Winter in Israel is a relatively short season, but it still provides a few days of heavy rain, wind, and above all, a desire for cozy evenings at home with steaming pots to beckon everyone to the table. This is the time to linger in the kitchen over long simmering broths and stews and savor hearty local fare.

In this recipe collection, you’ll find our favorite winter dishes like Nechama Rivlin’s red lentil soup, kubbeh soup with green beans, and sour chickpea soup with semolina dumplings. There’s also beef cheek stew with kidney beans, a chicken and bucatini hamin, and winter desserts like a za’atar and strawberry crumble.