Drunken lamb shanks by Nina Timm

Get rid of the chilly frilly lettuce and cold coleslaw. This is a no-salad territory, where only hot, saucy and hearty dishes are welcome. From warming curries to boozy red-wine-based stews, we’ve got a score of winter one-pot dishes to comfort you in the colder months.

Beef Burma curry

A quick weeknight dinner, this fragrant curry calls for chilli, the warmth of fresh ginger, coolness of lemongrass and tang of tamarind and lime.

Bunny chow with sugar bean and vegetable curry

A classic recipe for a truly South African sandwich. Depending on your crowd or mood, make it with chunks of bread or chic ciabattas.

Butter chicken bunny chow with tomato and yoghurt

Knead baker Evan Faull’s version of this local dish is sauced to creamy, spicy perfection. Serving suggestion: eat it with your hands.

Cape Winelands lamb tagine

Chef Chris Erasmus shares one of his all-time favourite lamb recipes.

Chicken makhani, coconut and okra curry by Peter Ayub

Chicken makhani, coconut and okra curry

Also known as butter chicken, this rich, fragrant curry is glorious served with piping hot naan breads. You can buy okra at a market or deli, but make sure it’s firm and bright green.

Chicken with smoked paprika, bacon and white beans

A lovely weekday dinner, this chicken dish is delicious served with couscous, rice or mashed potatoes.

Creamy chicken stew with herbed dumplings by Nina Timm

Creamy chicken stew with herbed dumplings

“I love making this stew on cold winter days when you need a good plate of comfort food,” says its creator, cookbook author Nina Timm. You can taste the nostalgia of an old-fashioned chicken stew, but the dumplings and mushrooms give this dish a twist.

Coq au vin by Valentine Warner

Coq au vin

This classic hearty, boozy, slow-cooked chicken is stew re-imagined by Valentine Warner in his cookbook, The Good Table.

Drunken lamb shanks

“The dark colour of the beer gives the lamb shanks a lovely warm and intense flavour,” says cookbook author Nina Timm. This is another dish you can relinquish to the mercy of the oven.

Dukkah-spiced braised lamb neck

Chef Allistaire Lawrence (previously of Roots) likes his lamb spicy. Make this when you have a bit of time on your hands.

Fragrant braised duck or chicken

This aromatic dish is a little different from the usual heavy winter stews. You’ll need to raid your local market for five-spice powder, lemongrass stalks, garlic, crushed ginger, star anise, shiitake mushrooms, fish sauce and a handful of fresh mint.

Khadi kitchari

This fragrant vegetarian rice dish calls for lentils and cooked amasi. The amount of spices can vary depending on your palate.

Laksa lemak

The ultimate one-dish wonder where spicy freshness contrasts beautifully with creamy coconut.

Mutton biryani

A delicious dinner option that’s suitable for large crowds, this recipe calls for cinnamon, allspice berries, cloves, ground cumin, ground coriander, turmeric, freshly grated ginger, masala and cardamom pods.

Poached turbot and clam saffron stew

Substitute any flatfish for turbot in this simple but special fish stew. Serve it in a bowl and pour over the saffron liquor before sprinkling with parsley.

Rich braised beef stew

Hearty and warming, this stew is the perfect winter comfort food. It packs a punch, with stewing beef, streaky bacon and red wine.

Slow-cooked chicken and chorizo cassoulet by Sarah Graham

Slow-cooked chicken and chorizo cassoulet with thyme and gruyère dumplings

This one-pot wonder is a slow-cooked miracle, according to its creator, smitten author Sarah Graham. “You have the spicy robustness of the chorizo, the silkiness of the slow-cooked onions and then the good old dependable chicken sausages. Perfect happy-making weekend food.”

Thai green curry

This easy recipe is guaranteed to give you the authentic, fuss-free Southeast Asian favourite in minutes. Green curry paste is the base of all of the flavours, with green chillies lending their intense, fresh green flavour.

Warm Mexican red-bean birria

Warm Mexican red bean birria

Spicy and suitable for vegetarians, this recipe calls for the warmth of red peppers, red chillies, sweet smoked paprika and ground cumin. Serve with seasonal avocados.

Tagine of lamb knuckle with tomato

A traditional tagine keeps things tender and tasty in this stew that’s perfect for chilly winter evenings.