Malai kofta are golden-fried potato and paneer-style balls stuffed with cashews and raisins, simmered in a cashew-cream sauce warmed with cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cayenne. A North Indian restaurant classic.
Turkish lamb pita burgers blend ground lamb and turkey with bulgur, toasted coriander and cumin, allspice, and cinnamon. Tucked into warm whole-wheat pitas with herbed yogurt and tomato-onion salad. Eastern Mediterranean flavors for 6.
Grilled alligator tail steaks marinated in milk with rosemary, red pepper flakes, and cayenne. A Cajun-style grill recipe that tenderizes this lean, mild meat.
Spiced marinated shrimp poaches in olive oil with 30 cloves of garlic, lemon, paprika, and rosemary. Make-ahead Spanish gambas-style appetizer that mellows and deepens overnight in the fridge.
Cuban ajiaco chicken stew with yucca, corn on the cob, milk, paprika, and cayenne, finished with fresh lime juice. A creamy, hearty one-pot Caribbean comfort dish.
Buttermilk-soaked chicken breasts pan-fried in a seasoned flour crust, drizzled with honey bourbon butter sauce and topped with chopped pecans.
Three-meat meatloaf with ground pork, lamb, and veal bound with sour cream, oats, and a touch of cayenne. Rich, moist, and more flavorful than all-beef.
Crayfish etouffee built on a deep buttery base of onion, celery, green pepper, and garlic, simmered with tomato paste, white wine, and tender crayfish tails. The Cajun classic, served over rice. Best made a day ahead.
Southern seafood cakes with crab, shrimp, scallops, and flounder in a cornbread crumb coating, pan-fried in clarified butter. Four kinds of seafood in one golden, crispy cake.
Hot black bean, avocado, and corn salad with chile, fresh lime, and cilantro. Bright Tex-Mex no-cook salad that works as a main or side. Vegan, fiber-packed, and ready when canned beans are.
Cajun crawfish fettuccine in a rich cream sauce with onion, celery, scallions, and a kick of cayenne. A Louisiana-style pasta dinner ready in 25 minutes.
Moroccan Beef Kefta on Skewers with Chopped Vegetable Salad recipe
Red beans and rice with smoked sausage and ham shank simmered low and slow with thyme, sage, cayenne, and garlic. A classic Louisiana Monday night dinner from dried beans.
A tasty low-fat dish that goes great with any meal you prepare this summer.
New Orleans-style red bean gratin baked with cumin, coriander, cayenne, and red wine under a crispy breadcrumb-Parmesan topping. A vegetarian main dish with serious Cajun flavor.
Hearty vegan sloppy joes made with textured vegetable protein in a spiced tomato sauce with oregano and cayenne. Plant-based comfort food on toasted rolls in just 30 minutes.
Texas-style smoked brisket with a spicy chili rub and a beer-based mop sauce. Smoked low and slow over wood chips for tender, smoky bark and pink smoke ring.
Chicken and okra stew braises bone-in chicken with tomatoes, white wine, and a quiet pinch of cinnamon. The okra soaks in vinegar first to tame the slime before baking. Greek-style one-pot meal.
Mexican bean dip made in the microwave with blended beans, sharp cheddar, chili powder, and crispy bacon on top. Hot, smoky, and ready in 25 minutes.
Caribbean ginger pepper sauce with pineapple, jalapeno, cayenne, lime, and Chardonnay. A sweet-hot tropical sauce for grilled swordfish or chicken breast.
Baked red snapper topped with a steamed yucca root, tomato, and vegetable relish seasoned with thyme and cayenne. The vegetables are steamed first, then spooned over the fish to finish baking together.
Sesame ham and cheese bites: layered ham-prosciutto-Gruyere squares breaded with sesame seeds and parsley breadcrumbs, baked until golden and melty. Forty-eight bite-sized party appetizers.
South Indian eggplant dip with tempered mustard seeds, cumin, tamarind, and fresh coconut. A smoky, tangy spread with roasted eggplant pureed with ground spice masala.
Dairy-free curry artichoke dip made with silken tofu and rice milk. Warm, creamy, and spiced with cumin, coriander, turmeric, and cayenne.
Hawaiian jerky marinated in pineapple juice, soy sauce, ginger, and brown sugar, then dehydrated low and slow. Sweet-savory tropical twist on classic homemade beef jerky.
Cherry tomato and vegetable saute with potato, sweet potato, green peas, and bell pepper braised in vegetable broth. A colorful one-skillet vegetarian main dish.
This famed chicken "barbecue" from northern India is traditionally prepared in a tandoor, an underground jar-shaped clay oven that believed to have originated in Persia. The oven can be heated to very high temperatures, which sears the chicken and seals in the juices. Equally delicious results can be obtained in a conventional oven or on a covered grill. The yogurt marinade keeps the chicken from drying out.
Twice-baked stuffed potatoes whipped with egg yolk and butter until fluffy, then topped with a sharp cheddar cheese sauce spiked with mustard and cayenne.
Creole bouillabaisse layers fish, shrimp, and oysters into a roux-thickened broth with tomatoes, white wine, and cayenne. A New Orleans take on the French seafood classic.
Cajun-style stuffed pork loin roast with deep pockets packed with sautéed onion, celery, and green pepper trinity, all wrapped in a fiery dry rub. Roasted low and slow then blasted hot for a dark, peppery crust.
Quick herbed white bean dip with cannellini beans, garlic, lemon, olive oil, cumin, and oregano. The 10-minute Mediterranean appetizer that's lighter than hummus and just as versatile.
Homemade cheese crackers made with sharp cheddar, flour, and butter, rolled thin and baked until crispy. Customize with curry powder, garlic salt, celery salt, or black pepper toppings.
Authentic Middle Eastern falafel made from dried chickpeas soaked overnight and deep-fried golden. Crispy exterior with fluffy interior, perfect in pita with tahini sauce.
Crispy deep-fried shrimp cakes with Dijon mustard, Worcestershire, cayenne, and hot sauce. Golden and crunchy outside, tender shrimp inside. Served with fresh lemon.
Pineapple beef marinade with pineapple juice, soy sauce, dark brown sugar, garlic, ginger, and cayenne. A sweet-savory tropical marinade that tenderizes and flavors steaks and roasts.
Rustic oyster milk soup infused with bay leaf, parsley, and celery. This comforting recipe feeds 4-6 with simple ingredients and a touch of cayenne heat. Budget-friendly using canned or fresh oysters.
Cheese straws are a Southern cocktail-party classic: sharp aged cheddar and cayenne rolled into a buttery dough, fork-ridged, and baked crisp. Savory, spicy, and impossibly snackable.
Vegetable-loaded summer chili with zucchini, squash, mushrooms, kidney beans, and bell peppers in a cumin-chili tomato broth. Hearty, meatless, and full of garden produce.
Valencian red beans and rice simmered with bell peppers, fresh tomatoes, pimento-stuffed olives, allspice, and cilantro. A one-pot Spanish-Caribbean side with warm, savory depth.
White chicken chili with dried white beans, green chiles, cumin, oregano, and melted Monterey Jack cheese. A creamy, brothy alternative to traditional red chili.
Creamy fruit salad dressing blended with cream cheese, orange juice, orange zest, mayonnaise, and a dash of cayenne. A tangy, citrusy dressing that clings to fresh fruit.
Cheddar cheese pretzels made with aged cheddar, butter, Dijon mustard, and cayenne, topped with poppy seeds. A savory make-ahead appetizer that keeps for days.
Sautéed broccoli with lemon and anchovies quickly blanches broccoli, then tosses it with garlic, melted anchovies, cayenne, and fresh lemon juice. A salty, briny Southern Italian side in 15 minutes.
Loaded baked mac and cheese with extra-sharp cheddar, spinach, corn, sour cream, and a custard-style sauce of half-and-half, heavy cream, and eggs. Rich, creamy, and packed with hidden veggies.
Crispy fried crab croquettes seasoned with cayenne, white pepper, and garlic, served with a cream of wine sauce. Old-school Southern entertaining at its finest.
Smoky baba ganoush-style aubergine and sesame pate with tahini, garlic, lemon, and olive oil. A creamy, vegan Greek appetizer served cold with warm pita bread.
Cajun deviled eggs get their kick from cayenne folded into a creamy Dijon-mayo yolk filling. A gentle off-heat boil keeps the whites tender and the yolks free of that gray-green ring.
Bob's barbecue sauce builds smoky-sweet flavor from bacon drippings, ketchup, molasses, Worcestershire, vinegar, and chili powder. Simmered 30 minutes for a thick, glossy sauce that keeps for weeks.