385 ahead recipes

Indonesian vegetable salad tossed in creamy peanut dressing with garlic, rice vinegar, and chili flakes. Crunchy tofu, bean sprouts, and broccoli make a bright gado-gado style make-ahead bowl.

Rice pilaf tossed with Italian dressing, soy sauce, fresh spinach strips, scallions, and crumbled bacon. A make-ahead potluck salad that serves 50 and gets better as it chills.

Greek souvlaki with lamb or pork marinated overnight in olive oil, lemon, white wine, garlic, and oregano then grilled on skewers. Includes a smart make-ahead method for parties.

Cold chewy noodles with shredded chicken and silky egg strips in spicy Sichuan dressing. This make-ahead Chinese salad is perfect for hot summer nights, ready in an hour.

Cold vegetable rice salad with crisp-tender green beans, peas, cucumber, and tomatoes tossed in a tangy tarragon vinaigrette. A refreshing make-ahead side for potlucks and summer cookouts.

Spicy pear relish simmered with whole cloves, cinnamon, lemon slices, and sugar. A make-ahead condiment that pairs with roast chicken and turkey, or doubles as a warm dessert.

Mayo-free pasta salad with marinated artichoke hearts, alfalfa sprouts, black olives, and red wine vinegar. The artichoke marinade doubles as the dressing in this tangy, make-ahead side.

Make-ahead bran muffin batter that keeps in the fridge for 6 weeks. Mix once, bake fresh muffins any morning with fruit bran cereal, sour milk, and warm cinnamon.

Homemade red enchilada sauce from whole dried chile pods, garlic, oregano, and cumin, thickened with a bacon drippings roux. Rich, smoky, and leagues ahead of anything from a can.

Italian braised lamb and potatoes with pecorino cheese, red capsicum, and garlic simmered in stock until fork-tender. A make-ahead casserole that tastes even better the next day.

Creamy lemon sauce for grilled or baked shark with sour cream, crushed pineapple, lemon zest, green bell pepper, and a hint of ground cloves. No-cook, make-ahead condiment.

Olive oil marinated mushrooms simmer button mushrooms in herbed wine vinegar with thyme, garlic, and brandy. A make-ahead antipasto that gets better after a night in the fridge.

Par-cooked balti meat is a Birmingham-curry-house technique: meat simmered with masala paste then frozen for fast curry assembly. A make-ahead British-Indian meal prep base.

Refrigerator cookies pack chopped dates, shredded coconut, and walnuts into a buttery slice-and-bake log rolled in extra nuts. Make-ahead icebox cookies for holiday baking or anytime.

Chocolate truffle pie with a chocolate wafer crust and a no-bake filling of unsweetened chocolate, sweetened condensed milk, gelatin, and whipped topping. Dense, silky, and make-ahead friendly.

Old-fashioned oxtail soup with rice, carrots, celery, and tomatoes simmered for hours until the meat falls off the bone. A make-ahead family recipe that develops deeper flavor on day two.