41 boudin recipes

Lester's fruitcake is a heirloom holiday loaf: pounds of candied fruits, figs, dates, raisins, pecans, and walnuts bound in spiced molasses batter. Slow-baked, brandy-soaked, aged a month.

Creamy ham pasta casserole with rotini, broccoli, sharp cheddar and chopped bell pepper bound in a light mayonnaise-milk sauce. A weeknight one-dish dinner that uses up leftover ham.

Gumdrop fruit salad: a retro church-potluck classic with pineapple, grapes, marshmallows, gumdrops, and pecans bound in whipped cream and a cooked pineapple-lemon dressing.

Homemade chicken pot pie with cooked chicken and your pick of vegetables bound in a creamy poultry-seasoned gravy. Top it your way: buttery Parmesan croutons, fresh biscuits, or a classic pie crust baked until golden and bubbling.

Oven chicken croquettes bake instead of frying, with cooked chicken bound in thick bechamel, rolled in parmesan breadcrumbs, and drizzled with butter for a golden crust. A lighter take on a retro American classic.

Egg croquettes are crisp golden balls of chopped hard-cooked eggs and mushrooms bound in cream sauce, breaded and deep-fried. A retro brunch classic served with extra cream sauce on top.

Vegan pasta and red kidney bean salad with diced zucchini, green pepper, tomato and green olives, bound in eggless mayonnaise with chili powder, coriander, paprika and sage. A protein-rich room-temperature salad for picnics and potlucks.

Stuffed beefsteak tomatoes packed with minced spinach, carrot, celery, and onion bound in breadcrumbs, topped with Parmesan. Vegetarian side or appetizer.

Pineapple-coconut chess pie with crushed pineapple and flaked coconut bound in a sweet cornmeal-thickened custard. A Southern classic with tropical flair and a slightly chewy texture.

Stuffed oranges filled with wild rice, chickpeas, and raisins bound in an orange-tahini sauce. A vegetarian Middle Eastern-inspired dish served in the orange shell itself.

Seafood crepes stuff thin pancakes with poached monkfish, scallops, and shrimp bound in a garlic-infused Gruyère cream sauce, then bake until bubbling. A French bistro starter or light luncheon dish that punches well above its ingredient list.

Sauerkraut balls with corned beef, ham, and tangy kraut bound in a thick roux, breaded and fried golden. The Ohio bar-snack classic with crackly crust and a savory, slightly sour center.

Vegan spinach lasagna layers tender noodles with steamed spinach, broccoli and mushrooms, all bound in a creamy tofu cheese sauce. No dairy, no eggs, just a hearty veggie-packed dairy-free lasagna.

Fresh strawberry pie piles whole ripe strawberries into a baked shell, all bound in a glossy homemade strawberry glaze and topped with whipped cream. A no-fuss summer pie that lets the berries shine.

Easter nests candy: shredded coconut bound in melted white chocolate and green coating, shaped into little nests, and filled with jelly beans. A four-ingredient no-bake project kids love.

Yeast-raised honey doughnuts fried golden and stuffed with a chunky filling of dried apricots, apples, and walnuts bound in honey. A festive, fruit-forward treat for the holidays.