Our 28 recipes to cook in February include a recipe for every special day of the month, from recipes for traditional holidays such as Valentine’s Day and Maslenitsa or Pancake Week in countries that follow the Orthodox calendar to Super Bowl Sunday and kooky days such as Homemade Soup Day, which is really just an excuse to make soup.
Just for fun, we thought we’d compile a collection of 28 recipes to cook in February with a recipe for every special day of the month. There are actually more than 28, but whose counting? We have recipes for traditional holidays, from Valentine’s Day to Maslenitsa or Pancake Week, sports event such as Super Bowl Sunday, and weird days such as National Cabbage Day. Who comes up with these days?!
Seeing our What to Cook this Week and What to Cook this Weekend series have been so popular with our readers, we thought we might try a What to Cook this Month and see how it goes, so just consider this ’28 recipes to cook in February’ a test for now.
Before I share this compilation of 28 recipes to cook in February, I have a favour to ask. Grantourismo is reader-supported. If you’ve enjoyed our recipes on the site, please consider supporting Grantourismo by using our links to book accommodation, rent a car or campervan or motorhome, buy travel insurance, or book a tour on Klook or Get Your Guide.
You could also shop our Grantourismo store on Society6 for gifts for foodies, including fun reusable cloth face masks designed with Terence’s images or consider contributing to our epic Cambodian cuisine history and cookbook on Patreon.
There’s also the option of purchasing something on Amazon, such as these James Beard award-winning cookbooks, cookbooks by Australian chefs, classic cookbooks for serious cooks, cookbooks for culinary travellers, travel books to inspire wanderlust, or gifts for Asian food lovers, picnic lovers and travellers who love photography. We may earn a small commission but you won’t pay extra.
Now let me tell you all about our 28 recipes to cook in February.
28 Recipes to Cook in February – Recipes for Every Special Day from Valentines Day to Maslenitsa
Tuesday 1 February – Chinese New Year and Lunar New Year
Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year takes place on 1st February this year, kicking off the Spring Festival holiday here in Cambodia, as well as China obviously, and in other countries with Chinese communities, such as Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, and Singapore, while Lunar New Year is celebrated in neighbouring Vietnam and East Asian countries that also follow the lunisolar calendar, such as Korea, Japan and Taiwan. Our collection of Chinese New Year recipes come predominantly from Cambodia and Vietnam, as there are countless recipes online from China and the Chinese diaspora. While some of the dishes were traditionally made for Lunar New Year offerings and family feasts, others are special occasions dishes cooked and eaten year-round, not only for Chinese New Year, but they have a place on the table during the Spring holiday.
Chinese New Year Food Recipes from Cambodia and Vietnam for Your Lunar New Year Feasts
Wednesday 2 February – Crêpes Day
International Crêpes Day began in France and Belgium and dates back to 472, when Pope Gelasius I offered crêpes to French pilgrims visiting Rome for Candlemas or La Chandeleur. Apparently the round shape and golden colour of the crêpes resembles the sun and a change in weather, with Candlemas falling mid-way between winter solstice and spring equinox. Candlemas also means it’s time to pull down the Christmas tree and pack away those decorations. Our recipe makes the wonderful buttery thin French crêpes that Russians call blini or pancakes, not to be confused with the thicker fluffier American pancakes.
Best Russian Pancakes Recipe for Blini in the Style of French Crêpes for Pancake Day
Thursday 3 February – Snack Food Month
February is National Snack Food Month in the USA, but we’re going to limit it to a day. No doubt its origins lie in the marketing department of a snack food company. But it’s as good an excuse as any to give the store-bought snacks a miss and make some homemade snacks. We have recipes for spicy nuts, cheese straws, sourdough crackers, and some Sichuanese crackers. We also have loads of recipes for homemade dips for crackers and crudités such as this olive tapenade recipe from Provence in southern France made with only four ingredients – juicy Kalamata olives, briny capers, salted anchovies, and extra virgin olive oil – and this creamy smoked salmon dip, but if you only make one, make it this authentic hummus recipe.
Easy Authentic Hummus Recipe for a Creamy Homemade Traditional Hummus
Friday 4 February – Homemade Soup Day
As if we needed an excuse to make soup. There are few things more comforting and we have soup recipes galore on Grantourismo, from cooling chilled soups if you’re in the southern hemisphere to warming winter soups if you’re in the northern hemisphere and they’re all incredibly delicious.
Our best cold soup recipes will keep you cool all summer. We’ve got everything from a traditional chilled gazpacho recipe from Southern Spain and a mango gazpacho we first sampled on Mallorca to cold Russian soups such as okroshka, made with kefir, to a Cambodian ‘outside the pot’ soup, prepared in the bowl.
Our 21 winter soup recipes from around the world include warming winter soups from Asia to Europe, Africa to Latin America – everything from a creamy Singapore curry laksa and comforting Russian borscht to a hearty Moroccan chickpea soup and spicy Mexican tortilla soup.
Warming Winter Soup Recipes for Hearty Winter Broths From Around the World
Saturday 5 February – Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day
What kind of people come up with these days?! Apparently, this is Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day, which is a little weird, but if you’re into ice cream for breakfast, I’m not judging. We actually have the best recipe if you are up for ice cream for breakfast and it’s Thai Tea Ice Cream. Maybe we should share a Cambodian Coffee Ice Cream before Eat Ice Cream Breakfast Day…? Note that you don’t need an ice cream maker as this is a no churn ice cream recipe. You can just use an electric hand beater, which you’ll use to whip heavy whipping cream until peaks form, then fold in sweetened condensed milk. But you will need a teapot with stainless steel filter, a Thai tea filter or tea strainer, and either ChaTraMue Extra Gold Thai Tea Mix or a similar tea, such as Number One Brand Original Thai Tea Mix Red Label.
Thai Tea Ice Cream Recipe and an Easy No Churn Ice Cream Recipe for Any Flavour
Sunday 6 February – National Chopsticks Day
As probably close to a quarter or even a third of our recipes on Grantourismo could be eaten with chopsticks, as we have so many Asian recipes on the site. Although keep in mind that chopsticks aren’t used for all Asian food, which is one of the greatest misconceptions among culinary travellers to Southeast Asia. In Cambodia and Thailand for instance, a spoon and fork are used for most meals and chopsticks used for noodle dishes and dishes of Chinese provenance. So I’m going to share this collection of our best noodle soup recipes and let you decide.
Best Noodle Soup Recipes for Slurping Any Season – Broths to Keep You Warm in Winter, Cool in Summer
Monday 7 February – Smoked Salmon Pasta
Have you made our smoked salmon pasta recipe yet? It makes a fantastic spaghetti with smoked salmon, dill pickles, capers and fresh dill. Sour cream and lemon juice make this a pasta that’s quintessentially Russian flavoured yet it’s versatile – add more sour cream for a creamier texture or a dollop of caviar for a special occasion – and comes together quickly, in less than half an hour.
Tuesday 8 February – Mexican Chicken Tinga Taco for Taco Tuesday
It’s #TacoTuesday so why not make this Mexican chicken tinga taco recipe? Warm soft flour tortillas with delicious Mexican chicken tinga – or tinga de pollo – grilled corn charred on a griddle pan, zingy pickled purple shallots and pickled purple cabbage, sprinkled with crumbly Mexican cotija and aromatic coriander. Douse it all with your favourite Mexican hot sauce and close your eyes and you might just hear mariachis.
Mexican Chicken Tinga Taco Recipe with Grilled Corn, Pickled Shallots and Purple Cabbage
Wednesday 9 February – National Pizza Day
This is my favourite pizza recipe. Terence’s easy nduja pizza recipe makes a gently spiced pizza with the spicy Calabrian spreadable pork sausage combined with tomatoes and tomato paste to make a delicious base. Although cooked in a Dutch Oven it manages to have the hallmarks of a pizza made in a traditional pizza oven. Terence’s ’nduja pizza recipe was part of a series he ran on his favourite ’nduja recipes, which he kicked off with an introduction to Calabria’s ’nduja di Spilinga, followed by his spin on Australian chef Christine Manfield’s eggplant ‘sandwich’ with ’nduja instead of basil pesto.
Thursday 10 February – Navy Style Pasta
This easy Russian Navy-style macaroni recipe for Makarony Po-Flotsky or Макароны По-Флотски makes my spicier rendition of Fleet Macaroni or Soviet Bolognese. A dish cooked up for naval forces, particularly submarine crew, it was popularised during the Soviet period when it became a canteen staple. A nostalgic favourite of the Russian diaspora, for many of us it is one of the few dishes we recall our Russian grandfathers cooking. It’s a great Thursday night meal if you’re like me and are looking for quick and easy.
Saturday 12 February – Hot Breakfast Month
February is Hot Breakfast Month in the USA it seems, which is a good excuse if you needed one to browse our Weekend Eggs archive of quintessential breakfast eggs recipes from around the world. We have recipes for hundreds of egg dishes, but why not start with our most recent, an akuri recipe for Parsi style scrambled eggs, and then browse our Weekend Eggs breakfast eggs catalogue (link above).
Akuri Recipe for Parsi Style Scrambled Eggs with Tomato, Coriander and Green Chillies
Sunday 13 February – Super Bowl Sunday
We don’t need a calendar to tell us when Super Bowl Sunday is approaching in the USA. In the week leading up to the event, our American readers are visiting us for my ultimate nachos recipe and our other Mexican, Mexican-American and Tex-Mex recipes. You will love the nachos if you’re a fan, but if you’re feeding your family or a group of friends or both, also take a look at our recipes for a spicy, smoky chili con carne, a rustic red tomato salsa, authentic Mexican guacamole, tacos al pastor, char-grilled corn on the cob street food snack elotes, grilled corn salad, quesadillas, micheladas, and you’ll find a recipe for classic margaritas below. Also browse our collections of best Super Bowl recipes and healthy Super Bowl recipes.
Ultimate Nachos Recipe – How to Make the Most Delicious Nachos You’ll Ever Eat
Monday 14 February – Valentines Day
This is my favourite Valentines Day dish. Make this salmon fillet with colcannon recipe for your loved one and you’ll know why. There are few things more sublime than a crispy skinned salmon fillet cooked to perfection, served with colcannon (an Irish mash potato) and red wine sauce. Divine. We’ll also be sharing collections of best Valentines Day breakfast recipes and Valentines Day dinner recipes.
Salmon Fillet with Colcannon Recipe and How to Get a Perfect Crispy Salmon Skin
Tuesday 15 February – Lantern Festival
It’s the Lantern Festival, also called Shangyuan Festival in China, a traditional festival celebrated on the full moon to mark the end of Chinese New Year and Lunar New Year celebrations. Lanterns are let go, symbolising the release of past selves and a fresh start. Red lanterns symbolise good fortune. Glutinous rice bowls called tang yuan in Southern China, Taiwan and Southeast Asia and yuan xiao in Northern China are eaten during lantern festival. Traditionally steamed or boiled they’re filled with sweet red bean paste, sesame paste or peanut butter, although these days you might discover anything from custard to chocolate inside. We’ll endeavour to post a Cambodian glutinous rice balls recipe for you here by the 15th, but in the meantime, browse our Chinese New Year and Lunar New Year recipes above.
Wednesday 16 February – Tim Tam Day
I definitely don’t need an excuse to indulge in Tim Tams, and nor do you need a recipe, just make sure the fridge is stocked with your favourites. If you’ve not yet discovered the divine chocolate biscuit, or chocolate cookie for our American readers, that is the Tim Tam, start with Tim Tam Originals or go for the 4-pack Tim Tam Australian Classics Sampler.
Thursday 17 February – National Cabbage Day
We have so many cabbage recipes on the site, from my baboushka’s Russian cabbage rolls and the cabbage roll soup that would probably have her rolling in her grave, to my cabbage soup recipe for shchi (Щи) and my red cabbage pickles recipe, but I strongly encourage you to make my chorizo, cabbage and three bean stew recipe for my take on a traditional Eastern European stew. It’s so good. I’ve also compiled a collection of our best cabbage recipes for your convenience.
Chorizo Cabbage and Three Bean Stew Recipe for a Spicy Take on a Traditional Eastern European Stew
Friday 18 February – Oyakodon Day
I made that up. There’s no Oyakodon Day as far as I can see, but there should be, and we should all make this easy oyakodon recipe for a Japanese chicken and egg rice bowl on this day. Made from eggs, spring onions and chicken simmered in dashi and served on steamed rice, it’s a comforting, filling dish. Oyakodon – which means ‘parent and child bowl’; ‘parent’ being the chicken and ‘child’ the egg – is both a home-cooked meal and fast-food eaten for lunch, dinner, breakfast, and brunch. A warning: it’s incredibly delicious and addictive.
Easy Oyakodon Recipe for a Japanese Chicken and Egg Rice Bowl for Weekend Eggs
Saturday 19 February – Real Bread Week
It seems Real Bread Week kicks off in the UK on Saturday 19 February – which is pretty apt, as it’s the birthday of the sourdough baker in our household – and it runs until 27 February. It’s part of the Real Bread Campaign, ran by Sustain, the Alliance for Better Food and Farming. Fortunately, we have a sourdough recipe for you for every day of Real Bread Week, beginning with A Beginner’s Guide to Baking Sourdough Bread and Terence’s Simple Sourdough Bread Recipe, below. But I recommend you first read Terence’s post on why baking sourdough is easy, cheap and deeply satisfying and bookmark his Ultimate Guide to Sourdough Baking.
Simple Sourdough Bread Recipe – Beginners Guide to Baking Sourdough Bread
Sunday 20 February – Real Bread Week
Here’s a simple sourdough starter recipe for you, because when it comes to baking there are few things more satisfying than making sourdough bread from your own sourdough starter. Many people have said to us when they see Terence’s sourdough loaves on social media they’d love to be able to make their own sourdough, but are intimidated or don’t have time. Well, no excuses. Here’s how to make a sourdough starter the easy way.
Simple Sourdough Starter Recipe – How to Make a Sourdough Starter the Easy Way
Monday 21 February – Real Bread Week
If you’re already starting to think about what you should be doing with the sourdough discard, then look no further than this post. Terence’s sourdough starter discard recipes provide plenty of ideas for using leftover sourdough starter or sourdough starter discard you may have, instead of letting it go to waste. There are as many sourdough discard recipes out there as there are recipes for sourdough bread and most of them are a cinch to make and so incredibly satisfying.
Best Sourdough Starter Discard Recipes – What To Do With Your Sourdough Starter Waste
Tuesday 22 February – Real Bread Week and Margarita Day
This sourdough discard scallion pancakes recipe makes the easiest sourdough starter discard recipe you’ll ever make. It takes just 10 minutes from prep to taking your first bite. They’re delicious and they’ll give you the confidence to try out even more sourdough starter discard recipes, including more authentic Chinese scallion pancakes.
Sourdough Discard Scallion Pancakes – Easiest Sourdough Starter Discard Recipe Ever
Wash down all that sourdough with an authentic margarita from Mexico. This is all you need for National Margarita Day.
Classic Margarita Recipe – How to Make the Quintessential Mexican Cocktail
Wednesday 23 February – Real Bread Week
This simple sourdough batard recipe makes the baguette’s lesser known cousin, the bâtard. This oval-shaped loaf is not as long or as narrow as a baguette but it’s longer than a round sourdough boule and is therefore infinitely more practical for making toast and sandwiches meaning less bread goes to waste. And who doesn’t love a sourdough challenge?
Simple Sourdough Batard Recipe for Making the Baguette’s Lesser Known Cousin
Thursday 24 February – Real Bread Week PLUS it’s National Chilli Day, Tortilla Chip Day and National Toast Day
There may only be 28 days in February, yet there are three special days in one on the 24th February: National Chilli Day and Tortilla Chip Day in the USA and National Toast Day in the UK. I’ll leave it up to you to decide what to celebrate. Or celebrate them all. Fortunately, you can make toast for breakfast and lunch – we have a Russian-style French toast recipe and a savoury French toast recipe, and Terence has plenty of sourdough toast ideas, above, such as this Greek salad bruschetta, which you could also toast – and a chilli con carne recipe (link under 13 February, above) which you can serve with tortilla chips. But I’m going to encourage you to make my vegetarian chilli today, as it’s not only a breeze to make, it’s incredibly delicious, and if you skip the sour cream, you’ve got a vegan chilli.
Easy Vegetarian Chilli Recipe for Chilli Con Carne Sin Carne (Without Meat) and It’s Vegan Too
Friday 25 February – Real Bread Week
Real Bread Week continues until 27 February, so here are some sourdough bread ideas for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and snacks in between meals, include everything from the obvious, smashed avocado on sourdough, to the overlooked, pâté with pickles or tuna melts, to the sublime, French onion soup with sourdough croûte au fromage. Here’s what to eat with sourdough for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Sourdough Bread Ideas for Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, Dinner, and Snacks
Saturday 26 February – Real Bread Week
This olive sourdough bread recipe with rosemary, thyme and sweet red capsicum makes a deliciously moist sourdough bread that is fantastic toasted and spread with toppings such as ’nduja, our favourite Calabrian salami paste spread, or just dipped into extra virgin olive oil and sea salt. It also serves as an excellent lesson in how to bake sourdough with inclusions.
Olive Sourdough Bread Recipe With Rosemary, Thyme and Sweet Red Capsicum
Sunday 27 February – Real Bread Week
If you want to know how to store sourdough starter when taking a break from baking or you want to send someone some of your precious starter, here’s your guide: Terence has tested three ways to store sourdough starter for a long period, including the freezer method, drying method, and fridge method. These are the pros and cons of each method, and how to troubleshoot when your starter doesn’t come back to life.
How to Store Sourdough Starter In the Fridge Long Term and How to Revive Your Starter
Monday 28 February – Maslenitsa or Pancake Week
The ancient Orthodox Christian holiday of Maslenitsa or Pancake Week kicks off on 28 February and runs for a week until 6 March in Russia, Ukraine and other European countries that follow the Orthodox calendar. It’s the last week before Lent. You might also know it as Shrovetide. We have a collection of my favourite Russian pancakes recipes for you, which we’ll be adding to during February, but if you only make one pancake recipe, I suggest making this scrummy ricotta cheese pancakes recipe for syrniki or farmer’s cheese pancakes.
Russian Ricotta Cheese Pancakes Recipe for Syrniki or Farmer’s Cheese Pancakes
Please do let us know in the comments below if you make any of our 28 recipes to cook in February as we’d love to know how they turn out for you.
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