Recipes with cornstarch

Authentic Chinese stir-fried chicken and asparagus in fermented black bean sauce with garlic and sherry. A savory, glossy wok dish with tender thigh meat that rivals your favorite takeout.

Fresh-from-the-cob creamed corn with crispy bacon and tender leeks, made lighter with low-fat milk. A 15-minute summer side dish bursting with sweet corn flavor.

A fiery Chinese hot pot of pork intestine, duck blood curd, and sour cabbage simmered in a chili-ginger broth with Sichuan peppercorns. Served bubbling over a tabletop burner.

Sizzling rice soup combines velveted shrimp and chicken with mushrooms, water chestnuts, and bamboo shoots in a sherry-laced broth, finished tableside with crackling fried rice that hisses on contact. Cantonese restaurant classic at home.

Shrimp sauteed with fresh pineapple, papaya, orange juice, and lime in a glossy cornstarch-thickened fruit sauce. A bright Salvadoran-inspired seafood dinner served over rice.

Elegant French apple pudding soufflé with Calvados, sautéed apples, and almond macaroon crumbs served with homemade vanilla sauce for special occasion dessert.

A show-stopping layered meringue cake with toasted almond dacquoise, caramel-orange buttercream filling, and glazed orange slices. A French patisserie masterpiece for special occasions.

Cinnamon-sugar baked apple slices topped with vanilla ice cream and golden meringue. A stunning twist on classic Baked Alaska that's easier than it looks.

A warming Chinese winter soup with mushrooms, spinach, and silky tofu in a tangy sesame-soy broth spiked with hot pepper oil. Vegan, cozy, and ready in 40 minutes.

Steamed ground turkey dumplings (shu mai) with ginger, garlic, sesame oil, and scallions in wonton wrappers. Served with a tangy fish sauce, vinegar, and chili dipping sauce. Makes 40 bite-sized gems.

Vegetarian shao mai dumplings with hand-rolled hot-water dough and two filling options: mashed tofu or minced water chestnut and mushroom. Bamboo steamer classic, freezer-friendly.

Gelo di Mellone, a traditional Sicilian watermelon pudding thickened with cornstarch, studded with pistachios, chocolate, and candied citron, finished with cinnamon.

Lemon pineapple chicken with broiled chicken breasts finished in a bright sweet-sour sauce with pineapple chunks, carrots, and green pepper. Light, easy weeknight dinner.

Black bottom pie with a spicy gingersnap crust, dark chocolate custard base, rum and sherry chiffon middle, and whipped cream crown. A vintage American showstopper.

Crustless cheesecake with two pounds of cream cheese, sour cream, butter, and a hint of lemon, baked in a water bath until silky and chilled overnight until dense. A New York-style classic without the crust.

A show-stopping sour cherry pie with a hint of almond extract, topped with overlapping heart-shaped pastry cut-outs instead of a traditional crust. Gorgeous for Valentine's Day or any day you want to impress.