10 heart-healthy autumn recipes

1. Curried lentil soup with yogurt drizzle

A warming, spicy soup that’s both healthy and tantalising for your tastebuds. Packed with plant protein, fibre and antioxidants, this soup helps to keep cholesterol low and blood sugar stable. We substituted soured cream for 0% fat Greek yoghurt to keep this recipe low fat.

• Get the recipe for curried lentil soup with yogurt drizzle (pictured above).
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2. Tomato, cabbage and cannellini bean soup

This hearty and filling soup is packed with vegetables and makes a complete meal, perfect for cosy winter evenings. We used sweetheart cabbage, but savoy cabbage would also work.

• Get the recipe for tomato, cabbage and cannellini bean soup

3. Pearl barley, kale and winter vegetable broth

This is pure comfort in a bowl, with pearl barley and a healthy kick of kale. Add peas or chopped broccoli instead of the spinach or kale if liked. Pearl barley is a whole grain packed with cholesterol-lowering fibre, teamed with plenty of health-packed leafy greens to support your heart health.

• Get the recipe for the pearl barley, kale and winter vegetable broth
  

4. One-pot lamb and orzo

Try this rich and warming one-pot stew that's low in saturated fat. If you do not have all the spices, add 1 tsp harissa spices instead. You can also use chickpeas in place of the orzo.

• Get the recipe for one-pot lamb and orzo
  

5. Black bean and sweet potato burritos

Black beans provide protein in this tasty lunch, and you can freeze any left over from a can to use another time, or add to a casserole, soup or salad. This recipe can easily be made vegan and gluten-free with simple ingredient swaps.

• Get the recipe for black bean and sweet potato burritos
  

6. Cauliflower, pea and potato curry

A tasty, warming, flavourful dish. This is a generous portion, but it’s all vegetables, so it doesn’t feel heavy. If it’s too much, freeze some of it for later. Add the chilli according to taste.

• Get the recipe for cauliflower, pea and potato curry
  

7. One-pot pork with parsnips

A delicious and hearty one-pot meal that’s perfect for cold winter nights. Using extra lean pork, which is high in protein but low in fat, means this recipe gives you a generous portion size whilst also being relatively low in calories. It’s a good example of how choosing healthy ingredients allows you to eat larger portions for fewer calories.

• Get the recipe for one-pot pork with parsnips 
  

8. Pear and raspberry crumble

Who can resist a crumble? Well now you don’t have to, as the clever ingredient swap in this recipe means that it has less saturated fat (the kind that is bad for your heart health). The sweet yet sharp raspberries (or blackberries if you prefer) work perfectly with the mellow pear and crunchy crumble to create this comforting autumn dessert.

• Get the recipe for pear and raspberry crumble
  

9. Spiced, apple bread and butter pudding

For an indulgent treat that sings with seasonal spices, this take on a classic bread and butter pudding really hits the spot. With some clever tweaks we’ve reduced the amount of fat and saturated fat in this recipe, which means you can satisfy your sweet-tooth and keep your heart happy too.

• Get the recipe for spiced apple bread and butter pudding
  

10. Hot spiced pears

Delicious warming flavours come together in this baked dessert, thanks to sweet spices, rich red wine and orange. Even better, it’s low in fat, too.

• Get the recipe for hot spiced pears 

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