Hearty foods offer rich flavor, dense texture and sufficient calories to satisfy your appetite. Hearty foods come to mind when temperatures drop and outdoor activities leave you feeling chilled and hungry. Sometimes called "cuisine bourgeois," "home-style cooking" or "country cooking," meals made with hearty foods do not spare calories. However, cooks can reduce some high-calorie hearty dishes by using lean-meat cuts and spices, rather than fats, for flavoring.
Stews
Stews combine a protein, such as meat or seafood, with vegetables cooked in a single pot. Making a stew involves slow-cooking methods with low heat and added liquid to tenderize ingredients and combine flavors. The ingredients used in a traditional stew vary by region of the country and tend to feature local foods. New England stews, for example, may include lobster or oysters, while people from Louisiana make gumbo stew using shrimp. Beef stews served in the Midwest feature meat chunks cooked with potatoes, carrots and onions served in a rich beef gravy.
Soups
Hearty soups combine meat or seafood with vegetables. A cook may add rice or pasta for texture and substance. Unlike stews, soups are served in a liquid made of broth, stock or milk products with bite-sized pieces. Soup favorites reflect regional food availability. Chowders made with clams, potatoes, bacon and cream offer a hearty meal to New Englanders. In the Southwest, chili provides a traditional hearty soup that features meat, tomatoes and beans seasoned with red or green chili peppers, cumin and onions. A hearty soup, combined with bread for dipping, provides a filling meal.
Pasta
Pasta dishes contain some protein and a moderate amount of carbohydrates. Using whole-grain pasta, rather than one made with processed flour, improves the nutrient value of a pasta-based meal. Traditionally, hearty pasta meals have a rich sauce that may include meat, vegetables, cheese or cream. Lasagna, for example, uses wide noodles layered between cheeses and covered with a tomato and meat sauce. Macaroni-and-cheese offers another popular hearty pasta meal that pleases children and adults with its rich, creamy taste.
Hearty Vegetables
Hearty vegetables have a dense texture, more carbohydrates and less water than lower-calorie vegetables, such as salad greens. Examples of hearty vegetables include corn, peas, potatoes, winter squash and dried beans. You can serve hearty vegetables as a side dish for meat or fish entrees or add them to soups and stews. Hearty vegetables can be baked, boiled or roasted.
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