Chicken soup avgolemono: the classic Greek egg-lemon soup, where whipped eggs and fresh lemon are tempered into hot chicken-and-rice broth for a creamy, tangy bowl with no cream at all.
Halal-style pot stickers filled with beef and lamb, napa cabbage, scallion, and a hint of orange zest, then pan-fried and steamed for crisp bottoms and tender tops. Pleated, juicy dumplings with a dipping sauce.
Sauteed chicken with Gewurztraminer wine sauce, sauteed leeks, and warm halved grapes. An Alsatian-style French bistro dish with a silky cream reduction made from the bones.
Garlic soup Provencal with two full heads of garlic, saffron, sage, leeks, and tomatoes, thickened with potato for a silky, deeply aromatic French soup. No cream needed.
Sherried barley soup is a hearty mushroom and pearl barley soup deepened with a browned roux, a splash of sherry and Worcestershire. Earthy, savory and thick, the kind of cozy bowl that warms you through.
Ginger chicken broth soup with vermicelli, cilantro, and scallions finished with fresh lemon. A light, aromatic bowl ready in 20 minutes.
Green chile yogurt soup blends tangy low-fat yogurt into a tomato and green chile broth with paprika, garlic, and cheddar. A creamy Southwestern bowl with gentle heat.
Wild and brown rice pilaf with a full pound of fresh mushrooms, thyme, parsley, and optional pecans, simmered in chicken broth. A nutty, earthy side dish for holiday tables.
Roast garlic and broad bean saffron soup: 20 roasted garlic cloves pureed with fava beans, saffron rice, and chicken stock. A silky golden Mediterranean soup that tastes like sunshine.
Grilled chicken with oregano poaches in garlicky broth, then gets coated in a rustic oregano paste and finished over live fire. A two-step Mexican-style technique for juicy, deeply flavored chicken.
Pumpkin seed sauce (pipian) blended with chicken broth, green chiles, garlic, and whipping cream for a rich Mexican-style sauce for chicken or vegetables.
Toasted garlic couscous sauteed in olive oil with chicken broth, cumin, and butter. A pilaf-style method that adds nutty depth in under 15 minutes.
Mushroom vegetable barley soup with a full pound of fresh mushrooms, carrots, celery, and pearl barley simmered in chicken broth with thyme and nutmeg.
Whole chicken braised in a clay pot with crispy bacon, onion, and garlic. Fall-apart tender bird cooked from a cold oven, finished with a simple pan-juice gravy.
So flavorful. Loved the topping varieties, and they went deliciously well with the soup. Will recommend this recipe.
Minnesota-style clam chowder loaded with wild rice, potatoes, mushrooms, and cream. A Northwoods twist on New England chowder, finished with a splash of sherry before serving.
Light summer asparagus soup made with fresh asparagus sauteed until golden, simmered in broth, then strained and thickened with egg yolks and milk. A delicate, thin soup built for warm weather when asparagus is cheap and plentiful.
Casera Sauce is delicious anywhere the zing of cilantro and jalapeno is welcomed.
Herbed zucchini-pea soup blends tender zucchini and shelled green peas with parsley, oregano, chervil, a touch of horseradish, and half-and-half. A chilled summer soup with a sneaky sharp finish.
Shrimp egg foo young: fluffy Chinese egg patties packed with shrimp, bean sprouts and mushrooms, pan-fried golden and smothered in a savory soy gravy. The takeout classic, made at home.
Chicken in corn cream sauce layered in a baking dish with Parmesan, nutmeg, and heavy cream, then broiled golden. A from-scratch roux-based casserole with broth-poached chicken.
Avgolemono, the classic Greek egg-lemon soup with chicken broth and rice. Silky, tangy, and comforting with just four simple ingredients.
Silky pureed cucumber soup with a French pistou swirl of basil, garlic, walnuts, Parmesan, and fresh tomato. Light, elegant, and built on leeks and chicken broth.
Light cream of mushroom soup made with fresh mushrooms, skim milk, chicken bouillon, and cornstarch. A low-fat homemade alternative to canned cream of mushroom soup.
Grilled lemon herb chicken basted with chicken broth, lemon juice, basil, and thyme. A no-fat marinade keeps the chicken juicy and herb-bright. Works on the grill or under the broiler.
Lemon dill chicken in the Paul Prudhomme style: boneless chicken breasts seasoned with dill, basil and pepper, then pan-seared and simmered in a tangy apple juice and lemon pan sauce. Low-fat skillet dinner.
Turkey shortcakes with a melted cheese sauce served over biscuits, toast, or cornbread. A quick, creamy way to use up leftover turkey in about 25 minutes.
Iced cucumber yogurt soup: a no-cook chilled soup blended with mint, scallion, lemon, and garlic, then enriched with sour cream and yogurt. The summer starter that cools the room as it cools the palate.
Florida-style garlic soup pours boiling chicken broth over toasted French bread and crushed garlic, then poaches a whole egg right in the bowl. A quick Spanish-inspired sopa de ajo ready in 10 minutes.
Chilled pea soup with watercress, basil, and potato, pureed silky and finished with cream. Topped with crumbled bacon, sour cream, and whole peas for textural contrast in every spoonful.
Low-fat garden vegetable scramble with egg substitute, bell peppers, celery, chives, and nonfat cheddar. A quick, healthy breakfast with no added oil or butter.
Garlic shrimp and vegetables stir-fry with celery cabbage, water chestnuts, peas, and green onions in a soy-cornstarch sauce. A 40-minute Chinese-style dinner served over rice.
Tuscan white bean topping with cannellini beans, rosemary, carrots, and celery simmered in broth. Spooned over baked Idaho potatoes with Parmesan.
Green peas with curried mushrooms sauteed in chicken broth and finished with creamy low-fat yogurt. A quick, healthy Indian-inspired vegetable side dish ready in 25 minutes.
Chiles rellenos sauce simmers tomato, garlic, onion and oregano into a smooth broth-based salsa for poaching stuffed chiles. The classic Mexican caldillo for ladling over rellenos.
Sopa de tortilla, the authentic Mexican tortilla soup: a tomato-onion-garlic broth infused with mint, finished with fried corn tortilla strips and cheese. Ready in 40 minutes, pantry-friendly.
Gravy soup is an old-fashioned roux-based broth with chicken fat, flour, and stock, topped with croutons and grated Gruyere. A frugal European-style starter that turns pantry staples into comfort.
Lemon oregano chicken thighs: pan-seared until golden, then roasted in a bright lemon-butter-oregano pan sauce. A fast Greek-leaning weeknight dinner with crispy skin and tender meat.
Tex-Mex carrot soup pureed with cumin and ginger, topped with a cilantro-tomato sour cream salsa. A smooth, earthy soup with warm spice and a cool, creamy finish.
Spit-roasted pork ribs basted with a homemade chili barbecue sauce of pureed tomatoes, red wine, soy sauce, and chili powder. Rotisserie-style ribs with a rich, glossy glaze.
Cream of cheese soup with sharp cheddar, white wine, and half-and-half. Silky, boozy, and ready in half an hour with a paprika-dusted finish and crouton crunch on top.
Pan-seared lemon chicken breasts with thyme, shallots, garlic, and a bright pan sauce. French bistro classic ready in 30 minutes for busy weeknights.
Chunky avocado soup blends creamy pureed avocado with milk and chicken broth, then layers in diced corn, cucumber, tomato, and jalapeño. Chilled Mexican-style summer soup.
Sopa de ajo, a classic Spanish garlic soup with sauteed garlic, whole wheat breadcrumbs, chicken broth, paprika, and cayenne. Warming, simple, and ready in under an hour.
BBQ honey glazed chicken brushed with a five-ingredient honey-mustard-lemon glaze on the grill. Skin-on or skinless cuts, golden lacquered exterior, and bright citrus balancing the sticky sweet.
Smoky black bean soup made from dried beans simmered with ham hocks, cumin, jalapeno, and vegetables, pureed smooth and finished with dry sherry and fresh lime juice.
Chicken scaloppine with mushrooms in a white wine cream sauce made in one pan. Golden seared chicken breasts finished in a reduced wine and cream pan sauce in 30 minutes.
Country-style braised chicken: flour-dredged chicken breasts browned, then simmered in a marjoram-scented broth and white wine that turns into a silky pan gravy. Spoon it over biscuits or rice.