Comfort Food Classics and Recipes to Satisfy Your Soul

Nutritional science studies have shown that because consuming food is essential for us to survive, when we eat anything at all that provides nutrition, our brains release endorphins that create a general sense of well-being. And if you have ever eaten a slice of chocolate cake, you know that sweet things can make us feel particularly good, while eating carbohydrates can increase the level of serotonin in our brains, improving our mood and reducing stress. After consuming these types of foods, we feel happier and more relaxed.

However, certain foods can provide us with especially powerful emotional satisfaction for reasons that are completely unrelated to their nutritional content. Much of the pleasure we experience from consuming specific favourite dishes is linked to the positive memories that we associate with eating them. These comfort foods can provide a sense of security and well-being by bringing to mind the people we used to be with, or who used to care for us, when we first enjoyed consuming them as children. Consequently, we may think of eating comfort food on occasions when we may be feeling a little down or lonely.

Often homemade or prepared in a home-cooked style, the comfort foods we prefer depend on our own cultural backgrounds, upbringing and experiences. But they are frequently hearty meals high in carbohydrates and sugars, with rich flavours and textures – truly satisfying dishes that delight the senses while filling the stomach.

Comfort food dishes can be ordered from homely restaurant menus in London, Paris and beyond. Here are four recipes for some of the best-loved, heartwarming dishes from around the globe.

Named after the flat, wide sheets of pasta it contains, lasagne is a much-loved Italian dish that is the epitome of comfort food meals. Layer upon layer of savoury meat sauce, creamy bechamel and melted cheese within tender sheets of pasta yield a mouthwatering blend of flavours and textures that truly embody gratifying family dinners. One popular lasagne dish is the indulgent, traditional version served at Quindici Trattoria. The recipe below makes a delicious, homestyle lasagne to serve four people.

Ingredients

Bechamel sauce

• 15g butter
• 15g plain flour
• 375ml milk
• ¼ tsp nutmeg
• Salt and pepper

Meat sauce

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 450g minced beef
• 1 can (400g) chopped tomatoes
• 60g tomato paste
• 120ml beef stock
• ¼ tsp dried oregano
• ¼ tsp dried basil
• Salt and pepper

Lasagne

• 8 lasagna sheets
• 60g grated Parmesan cheese

Method

Bechamel sauce

• Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat
• Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute, stirring continuously
• Gradually whisk in the milk until smooth
• Bring to a simmer and cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened
• Season with nutmeg, salt and pepper

Meat sauce

• Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat
• Add the onion and garlic and cook until softened
• Add the minced beef and cook until browned
• Stir in the chopped tomatoes, tomato paste, beef stock, oregano, basil, salt and pepper
• Bring to a simmer and cook for 30 minutes until the sauce has thickened

Baking

• Preheat oven to 190°C
• Spread a thin layer of meat sauce over a large baking dish
• Layer lasagne sheets over the meat sauce, overlapping as required
• Top with a layer of bechamel sauce and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese
• Repeat layers until all ingredients are used, ending with a layer of bechamel sauce and parmesan cheese
• Cover the baking dish with aluminium foil and bake for 30 minutes
• Uncover and bake for an additional 30 minutes, or until the lasagna is bubbling and the cheese is golden brown

When you are yearning for a wholesome, satisfying meal, a bowl of this soup can envelop you in warmth with every soothing spoonful. Succulent chicken, hearty vegetables and chewy noodles combine to provide a nostalgic taste of home whenever you really need it. This comfort food recipe for chicken noodle soup serves four people.

Ingredients

• 450g boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 carrots, chopped
• 2 celery stalks, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• ½ tsp dried rosemary
• Salt and pepper
• 1500ml chicken stock
• 120g egg noodles
• 60g fresh parsley, chopped

Method

• Place the chicken breasts in a large pot and cover with cold water
• Bring to the boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes until cooked through
• Remove the chicken from the pot and let it cool slightly before shredding
• Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in the same pot over medium heat
• Add the onion, carrots, celery, and garlic and cook until softened, about 5 minutes
• Stir in the chicken stock, thyme, rosemary, salt and pepper; bring to the boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes
• Add the egg noodles to the pot and cook according to the package directions
• Return the shredded chicken to the pot
• Garnish with fresh parsley and serve hot

When we were growing up, some of us discovered a food that we fell head over heels in love with – the mighty cheeseburger. Something about that mouth-watering combination of juicy beef patty, ketchup, melted cheese, crispy lettuce and soft, handheld bun created a kind of magic that made us feel happier instantaneously. The following recipe is for one delectable cheeseburger.

Ingredients

• 225g ground beef
• ¼ tsp salt
• ⅛ tsp black pepper
• 1 brioche burger bun
• 1 slice cheddar cheese
• 1 tbsp mayonnaise
• 1 tbsp ketchup
• 1 tbsp mustard
• 1 lettuce leaf
• 1 tomato slice
• 1 onion slice
• 1 pickle slice

Instructions

• In a small bowl, combine the ground beef, salt and pepper
• Shape the mixture into a round patty, about a half-inch thick
• Heat a frying pan over medium-high heat
• Cook the patty for 5-7 minutes per side until it is cooked how you like it, then add the cheddar cheese slice on top for a minute or two until it melts
• Toast the burger bun on a grill
• Spread mayonnaise, ketchup and mustard on the bottom bun
• Place the cooked patty with melted cheese on the bottom bun
• Add the lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle and top bun

Is anything more scrumptious than a traditional, homemade apple pie? When you imagine the irresistible combination of flaky golden pie crust and sweet, gooey apple filling melting in your mouth – we think not! Especially when topped with a generous serving of warm, creamy custard. This nostalgic comfort food recipe is for one delicious apple pie.

Ingredients

Pastry

• 375g plain flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 225g cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
• 120ml ice water

Filling

• 6 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and sliced
• 120g granulated sugar
• 60g packed brown sugar
• 1 tbsp plain flour
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• ¼ tsp nutmeg
• ¼ tsp salt
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 egg, beaten (for the egg wash)

Instructions

Pastry

• In a large bowl, whisk together the flour and salt
• Cut in the cold butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs
• Gradually add the ice water, mixing until the dough just comes together
• Divide the dough into two equal discs, wrap in cling film and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes

Filling

• In a large bowl, combine the apples, granulated sugar, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt and lemon juice, and toss to coat the apples evenly
• Preheat oven to 220°C
• Roll out one disc of dough on a lightly floured surface to a 12-inch circle, then place the dough in a 9-inch pie dish
• Pour the apple filling into the pie crust
• Roll out the second disc of dough and place it over the filling
• Crimp the edges of the pie crust to seal it
• Cut a few slits in the top crust to allow steam to escape when baking
• Brush the top crust with the beaten egg

Baking

• Bake the pie for 15 minutes at 220°C
• Reduce the oven temperature to 190°C and continue baking for 30-35 minutes until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbling
• Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, or warm custard

Comfort food, more than simply a culinary delight, can offer a bridge to our emotional past, providing security and solace through its nostalgic aromas and familiar flavours.