All that rain over the weekend has us thinking about pulling out our sweaters and cranking on the oven. Yet even if the weather turns warm again — as it likely will — it’s hard to deny the incoming mountains of winter squash, apples and persimmons at East Bay farmers markets. In that spirit, we recommend embracing fall with some of Nosh’s most delicious seasonal recipes from contributors Uproot Kitchen, Butter Sugar Flowers, Dining with Dostoevsky, Yummy Supper and Bay Area Bites. We’ve got you covered from morning to night, with ideas for breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert and any snacking you’d need to do in between.
Savory
No-Bake Nut and Seed Granola Bars These bars make an easy, healthy snack. They offer an easy-to-love mix of different nuts and seeds packed with protein and healthy fats, rolled oats for a complex carbohydrate, and a mix of almond butter and brown rice syrup for a bit of sweetness and stick factor.
Cauliflower Steaks with Cilantro-Cashew Cream A perfect veggie-heavy side or vegan main dish, these cauliflower steaks are drizzled with a creamy jalapeño and cilantro sauce made from cashews. Double up on the recipe and bring it to your next potluck, and you’ll find your friends drizzling this spicy cilantro cashew cream all over their whole plate.
Fig Tartlets with Herbs and Honey Not quite sweet and not quite savory, these gluten-free fig tartlets live in a delicious realm in between. The cream cheese and crunch of cornmeal in the crust tease out the earthy quality of the figs, and a drizzle of honey heightens the fruit’s juicy, natural sweetness. They’re wonderful for breakfast, tea, an appetizer, or a not-too-sweet dessert.
Homemade Sauerkraut Great tasting raw sauerkraut is not hard to find in grocery stores in the Bay Area, and store-bought ‘kraut is a perfect choice for a last-minute fermented cabbage emergency. (Hey, you don’t have those?) But nothing can really compare to the simple pleasures of making your own sauerkraut at home. It’s almost criminally easy to ferment cabbage, plus DIY sauerkraut is an excellent place to get creative and experiment.
Cal Peternell’s Bean Gratin This excellent weeknight dish is vegetarian comfort food at its best. Healthy and hearty with a mix of heirloom beans, this gratin offers endless variation and inspires cooks to branch out of their comfort zone. Try it as a side dish at your next dinner party.
Farro Casserole with Cranberries, Squash, Kale and a Sage Béchamel With its roasted cranberries and squash nestled against wilted kale and plump farro, the casserole is not only striking — maroon, emerald and a soft shade of pumpkin orange, or as I like to call it, fall on a plate — but it also layers competing flavors and textures in a way that can only help to elevate a meal.
Vinegar Chicken with Rosemary and Garlic The vinegar used to cook the chicken turns into a sticky, rosemary-flecked glaze that cradles softened whole cloves of garlic and tenderizes the meat, imbuing it with a sweet acidity. Given the minimal amount of work involved — such is the beauty of braising — this recipe yields a lot of flavor.
Cinnamon Roasted Carrot and Farro Salad This cinnamon roasted carrot farro salad combines the caramelized bite of roasted carrots with chewy grains of farro, crisp baby lettuce, crunchy pumpkin seeds and sweet raisins — all tossed with a simple mixture of honey, lemon juice, olive oil, and vinegar.
Sweet
Quinoa Almond Crunch Granola With the warming flavors of cinnamon, vanilla and maple syrup, this quinoa crunch granola is going to be your new favorite cereal to sprinkle over everything in sight. Plus, as with all granola recipes, this gluten-free version offers endless variation.
Honey Dijon Caramels Not too mustardy, not too distinct — this quintessentially gooey, sweet and salty treat contains a pleasant complexity that’s left many tasters both curious and addicted. While the honey, brown sugar and vanilla offer a familiar harmony, the bit of mustard comes through with a pleasing, faintly smoky hint of seasoning.
Pumpkin Caramels Homemade pumpkin caramels make great bite-sized party favors — or gifts to take to friends over the holiday — that truly shine with the flavors of fall. They may sound like a lot of work, but these miniature candies are not terribly difficult once you get the hang of boiling sugar. Plus their layers of rich pumpkin and sweet maple flavor mean that a little treat goes a long way.
Cranberry Curd Rich, bright and flavorful, cranberry curd offers the added bonus of being incredibly versatile: it can be a cookie dip, a spread for scones, or a scrumptious filling between cake layers. Layer it in a trifle or drizzle it over ice cream; spread it on toast, pancakes or waffles. You might even serve it as a decadent alternative to cranberry sauce at a holiday table. Whatever you do, get ready for a burst of cranberry deliciousness in a vibrant and velvety form.
Whiskey Fig Browned Butter Bars Soft and buttery, these whiskey fig bars burst with luxury and succulence. The ultra-tender fruit offers mellow hints of warm liquor and vanilla. Meanwhile, the silky batter bestows a delightful depth of flavor: molassesy brown sugar, flecks of toasty browned butter, and a perfect portion of salt.
Cranberry Clove Cookies With their shortbread-like dough, warm cloves and tangy citrus zest, cranberry clove cookies impart a decadent taste and aroma alike. A welcome twist on typical leftovers, these cookies are sure to fill your kitchen with a festive, mouthwatering scent — and your mouth and belly with the deliciousness of the holiday season.
Mini Rosehip Graham Crackers When homemade honey grahams meet the unexpected but delectable flavor of rosehips, delicious things happen. The rosehips bring a perfect bit of earthiness that’s almost herbal-tasting, along with a faint whisper of tartness reminiscent of fresh sourdough bread. Crisp and buttery, rosehip graham crackers are so tasty, light and small, they’re simply addictive.
Spiced Pear Sandwich Cakes Full of flavorful bits of pear and clove, these tender little cakes become vibrant once transformed into these whoopie pie style treats. Their creamy, spiced filling is further brightened by the slice of cool, juicy fruit in each bite. What’s more: Spiced pear sandwich cakes offer a burst of autumn’s flavor along with its laid-back-ness. They’re informal, easy to eat, and even a little bit messy.
Sunroot Spice Cake With its moist crumb and spicy-sweet flavor, this cake proved to be a delicious celebration of its unusual main ingredient. The lemon zest complements the tangy quality of the sunroot, while the molasses and cloves pair well with its earthy attributes.
Quince Skillet Tart Fragrant and refreshing, quince tart is an unusual, delectable dessert. Its notes of vanilla and orange are wondrous alongside the sweet almond paste and tangy fruit. Each bite bursts with unique layers of flavor and the wondrous fragrance that only quince can offer. And a generous topping of whipped cream, hard sauce or vanilla ice cream will delightfully increase its wonder.
Layered Apple Crisp with Granola Topping If you’re going apple picking this season, or simply have an overflowing fruit basket full of fall apples, this wholesome layered apple crisp with a crunchy granola topping is the perfect dessert idea. This no-fuss recipe uses just seven ingredients, with lots of easy substitutions based on what you have on hand: brown sugar for coconut sugar, butter or another oil for coconut oil, or any nuts you have on hand.
Fresh Fig Pie with Cardamom Mascarpone Filling This decadent pie has just the right balance of succulence and spice. Its crust offers a hearty, whole crumb that contrasts deliciously with the velvety custard center, carrying a perfect hint of citrus. Fig enthusiasts will delight in the luscious pile of fruit atop each slice, just as cardamom lovers will savor the soft seasoning of every luscious bite.
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