A fragrant Moroccan chickpea tagine simmered with saffron, cinnamon, cumin, and ginger in olive oil and fresh tomatoes. Vegan, deeply aromatic, and ready in 35 minutes.
Slow-simmered Italian tomato sauce with 4 pounds of fresh plum tomatoes, garlic, basil, oregano, and a full tablespoon of black pepper. Three hours on the stove.
Moroccan eggplant salad with fried eggplant, garlic, cumin, and red pepper dressed in olive oil and lemon juice. A warm-spiced appetizer served at room temperature.
Grilled Sicilian involtini with beef pounded thin, stuffed with Pecorino, pine nuts, currants, and parsley, then skewered on rosemary sprigs and grilled fast.
Sautéed tempeh with lemon-mustard sauce: tempeh strips steamed in tamari-spiked vegetable broth, dusted in flour, pan-crisped with oyster mushrooms, and finished with bright grain-mustard pan sauce.
Grilled split lobster served alongside a fresh herb salad of basil, mint, fennel fronds, chervil, chives, and parsley dressed in lemon and olive oil. Simple, elegant, done in 30 minutes.
Navy bean red pepper and green bean salad tosses canned navy beans, blanched green beans, and matchstick red pepper in apple cider vinaigrette. A 10-minute summer side.
Yogurt primavera tosses tender-crisp peas, carrots, zucchini, squash, and mushrooms in a low-fat yogurt-Parmesan sauce. A bright lighter-than-cream pasta for any weeknight.
Spaghettini alla carrettiera with a spicy tomato-vodka cream sauce made from fresh tomatoes, garlic, dried chili, and heavy cream. A fiery Italian pasta that's silky smooth.
Sauteed shrimp with ancho chiles and 25 cloves of garlic in olive oil, finished with lime juice and fish stock. A bold, smoky 20-minute shrimp dinner served over rice.
Spicy penne pasta tossed with sun-dried tomatoes, crushed red chile, oil-cured black olives, fresh basil, parsley, and Parmesan in a no-cook olive oil sauce.
Creamy tuna and mushroom pasta sauce made lighter with evaporated skim milk, Parmesan, shallots, and fresh herbs. A quick pantry-friendly dinner that tastes far richer than it is.
Panelle are Sicilian chickpea fritters: simmered chickpea-flour dough chilled, cut into rounds, deep-fried golden, and dusted with lemon-zest-peppered almonds. Street food from Palermo.
Classic crab cakes with lump crab, Dijon, mayo, and fresh scallions, pan-fried in butter until golden. Minimal filler, maximum crab, the Chesapeake-style version everyone wants.
Fettuccine Uzie tosses shrimp and sea scallops in a buttery cream sauce with shallots and garlic. The pasta starch thickens the sauce naturally for a silky, rich finish.
Mayo-free corn and cabbage slaw with a tangy lemon-mustard vinaigrette. A light, crunchy no-cook side dish that improves as it sits in the fridge.