one, not two but three cheeses to be used. Cheese is good, especially if it's good cheese, right?
Pork Fillet Strips With HoSin Sauce, Beans And Broccoli
We all love Chinese food. Heck, we all need good Chinese food in our lives at least once a month. What better than sticky pork strips served with beans and broccoli? Don't you even dare pull your nose at broccoli. Those tiny trees take months to grow and they taste amazing. They are one of our favourite veggies. Besides, they are super healthy - and complement this dish tenfold.
Classic Chilli With Apple Salsa
The legend behind the origins of chilli con carne is that during the 1700s cowboys in California would all huddle up next to the fire on cold winter nights and toss all sorts of ingredients into a big pot and hope for the best. The result is something we all love and indulge in each chance we get. This recipe goes well with a bonfire. Just saying.
BBQ Chicken And Pineapple Grilled Cheese Sandwhich
Welcome to the best grilled cheese you have ever had. You're welcome. There's not much to say about this but WOW! Close your eyes for a moment and imagine the steam rising off that BBQ chicken and pineapple creation you just made. It smells good doesn't it? Tiny smokey scents mixed with the sweet and tangy of the pineapple. Do you notice the cheese oozing out on the sides? Yum!
Indian Bothi Gosht
What kind of list will be complete without including some amazing Indian food, right? Here's our top pick for Indian comfort food. Pair this puppy with a blanky and maybe some hot cocoa.
Chocolate Cake In A Cup
This recipe takes five minutes to prepare and three minutes to bake. You can literally make this in the time it takes you to run a bath. Besides, what's better than snacking on chocolate cake out of your favourite coffee mug?
Bacon & Blue Cheese Fusilli Pasta With Roasted Baby Tomatoes
We all love blue cheese. Sure it's a bit smelly and looks weird but ooh, it goes well with pretty much anything. That is why we've paired it with bacon and roasted baby tomatoes. This goes well with red wine and cuddles. If you're single, don't worry because pillows don't judge your eating habits anyway. Besides, it's comfort food for the win. Always.
Praline-Pecan French Toast
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and thanks to this French toast recipe it's become way more important. Praline-pecans for the win. Here's your chance to win a few hearts with this gourmet recipe.
Super Chocolate Milkshake
Yeah, yeah, technically it's not food but, chocolate, again. That's reason enough. Besides, you can warm it up and dunk rusks in it or something. There, we've just turned milkshakes into a meal.
What are some of your favourite comfort foods? Let us know below!
There are a few things people can't live without. Oxygen, water, the latest copy of your favourite mag... You know, the things that keep us going. For me it's a good Scotch and a great paneer palak with garlic naan. Because of that, I can, with all confidence, tell you where to find the best North Indian food in Joburg.
Bikaner
In the heart of Linden sits the jewel of Taj Mahal country. For the past five years I have obsessed over Bikaner. Indian cuisine reflects a 5 000-year history of various groups and cultures interacting with a wide variety of herbs and spices. This all boils down to what Bikaner is about: the best of the Far East. I have personally never ventured further than their vegetarian mains selection simply because it’s just that good. The curries on offer are rich, creamy and filled to the brim with paneer made in-house – paneer is an Indian cheese made from separating the curds of whole milk from the whey by adding a food acid such as lemon juice or vinegar to the boiling pot (it's pretty much compressed ricotta cheese.)
The food
My favourite dish on offer would be the paneer makhani, which is a gravy made from puréed tomato, ginger and green chilli, topped with paneer. This is served with fine grain basmati rice. As a tradition, I always order butter naan bread to dip into the gravy. Trust me, you have not lived until you’ve experienced Bikaner’s curries. Another winner on the menu would be paneer palak, a dish consisting of spinach, tomato gravy sauce and paneer in a thick paste made from puréed spinach and seasoned with garlic, garam masala and other spices.
The best way to visit Bikaner would be to go in a big group and order four or five different curries with garlic and butter naan for everyone to share. Crack open a couple of beers, have some good curry and thank me in the morning.
The list of good food goes on and on. For those of you who do eat meat, don’t worry – the kitchen has you covered. All dishes can be prepared to whichever level of heat you prefer. I enjoy my food to be quite spicy and the hot option has always left me satisfied.
Bikaner does takeaways as well, which is good for an evening of Call of Duty with the guys, or a Netflix session with the girls.
Click here for more information about Bikaner.
By Shawn Greyling