• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Seasonal guides
  • Garden
  • About
  • Subscribe
  •  

Ask the Food Geek logo

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Seasonal guides
  • Garden
  • About
  • Subscribe
  •  
search icon
Homepage link
  • Seasonal guides
  • Garden
  • About
  • Subscribe
  •  
×
Home » Recipes » Cooking in season: February recipes

Published: Feb 1, 2022 · Modified: Jan 25, 2025 by Veronica T

Cooking in season: February recipes

Welcome to February - one of the hardest months to eat seasonally and where you start to repeat recipes or fall into a rut. No new fruits or vegetables become available this month, and we lose some of the fall & early winter produce like pears, cranberries, and pomegranates.

Citrus, kiwi, brussels sprouts, and winter squash make up the majority of seasonal produce in February. There are also year-round staples to count on like carrots, broccoli, and potatoes.

Jump to:
  • Try something new
  • Seasonal twist on classics
  • Breakfast
  • Appetizers & sides
  • Soups
  • Salads
  • Main course
  • Desserts
  • What's in season

Try something new

If you're already eating winter squash or clementines, save the seeds or peels for a fun use. The recipes below will get your started.

Extra crispy roasted squash seeds
Roast any winter squash or pumpkin seeds at a low temperature for extra crispy results.
Check it out
Roasted squash and pumpkin seeds in a white bowl
Candied orange peels
These are easy and work great with oranges, mandarins, and clementines
Check it out
Candied orange peels in a basket next to fresh oranges
A bowl of split pea soup with ham and vegetables, including carrots, potatoes, parsnips, and parsley root

Seasonal twist on classics

One way to find inspiration in the kitchen this month is to add or swap in seasonal produce for your favorite classic recipes.

  • Caesar salad
  • Pizza
  • Lasagna
  • Tacos
  • Fries
Split pea soup with ham & root vegetables
Double the vegetables for a hearty, chunky soup. Flavored with ham bones or ham hocks for a deep, savory flavor. Spices include bay leaves and thyme.
Check it out
A bowl of split pea soup with ham and vegetables, including carrots, potatoes, parsnips, and parsley root
Butternut squash lasagna recipe by Vanilla and Bean
Butternut squash lasagna
Brussels & kale caesar with cheezy garlic croutons recipe by Pinch of Yum
Brussels & kale caesar with cheezy garlic croutons
Kale caesar salad with celery root & hazelnuts recipe by Ask The Food Geek
Kale caesar with celery root, hazelnuts, and cornbread croutons
Rosemary roasted butternut squash pizza recipe by Half Baked Harvest
Rosemary roasted butternut squash pizza
Celeriac (celery root) fries by Viktoria's Table
Celeriac (celery root) fries
Jerked sriracha roast pork tacos with kiwi salsa verde recipe by Lady & Pups
Jerked sriracha roast pork tacos with kiwi salsa verde
Kumquat upside-down cake recipe by Alexandra Cooks
Kumquat upside-down cake
Skinny fried sweet & sour blood orange chicken recipe by Heather Christo
Skinny fried sweet & sour blood orange chicken
Autumn harvest panzanella salad with pumpkin bread recipe by The Floating Kitchen
Autumn harvest panzanella salad with pumpkin bread

Breakfast

Winter's citrus fruits are a great way to start your day. Slice up a grapefruit, kiwi, or clementine to add to your breakfast.

Brussels sprout and bacon frittata recipe by Smitten Kitchen
Brussels sprout and bacon frittata
Kiwi yogurt with mini simit grissini recipe by Use Your Noodles
Kiwi yogurt with mini simit grissini
Winter fruit yogurt bowls with gingerbread granola recipe by Floating Kitchen
Winter fruit yogurt bowls with gingerbread granola
A rack of bacon scones topped with a maple glaze and crumbled bacon
Maple bacon scones from Eat Delicious cookbook

Appetizers & sides

It's easy to get bored of winter produce by the time February rolls around. While I do rely on some staples like roasted brussels sprouts alongside some chicken for an easy dinner, I try to use this month as an opportunity to experiment with those same 'ol veggies.

Here are some recipes that hopefully seem new and exciting enough to try.

Celeriac (celery root) fries by Viktoria's Table
Celeriac (celery root) fries
Hummus and tahini egg salad recipe by Kitchen Confidante
Hummus and tahini egg salad
Honey chipotle roasted brussels sprouts by Simply Recipes
Honey chipotle roasted brussels sprouts
Kiwi salsa with avocado & pomegranate by Simply Recipes
Kiwi salsa with avocado & pomegranate
Grapefruit & rosemary marinated feta cheese recipe by The View from Great Island
Grapefruit & rosemary marinated feta cheese
Maple roasted parsnips with tahini-honey dressing and hazelnuts recipe by Carolines Cooking
Maple roasted parsnips with tahini-honey dressing and hazelnuts
Loaded parsnip fries recipe by Cook at Home Mom
Loaded parsnip fries
Mashed potatoes and parsnips with chives & parsley by Simply Recipes
Mashed potatoes and parsnips with chives & parsley

Soups

Winter doesn't have a shortage of soup recipes (and with good reason). Try a new take on a butternut squash or parsnip soup. And don't forget that potato, carrot, or broccoli & cheese soups are a good option since those are available year-round at high quality.

A bowl of Zuppa Toscana soup with butternut squash
Zuppa Toscana with butternut squash
A bowl of roasted butternut squash soup with sage croutons
Roasted butternut squash soup
Lemon chicken orzo soup recipe by Damn Delicious
Lemon chicken orzo soup
Creamy wild rice soup recipe by The View from Great Island
Creamy wild rice soup
Beef barley soup recipe by Jo Cooks
Beef barley soup
Slow cooker butternut squash chili with quinoa recipe by The Full Helping
Slow cooker butternut squash chili with quinoa
Detox lentil soup by Pinch of Yum
Detox lentil soup
A bowl of minestrone and a side of bread
Winter minestrone with root vegetables and pesto
Garlic potato soup
Garlic potato soup
Mandarin orange chicken salad on cabbage with a sesame dressing

Salads

Citrus dressings are a great seasonal option for winter salads. If you haven't tried kumquats or had them in a while, consider them for salads as well. Slice them (with the rind on) and use them in a salad to add a sweet and slightly sour flavor.

Try the iconic Chinese chicken salad with mandarin oranges that got its start in the 1960s, becoming so popular it's common at restaurants across the US.

Chinese chicken salad with mandarin oranges
Rotisserie chicken, cabbage, and mandarin oranges are mixed with a sesame ginger dressing.
Check it out
A dinner plate filled with Chinese chicken salad, mandarin oranges, shredded cabbage, and a sesame salad dressing.
Kale caesar salad with celery root & hazelnuts recipe by Ask The Food Geek
Kale caesar with celery root, hazelnuts, and cornbread croutons
Bacon and brussels sprout salad with citrus dressing recipe by Pinch of Yum
Bacon and brussels sprout salad with citrus dressing
Kumquat kale salad with tahini dressing recipe by Minimalist Baker
Kumquat kale salad with tahini dressing
Citrus avocado salad with orange tahini vinaigrette recipe by Half Baked Harvest
Citrus avocado salad with orange tahini vinaigrette
Avocado citrus crunch salad with oat croutons & buttermilk drizzle recipe by How Sweet Eats
Avocado citrus crunch salad with oat croutons & buttermilk drizzle
Chili grapefruit salmon salad recipe by My Diary of Us
Chili grapefruit salmon salad
Autumn harvest panzanella salad with pumpkin bread recipe by The Floating Kitchen
Autumn harvest panzanella salad with pumpkin bread
A salad with sausage, kale, and lentils
Pub sausage salad with kale & spicy mustard

Main course

Use dinner as another excuse to experiment on some staple recipes, or as a good reason to try something new. Add a celery slaw to a buffalo burger or a kiwi salsa to your weekly taco night.

Mandarin orange chicken
Mandarin orange chicken with double the sauce. Flavored with fresh oranges, zest, garlic, ginger, and sriracha.
Check it out
Mandarin orange chicken in a sauce with broccoli, sesame seeds, green onions and rice
Orange chicken sauce
Orange chicken sauce flavored with orange zest, ginger, garlic, soy sauce, and sriracha.
Check it out
Orange chicken sauce on the stovetop
Moroccan chicken stew with olives, over couscous with cinnamon and oranges.
Moroccan chicken stew with orange-cinnamon couscous
Lemon piccata chicken meatballs recipe by Yes to Yolks
Lemon piccata chicken meatballs
Buffalo chicken burgers with celery ranch slaw recipe by Yes to Yolks
Buffalo chicken burgers with celery ranch slaw
Brown butter brussels sprouts pasta with hazelnuts recipe by Two Peas & Their Pod
Brown butter brussels sprouts pasta with hazelnuts
Jerked sriracha roast pork tacos with kiwi salsa verde recipe by Lady & Pups
Jerked sriracha roast pork tacos with kiwi salsa verde
Braised lamb shanks with kumquat, fennel, cardamom, and mint recipe by Eat in my Kitchen
Braised lamb shanks with kumquat, fennel, cardamom, and mint
Crunchy chicken spring rolls with blood orange dipping sauce recipe by How Sweet Eats
Crunchy chicken spring rolls with blood orange dipping sauce
Skinny fried sweet & sour blood orange chicken recipe by Heather Christo
Skinny fried sweet & sour blood orange chicken
Coffee crusted steak bowl with spiced butter and grapefruit recipe by Kitchen Sanctuary
Coffee crusted steak bowl with spiced butter, mint, and grapefruit

Desserts

Desserts in February are all about citrus & kiwi, but they don't have to be boring. Lemon bars brighten up a dreary winter evening (or try making them with grapefruit!)

Grapefruit poppy seed muffins on a table with slices of fresh grapefruit
Grapefruit poppy seed muffins
Kiwi lime loaf cake with yogurt by Sugar Salted
Kiwi lime loaf cake with yogurt
Kumquat upside-down cake recipe by Alexandra Cooks
Kumquat upside-down cake
Blood orange chocolate-bottom crème brûlée for two recipe by The Bojon Gourmet
Blood orange chocolate-bottom crème brûlée for two
Coconut white chocolate panna cotta with blood orange recipe by Baking a Moment
Coconut white chocolate panna cotta with blood orange
Winter citrus pavlova recipe by Nutmeg Nanny
Winter citrus pavlova
Caramelized grapefruit with basil & honey recipe by The Wooden Skillet
Caramelized grapefruit with basil & honey
Grapefruit Champagne mimosa cupcakes
Grapefruit Champagne mimosa cupcakes
Parsnip spice cake with maple-pecan buttercream recipe by Natural Contents
Parsnip spice cake with maple-pecan buttercream
Lemon bars with poppy seed crust recipe by Ask the Food Geek
Lemon bars with poppy seed crust

What's in season

These seasonal produce guides take a closer look at each fruit & vegetable available each month, as well as a larger collection of recipes.

When are blood oranges in season? Get the full scoop along with how to pick the best ones and store them.
Brussels Sprouts in Season
Butternut squash in season, whole and cut in half
Celery in season
When is celery root in season? How to pick the best ones and store them.
Grapefruits are in season in winter. More on picking the best ones & recipes.
Kiwi in season cut in half to show green flesh
Kumquats are in season in the middle of winter to early spring.
Mandarins are in season throughout winter and early spring.
Types of wild mushrooms, maitake, shiitake, portobello, oyster
When are parsnips in season? Pick the best ones and store them right to last even longer.
Winter squash in season
  • Facebook

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

About the Food Geek

Welcome, I'm Veronica, your resident food geek - experienced recipe developer and gardener. My goal is to help you enjoy eating at home by knowing what fruits & vegetables are currently in season and the best ways to use them. To do that, I've put together seasonal produce guides and recipes with practical advice.

More about me

Amish Paste tomato on a mulch background, weighs about 12 ounces. The best tomato for making paste.

Best tomatoes for making tomato paste

A book on growing asparagus in your home garden

Get my new book, on sale during spring planting season!


Popular recipes

  • Parmesan roasted asparagus, 425F in the oven for 8 minutes
    Parmesan roasted asparagus
  • A plate of blueberry cucumber salad with feta cheese and pistachios
    Blueberry cucumber salad with feta cheese
  • Roasted strawberries in their own sauce
    Roasted strawberries (for better flavor)
  • Eggs Benedict with asparagus, deli ham, and a fried over easy egg that was easy and quick to make. Set on a wood cutting board backdrop.
    Shortcut eggs Benedict with asparagus
See more Spring recipes →

Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • About me
  • Privacy Policy

Newsletter

  • Sign Up for produce guides!

Contact

  • Contact

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.