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Here’s What to Cook Every Night This Week (February 20 – 26)

Comfort food season is still in full swing, but if you’re like us, you’re tired of the usual suspects by now. (Spaghetti and meatballs, French onion soup, mac and cheese—you get the picture.) So, we rounded up seven unconventional dinners that offer the same coziness as their predecessors, but with a few simple, delicious twists. We’re talking fruit-forward grilled cheese sandwiches, vegan hot dogs and a seafood chowder that does not call for clams.

23 Winter Comfort Food Recipes That Are Cozier Than a Fuzzy Blanket


what to cook this week february 20 26 shopping list
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Shopping List

Produce
Two 3-inch pieces ginger
1 pint baby bella mushrooms
2 ounces Lacinato kale
11 garlic cloves
2 lemons
7 ounces broccoli florets
1 small yellow onion
1 head cabbage
1 large white onion
1 red onion
3 bunches scallions
1 bunch basil or parsley
1 bunch mint
1 bunch cilantro
1 large bunch carrots

Meat
1 pound salmon
1 pound lean ground beef or lamb
2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs

Dairy
2 tablespoons full-fat plain Greek yogurt
4 ounces grated Parmesan cheese
4 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
6 ounces provolone cheese
12 ounces Camembert cheese
1 stick unsalted butter

Grains
9 ounces bucatini (or pasta of your choice)
Steamed white or brown rice, for serving
Naan, for serving
Hot dog buns, for serving
8 slices challah bread

Canned and Packaged Goods
16 ounces unsweetened soy or almond milk
8 ounces chicken broth (or water)
3 ounces frozen peas
3 ounces nutritional yeast (or Parmesan cheese)
Hazelnuts or pine nuts
One 14-ounce can full-fat unsweetened coconut milk
1 pound pecans
Vegan mayonnaise
Vegan honey mustard salad dressing
Relish, for serving
1½ pounds pizza dough
12 ounces tomato sauce
2 ounces oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes
9 ounces pitted marinated olives
2 pounds dried sour cherries
One 750-milliliter bottle Manischewitz cherry wine
8 ounces shelled pistachios
8 ounces dried ramen noodles

Pantry Ingredients: extra-virgin olive oil, miso paste, soy sauce (or coconut or liquid aminos), kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper, white rice vinegar or mirin, chipotle chili powder, yellow curry powder, ground cinnamon, raw agave syrup, A.1. sauce, ketchup, garlic powder, liquid smoke, grapeseed oil, yellow mustard, chili powder, salt-free multi-spice seasoning, red wine vinegar, sugar, black rice vinegar, toasted sesame oil, crispy chili oil

Monday: Instant Pot Miso Salmon Chowder

Clams take a backseat to salmon in this umami-rich soul-soother, which comes together in 35 minutes with the help of a pressure cooker. It’s naturally dairy free, thanks to your choice of soy or almond milk in the broth.

Tuesday: Creamy Green Kale, Broccoli and Pea Pasta

Pasta is a no-brainer when you’re craving something easy and comforting, but it doesn’t need to be brimming with cheese and heavy cream to hit the spot. Take this herbaceous, veggie-forward gem, which calls for nutritional yeast instead of Parm.

Wednesday: Baked Coconut-Curry Meatballs

Save the red sauce for Friday’s meal and give your usual meatballs a spice-packed update. These—which are baked for minimal fuss—are drenched in a warming, coconut-based sauce that’s much more exciting than jarred marinara.

Thursday: Tabitha Brown’s Chili Carrot Dogs

Talk about a hands-off dish. This vegan recipe for carrot hot dogs doesn’t even include measurements. Simply use your intuition and taste buds to prepare the smoky marinade, pecan “chili” and coleslaw. (Don’t worry, they’re totally foolproof.)

Friday: Baking Sheet Pizza with Olives and Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Minimal mess, maximum flavor—that’s our weeknight mantra. While we’re sure you’ve made a pie with store-bought pizza dough before, we like to spring for unconventional toppings (like provolone cheese, sun-dried tomatoes and marinated olives) to keep things interesting.

Saturday: Cherry Cheeseball Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Crunchy, elegant and ever so gooey, this handheld is one for the books. If you’re not up for making the sour cherry marmalade from scratch (you can prepare it ahead to save time), use jarred cherry preserves or jam in its place.

Sunday: Deb Perelman’s Ginger Garlic Chicken Noodle Soup

Chicken noodle soup is one of the most quintessential comfort foods of all time…but it’s not the most exciting. Enter this spicy, savory riff on the dish, made with fresh ginger, sliced scallions, chile crisp and ramen noodles. Did we mention it’ll only take you 45 minutes from start to finish?

30 Vegan Comfort Food Recipes That Feel Like a Big Hug


Taryn Pire is PureWow’s associate food editor. A former bartender and barista, she’s been writing about all things delicious since 2016, developing recipes, reviewing restaurants and investigating food trends at Food52, New Jersey Family Magazine and Taste Talks. When she isn’t testing TikTok’s latest viral recipe, she’s having popcorn for dinner and posting about it on Instagram @cookingwithpire.


taryn pire

Food Editor

  • Contributes to PureWow's food vertical
  • Spearheads PureWow's recipe vertical and newsletter
  • Studied English and writing at Ithaca College