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What to cook in October: Cosy meals with friends

22 delicious recipes that use the hearty and colourful ingredients of fall.

22 delicious recipes that use the hearty and colourful ingredients of fall

CBC Life ·
3 side-by-side images of food. Left: An overhead shot of a white platter with Parsnip Purée, Duck Breast, Radicchio, and Cranberry Relish, sitting on a white table. Middle: A big dinner plate with salad on a dark grey surface. The salad is made of slices of delicata squash, red onion, pomegranate arils, greens and herbs. Right: A baking sheet with roasted Brussels sprouts and pancetta on it.
(Photo, left to right: EE Berger, Betty Binon, Florence Grunfelder)

When the sun sets earlier, and there's a noticeable chill in the air, it's time to gather your friends indoors for evenings of warmth, laughter, and, of course, delicious food. Hosting an intimate meal for a small group of 4-6 is the perfect way to embrace the changing season. But you'll want recipes that come together easily and are budget-friendly, so that you can enjoy many nights of cooking and entertaining together. 

A good way to save money is to cook what's in season, and October in Canada brings an abundance of beautiful and hearty ingredients. Think of colourful squash, apples, pumpkins, pears and brussels sprouts — so vibrant and sculptural they can even double as dinner decor if left uncooked. When it comes to meal presentation, a baking sheet right out of the oven and onto the table can be quite charming when it's full of bright squash and greens. We also think that a simple yet hearty seasonal salad, soup, or stew, paired with a side of quality bread, is more than sufficient for a satisfying meal — there's no need for elaborate appetizers. However, we understand if the urge to make a pie for dessert is very strong right now. 

Below, we've curated a selection of recipes from our archives that are unpretentious yet elegant, perfect for sharing, and crafted to celebrate the rich flavours of autumn. You might find yourself reaching out to invite a few friends over before you've even finished scrolling. 

Cauliflower Spread

Overhead shot of a plate of cauliflower spread, garnished with pomegranate arils.
(Photography by Betty Binon)

Vegetarian Ukoy

Vegetarian Ukoy (Fritters) and a clear bowl of Chile-Vinegar Dipping Sauce with 2 yellow chiles in it, sitting on a white platter.
(Photography by Wyatt Conlon)

Cauliflower Fritters 

An overhead shot of a white plate with three cauliflower fritters and some green sauce on it. A whole roasted cauliflower is sitting next to it.
(Photography by Betty Binon)

Honey Roasted Pear & Ricotta Crostini 

Overhead shot of sliced baguette topped with slices of pear and ricotta. The bread is on a pink tray and some are on a green plate, all sitting on a white marble countertop.

Big Roasted Delicata Squash Dinner Salad 

A big dinner plate with salad, sitting on a dark grey surface. The salad is made of slices of delicata squash, red onion, pomegranate arils, greens and herbs. A glass of white wine sits next to it.
(Photography by Betty Binon)

Sweet Potato and Lentil Salad in a Lime Vinaigrette

A bowl of lentil salad with chunks of sweet potatoes in it, and topped with microgreens and pomegranate arils. Small bowls of pomegranate arils and salad dressing sit next to the salad.
(Photo: Shayma Owaise Saadat)

Fennel and Asian Pear Salad

Side view of a white plate with a salad of sliced pear and fennel on it, topped with pecorino cheese.
(Photography by Jennifer May)

Brown Rice, Chicken and Butternut Squash Salad with Roasted Garlic Tahini Dressing 

A beige bowl filled with Brown Rice, Chicken and Butternut Squash Salad on a beige surface. A rotisserie chicken sits on the left of the image and a stack on plates on the right.
(Photography by Gabriel Cabrera)

Garlic Parmesan Brussels Sprouts with Crispy Pancetta

A baking sheet with roasted Brussels sprouts and pancetta on it. A wooden cutting board with grainy mustard, a block of parmesan cheese and pancetta sit next to the baking sheet.
(Photography by Florence Grunfelder; food styling by Sabrina Falone)

The Best Cauliflower and Broccoli Cheese 

Closeup on a baking dish with cheesy, baked cauliflower and broccoli. Two hands are holding the dish with a white kitchen towel.
(Photography by David Loftus)

Delicata Squash and Mushroom Tart

A rectangular tart with slices of delicata squash on it sitting on a dark grey surface. A slice of the tart is sitting on a small wooden plate.
(Photography by Betty Binon)

Butternut Squash Pizza 

Overhead shot of a pizza with butternut squash sauce and topped with pancetta, bell peppers and microgreens.
(Photo credit: Adrian Harris and Jeremy Inglett)

Vegan Potato, Leek & Artichoke Chowder

A ladle removing some creamy potato chowder from a light blue dutch oven sitting on a stovetop.
(Photography by Jeanine Donofrio and Jack Mathews)

Root Vegetable Stew with Rosemary Garlic Baguette 

Overhead shot of a red dutch oven with a root vegetable stew on a wooden surface. 2 bowls of the stew and a plate with sliced bread sit next to the dutch oven.
(Photo credit: Dennis The Prescott)

Parsnip Purée w/ Duck Breast, Radicchio, and Cranberry Relish

An overhead shot of a white platter with Parsnip Purée, Duck Breast, Radicchio, and Cranberry Relish, sitting on a white table. A silver spoon sits on the platter.
(Photography by EE Berger)

Celebration Chicken with Sweet Potatoes and Dates

Closeup, overhead shot of roasted sweet potato chunks, dates, chicken thighs and drumsticks on a sheet pan.
(Photography by David Loftus)

Delicata Squash and Italian Sausage Bake

Overhead shot of a sheet pan on a dark grey surface. Slices of roasted delicata squash, onion, pieces of sausage and roasted rapini are on the pan.
(Photography by Betty Binon)

Squash and Spinach Pasta Rotolo 

Overhead closeup shot of a pot of rolled-up pasta with cheese, butternut squash sauce, tomato sauce and spinach.
(Credit: David Loftus)

Squash & Sausage Risotto with Radicchio, Thyme & Parmesan

Closeup on a shallow bowl of risotto on a wooden table. The bowl is full of risotto with butternut squash and sausage, and topped with grated parmesan.
(Credit: Jamie Oliver Enterprises Limited)

Cauliflower Steak with Crispy Chickpeas and Broccolini

Overhead shot of a dinner plate on a wooden table. The plate has roasted cauliflower, creamy goat cheese mash, roasted chickpeas and broccolini.
(Photography by Dennis The Prescott)

Tartes Tatin 

Overhead shot of a circular apple tart sitting on a plate on a white cloth napkin on a table. A fork sits on the left of the plate.
(Photography by Kevin Clark)

Classic Pumpkin Pie 

Overhead shot of a pumpkin pie topped with whipped cream on a wooden table. A slice of the pie is sitting on a black plate.
(Photography by Betty Binon)

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