Top 10 Best Healthy Homesteader Recipes

Healthy homesteader recipes are the perfect way to bring your harvest to the table if you’re passionate about real food and self-sufficiency. Let’s look at why the foundation of the homesteading kitchen is those recipes!

Benefits of Healthy Homesteader Recipes

Fresh & Flavorful: You can’t beat the taste of just-picked ingredients. The vitamins, minerals, and flavors in your food are filled!

No Hidden Nasties: When you make food from scratch, you avoid the unknown additives that often lurk in processed foods.

Long-Term Savings: While there might be initial costs (garden, chickens), homesteading saves money over buying pre-made items.

Nourishing Your Body, Naturally: Unprocessed, whole foods are the building blocks of a healthy and well-nourished body.

Food Security, and Peace of Mind: More control over your food supply provides security and preparedness, especially in uncertain times.

Our Top 10 Delicious and Healthy Homesteader Recipes

#1 Versatile Garden Salads recipe 

Salads epitomize the joy of homestead cooking – they’re flexible and fresh, and celebrate the best your garden offers. Here’s a simple guide to delicious garden salads:

Ingredients:

Base: Lettuces (romaine, spinach, kale), fresh herbs (basil, mint, parsley)

Veggies: Tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, radishes, carrots – whatever’s in season!

Protein (Optional): Grilled chicken, leftover beans, crumbled feta

Homemade Dressing: Vinaigrette, creamy herb, or a simple lemon-olive oil drizzle

Instructions:

Wash everything: Clean your lettuce, vegetables, and herbs with water.

Make a green base: Put lettuce and herbs in the bowl first.

Add toppings: Put your vegetables on top of the lettuce. Add chicken, beans, or cheese if you want.

#2 Clean Out the Veggie Bin Soup recipe

This soup is the perfect solution for a mix of veggies nearing their prime. It’s hearty, flavorful, and a great way to reduce food waste.

Ingredients:

Olive oil

Onion, chopped

Garlic, minced

Variety of vegetables (carrots, celery, zucchini, potatoes, etc.)

Vegetable or chicken broth

Herbs and seasonings (thyme, bay leaf, salt, pepper)

Optional: Cooked beans or leftover meat

Instructions:

Sauté onion and garlic in olive oil.

Add chopped vegetables and cook until slightly softened.

Pour in broth and bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until vegetables are tender.

Season to taste, adding any optional beans or leftover meat.

#3Probiotic-Rich Homemade Yogurt recipe

Making yogurt at home is surprisingly simple and results in a creamy, delicious treat packed with beneficial bacteria.

Ingredients:

Whole milk (raw milk yields the best results)

Yogurt starter (a small amount of store-bought plain yogurt or a specific yogurt culture)

Instructions:

Heat the milk: Make it very hot, but not boiling. Then let it cool down a little.

Add the yogurt: Mix a small amount into the warm milk.

Put in jars: Fill jars with the milk. (Or use a special yogurt maker machine!)

Keep it warm: Let the jars sit warm for 8-12 hours until the milk gets thick.

Put it in the fridge: Cool it down and enjoy!

Image Suggestion: A glass jar filled with thick, creamy homemade yogurt. A dollop of the yogurt could be on a spoon, showing its luscious texture. Consider a few fresh berries on the side.

#4 Nourishing Whole Wheat Bread recipe

Homemade bread is the best! It smells good, tastes delicious, and whole wheat is healthy.

What you need:

Warm water

Yeast (a tiny bit)

Honey (a little bit)

Salt

Oil (olive or any kind)

Instructions:

Mix yeast, warm water, and honey. Wait a few minutes.

Add flour, salt, oil. Mix it all.

Work the dough with your hands until it’s smooth.

Put the dough in a bowl and wait until it gets bigger.

Bake it in a hot oven until it turns brown.

Image Suggestion:  A freshly baked loaf of whole wheat bread on a cutting board, slightly sliced to show the warm, airy interior.

#5. Gut-Healthy Ferments (Sauerkraut, etc.)

Homemade Sauerkraut Recipe

Ingredients:

Green cabbage

Salt (special sea salt is best)

Instructions:

Clean the jar: Wash it with hot water to make it clean.

Cut up the cabbage: Take off the bad leaves. Cut the cabbage in half. Then cut it all up into tiny strips.

Mix with salt: Put the cabbage in a bowl. Add salt. Mix and squeeze for a few minutes.

Wait, then mix again: Let the cabbage sit for a few minutes. Then mix and squeeze it again.

Pack it in Push the cabbage down into the jar.

Let it sit: Leave the jar out for a few weeks.

#6 Chamomile and Turmeric Healthy Evening Tea recipe

Unwind with our calming Chamomile and Turmeric Evening Tea recipe. This soothing blend promotes relaxation and supports healthy inflammation, perfect for a restful night’s sleep.

Ingredients:

Dried chamomile flowers (like the kind you find at the store)

Turmeric powder (a little bit)

Cinnamon stick

Honey (if you want)

Instructions:

Mix the herbs: Put chamomile, turmeric, and the cinnamon stick in a jar. Close it tightly.

Make the tea: Use two spoonfuls of the herb mix from the jar.

Add ginger: Put the herbs and a slice of fresh ginger into a teapot or small pot.

Add water: Pour clean water over the herbs.

Boil gently: Put it on the stove and heat until it boils a little bit. Then turn off the heat.

Wait: Let it sit for 10-20 minutes.

Sweeten if you want: Add a little honey if you like it sweet.

#7 Backyard Eggs recipe: The Best Healthy Breakfast!

Packed with protein and nutrients, this easy-to-follow guide transforms fresh eggs into a delicious and wholesome breakfast you’ll crave.

Ingredients:

• Eggs from your chickens
• Salt and pepper

Instructions:

1. Get your eggs: Go outside and take the eggs from your chickens.
2. Wash the eggs: Put them under water to clean them.
3. Crack the eggs: Crack the eggs into a bowl. Be careful not to break the yellow part!
4. Add a little salt and pepper: Just a tiny bit to give it flavor.
5. Mix the eggs: Use a fork to mix everything.
6. Heat a pan: Put a pan on the stove and make it a little bit hot.
7. Pour in the eggs: Put the eggs in the pan.
8. Cook slowly: Cook the eggs and stir them sometimes until they’re cooked but still a little bit soft.
9. Eat and enjoy! Your eggs are ready to eat – the best breakfast! 🍳

#8. Homemade Healthy Fruit Jam

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds fresh fruit (berries, peaches, plums, or a combination)
• 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1/4 teaspoon salt (optional, balances sweetness)

Equipment:

• Large pot or saucepan
• Potato masher or large fork
• Sterilized jars and lids
• Ladle

Instructions:

1. Prep the Fruit: Wash the fruit thoroughly. Remove pits, stems, or tough skins as needed. Chop the fruit into bite-sized pieces.
2. Mash and Cook: Combine the fruit, sugar, and lemon juice in a large pot. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Use a potato masher or fork to crush the fruit and release juices slightly.
3. Simmer and Thicken: Reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring frequently to prevent sticking.  Cook until the mixture thickens and has a jam-like consistency (about 20-30 minutes).
4. Test for Doneness: Place a small amount on a chilled plate to test if the jam is set. Let cool for a minute, then tilt the plate. If the jam wrinkles slightly and doesn’t run freely, it’s ready. If not, continue cooking for a few more minutes.
5. Jar and Store: Ladle hot jam into sterilized jars, leaving about 1/4 inch of headspace. Clean the jar rims, then seal with lids and rings. Process in a hot water bath for 10 minutes (if you want to store it long-term) or let cool and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.

 #9. Plant-Protein Powerhouses: Lentil & Bean Dishes recipe

Discover delicious and nutritious lentil and bean recipes! Packed with plant-based protein, these dishes are easy to make and perfect for satisfying your cravings.

What you need:

• Dried lentils or beans (1 cup) – try black beans, chickpeas, or red lentils
• Lots of water (for soaking and cooking)
• Salt and spices (optional, for extra flavor)

Instructions:

1. Clean them: Wash the lentils or beans with cold water.
2. Let them sleep: Put the lentils or beans in a bowl and cover them with water. Leave them to soak overnight.
3. Rewash them: Drain the water off and give them another rinse.
4. Cook them: Put the lentils or beans in a pot with fresh water. Make it boil, then turn the heat down and cook slowly until they are soft.
5. Add flavor: Add salt and spices if you want.
6. Eat and enjoy: Use them in salads, soups, or on their own!

#10. Yummy Snacks All Year: Healthy Dried Fruits & Veggies recipe

Fruits you can use:

• Strawberries
• Oranges
• Cherries
• Peaches

Vegetables you can use (if you want): Any kind you like!

Instructions:

Dried Strawberries:

1. Wash them and dry them well.
2. Dry them in a special machine (dehydrator) for 10-14 hours. They can be a little soft or very crunchy!

Dried Orange Slices:

1. Cut oranges into slices.
2. Dry them to use in tea or on top of cereal.

Dried Cherries:

1. Just dry them and eat them as a snack!

Dried Peaches:

1. Cut into thin slices.
2. Dry them and enjoy them all year!

 Healthy recipes from your garden are yummy and good for you!  The food will taste fresh, you know what’s in it, and you’ll feel proud of making it yourself.  Don’t be afraid to try new things in the kitchen! Change recipes to make them the way you like them.