Recipes with bay leaves

Italian boiled beef brisket simmered with carrot, celery, onion, and Roma tomatoes for fork-tender meat and a clean, golden broth. The classic two-for-one bollito: dinner now, soup base later.

Turkey gumbo built from a leftover carcass with a dark roux, okra, smoked sausage, bacon, and Cajun spices. A rich, hearty way to use your holiday turkey.

Potted herrings in Guinness bake rolled herring fillets in a stout-and-vinegar bath with onion, bay, cloves, and peppercorns. Classic Irish preserved fish, served cold.

Classic chicken stock simmers chicken bones with carrots, onion, celery, bay leaf, thyme, and peppercorns into a rich golden broth. The foundation of soups, sauces, risottos, and braises.

Pan-seared chicken breasts crusted with cracked peppercorns, thyme, and bay leaf, finished with a white wine pan sauce. Bold flavor from a simple herb-pepper blend.

Classic French onion soup with slowly caramelized onions in beef broth, a splash of port wine, and broiled Swiss and Parmesan cheese on toasted baguette. Make ahead and finish under the broiler.

Fisherman's seafood chowder loaded with clams, crab legs, shrimp, and scallops in a bacon-laced milk broth thickened with instant potato flakes.

Cato's grape bread recreates an ancient Roman recipe with feta, cumin, anise, and grape juice baked over fragrant bay leaves. A 2,000-year-old loaf with rustic Mediterranean character.

Chicken liver mousse baked in ramekins with shallots, thyme, garlic, and cream, unmolded and served with fresh tomato sauce and herb garnishes. A French restaurant classic, home-kitchen achievable.

Homemade chicken stock simmered low and slow for 4 to 6 hours with chicken bones, onion, carrot, celery, thyme, and bay. Pure-flavored stock for soups, risotto, and sauces. Freezes for months.

Billi Bi, the classic French cream of mussel soup with white wine, shallots, heavy cream, egg yolk, and hollandaise. An elegant, velvety bisque served hot or chilled.

Hearty chicken noodle soup simmers a whole chicken low and slow with aromatics, then finishes in homemade rolled egg noodles cut right into the pot. From-scratch Sunday soup the way your grandmother made it.

In this classic French braised beek, red wine and vegetable stew is a simple and delicious dish. The flavour and texture allow you to keep it warm for your guests.

Pressure cooker black bean soup made from dried beans with no soaking, ready in well under an hour. Smoky or vegetarian, thickened with bulgur, and finished with cilantro and a splash of sherry.

Cider chicken braised Normandy-style with hard cider, calvados, bacon, prunes, slow-cooked onions, and a fresh bouquet garni. Rustic French autumn cooking at its best.

Crayfish and poached quail egg salad pairs court-bouillon-poached crayfish with delicate soft quail eggs over greens, dressed in a truffle and dill vinaigrette. An elegant composed seafood starter.

Duck pot pie with the flavors of duck a l'orange baked right in: a giblet stock sauce brightened with orange peel and Triple Sec, loaded with broccoli, leeks, and ginger. The crispy duck skin gets rolled into the top crust.

Caramelized onion and Parmesan cheese soup pureed silky smooth with day-old baguette and cream. A rich, velvety twist on classic French onion soup.

Persian kebabs marinate cubed lamb in lemon juice, garlic, and bay leaf, then thread the meat with tomato, green pepper, and eggplant for grilling. Bright, herby skewers built for the barbecue.

Whole chicken and lentils baked in a clay cooker with smoked pork, aromatics, red wine, and dry mustard. A one-pot French-style braise with deeply concentrated flavor.

Master chicken stock simmered low for hours with a whole fowl, leeks, carrots and a classic bouquet of herbs. Skim it well, strain it clear, then chill and lift off the fat for a clean, golden base for any soup or sauce.

Flank steak burritos layer juicy poached-then-julienned steak with red onion, jalapeño, tomatoes, and olives, rolled in flour tortillas and served with avocado dip. A party-ready Mexican classic.

Warm lentil salad with stir-fried carrots, celery, scallions, and water chestnuts tossed in balsamic vinaigrette. High-fiber, diabetic-friendly, and served on crisp lettuce.

A hearty two-meat chili: ground round and hot Italian sausage simmered with pink beans, black beans, peppers, and a cornmeal thickener. Feeds 15, perfect for game day or a freezer stash.

Simple cabbage soup with tomato juice, carrots, onion, and beef bouillon simmered for an hour. Low-calorie, low-sodium, and just one pot to clean.

Shellfish soup with shrimp and sea scallops in a white wine and shrimp shell stock infused with vanilla bean and cilantro. Spring vegetables simmered just one minute to stay crisp.

Greek chickpea soup (revithia) simmers dried garbanzo beans with onion, tomato, garlic, and bay until creamy, then finishes with a generous squeeze of fresh lemon juice. Rustic vegan Mediterranean comfort.

Shrimp and crab enchiladas: corn tortillas filled with a simple bay-poached shrimp and crab meat mixture. A light seafood filling for a crowd of 20 enchiladas.

Spiced pot roast marinated in a blended paste of cumin, turmeric, ginger, rosemary, French mustard, poppy seeds, and lemon. Braised tender on the stovetop or in a slow cooker.

One-pot baked rice with broccoli, kidney beans, peppers, and tomatoes simmered in vegetable stock. Hearty vegetarian main dish topped with melted Monterey Jack.

Kokoretsi recipe with lamb sweetbreads, heart, and kidneys marinated in lemon-oregano, skewered, wrapped in sausage casing, and grilled over charcoal.

Sweet potato carrot soup: a vegan, gluten-free, low-fat broth simmered from sweet potatoes, carrots, and celery, brightened with lemon and paprika at the finish.

Tournedos of lotte (monkfish) with lobster, sauteed monkfish medallions plated with lobster meat in a silky Cognac-cream sauce enriched with homemade lobster butter. An elegant French restaurant classic for special occasions.

Butterflied leg of lamb marinated with olive oil, lemon juice, rosemary, bay leaf and black pepper, then grilled or broiled until charred outside and pink within. A six-pound centrepiece for Easter or summer cookouts.

Broiled scallop and mushroom skewers marinated in olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, bay leaf, and coriander seeds. A simple seafood brochette served with tartar sauce.

Gujar Ka Pullao (Indian carrot rice pilaf): fragrant basmati cooked with caramelized onions, grated carrots, and whole spices like cardamom, clove, cinnamon, and cumin. A vibrant, naturally vegan side from Northern India.

Stuffed green bell peppers filled with brown rice, chopped nuts, and herbs simmered in tomato juice. A vegetarian main dish baked with the pepper lids on.

Penne with eggplant, mushrooms, and red wine tomato sauce finished with melted mozzarella. A hearty Italian pasta ready in 45 minutes.

Beefsteak smothered in onions (filet braise aux ognons): pounded round steak braised for two hours over six sliced onions with vinegar, thyme, bay, and garlic. Classic French-Creole comfort.

Cincinnati chili: thin, spiced ground beef sauce with cinnamon, allspice, cloves, and a touch of molasses, simmered low and slow. Serve over spaghetti with cheddar, onions, and beans.

Grilled chuck roast marinated overnight in red wine vinegar, thyme, and bay leaf with a microwave pre-cook for even doneness. A budget cut turned into tender charcoal-grilled beef.

Welsh prawn and cauliflower gratin with Caerphilly cheese bechamel sauce seasoned with turmeric, mustard, and ground bay leaf. A rich, golden-topped British seafood dish.

Lima beans with grilled stuffed grape leaves: vegetarian dolmas packed with spinach, zucchini, and summer squash, skewered and grilled, served over simmered lima beans with tomato and jalapeno.

Roasted pork shoulder on sauerkraut with juniper berries, grated apples, white wine, and bay leaves. A hearty German-style pork and kraut dish with deep, rustic flavor.

Try making this healthy variation of chicken stock that can be used to make soups and stews.

Appetizers have long been a part of the culinary tradition in Europe, but they're relatively new to America. One of the first to appear in American cookbooks, at the turn of the century, was shrimp cocktail.

Cajun shrimp jambalaya simmers smoky ham, the Holy Trinity of onion, celery and bell pepper, tomatoes and converted rice in bacon drippings before folding in shrimp at the end. A one-pot Louisiana classic.

Pepper oysters are a chef-style appetizer of fresh oysters poached in their own liquor, then marinated overnight in mortar-ground black peppercorn, garlic, bay leaf, and lime. Bright, briny, bracing.