Lobster Moana: tropical-island lobster stir-fry from the New York Times archive with rum, bean sprouts, water chestnuts, snow peas, and napa cabbage, thickened with egg.
This 45-minute stovetop vegetable soup layers sweet potatoes, zucchini, and broccoli in chicken broth with shredded potatoes for natural thickness. Celery seed and cumin add unexpected warmth to the silky cream finish.
Hearty minestrone: vegetable soup with leeks, potatoes, white beans, zucchini, orzo pasta, and spinach in chicken broth. Lighter weeknight take on the Italian classic in 30 minutes.
French onion soup fondue with butter-sauteed onions simmered in beef broth, chilled to remove fat, then broiled with Monterey Jack cheese on thick sourdough toast.
Classic French onion soup with deeply caramelized onions simmered in beef broth and white wine, ladled into bowls with crusty bread and broiled under a bubbly Swiss and Parmesan cheese cap.
Classic beef bourguignonne braised in Burgundy wine with mushrooms, onions, thyme, and marjoram. Stewing beef simmers low for 2 hours until fork-tender in a rich wine sauce.
Loaded black bean soup pureed silky-smooth with smoky ham hock, sherry, lemon, and a finish of sour cream and fresh dill. Steakhouse-style classic that elevates the humble bean.
Warm vegetable salad with julienned carrots, turnips, celery, tomatoes, green beans, and snow peas on mache and radicchio, dressed in shallot vinaigrette and garnished with fresh truffles.
Grilled steak and peppers vinaigrette stacks sirloin over butter-braised leeks and tops it with charred Cuban peppers in a Dijon-red wine dressing. A bistro-style three-layer plate.
New Mexican chili pork with cubed pork shoulder coated in ground red chile and oregano, simmered in broth until tender. Authentic Southwestern chile colorado served with pinto beans.
Sizzling pork pockets with Dijon-marinated pork loin strips stir-fried and stuffed into warm pitas with lettuce and creamy tarragon dressing. A quick, flavorful weeknight dinner.
Fried shrimp wonton soup with crispy golden wontons, a cornstarch-thickened chicken broth, silky egg white ribbons, and smoky Smithfield ham garnish. A banquet-style Chinese soup.
Chicken and cherries jubilee braises whole chickens in cherry juice and chili sauce for 6 to 8 hours, finished with a sherry-brandy flambé cherry sauce. Retro slow-cooker showstopper.
Creamy sweet potato soup with shallots, nutmeg, dry sherry, and half-and-half, topped with chopped walnuts. A velvety holiday starter soup that's elegant enough for Thanksgiving.
Chicken and hash brown bake layered with mushrooms, sour cream, cream of chicken soup, and topped with sliced almonds. Comfort-food casserole that turns leftover roast chicken into Sunday dinner.
Bone marrow onion sauce with dry sherry and beef broth, pureed until silky smooth. A rich, old-school European sauce for roast beef, made in the microwave.
Thai chicken coconut soup (tom kha gai) with lemongrass, coconut milk, lime juice, jalapeno, and fresh cilantro. A simplified version of the classic with rich, aromatic broth.
Curried corn and tomato soup: a silky pureed Indian-spiced soup with sweet corn kernels, fresh tomato, and a swirl of cooling yogurt. Bright, warming, and ready in 40 minutes.
Warm chicken and rice salad tossed in balsamic vinaigrette with fresh tarragon and chives. Light, herbaceous, and served warm instead of cold. No mayo, all flavor.
Microwave fish fillets with curry powder, cayenne, lemon juice, and butter in under 5 minutes. A fast, no-fuss way to cook flaky, seasoned fish on a busy weeknight.
Creamy sweet potato soup with hot pepper relish and chicken broth, pureed smooth and topped with sour cream. Just five ingredients for a warming, spiced bowl.
Lentils and spaghetti tossed with sauteed kale, ham, cumin, and red pepper flakes in chicken broth. A hearty, high-protein pasta loaded with greens and earthy lentils.
Creamy carrot-orange soup pureed with fresh orange juice, tomato paste, honey, and rice for body, topped with toasted cashews. A velvety blended soup with bright citrus flavor.
Slow cooker pot roast rubbed with seasoned salt, paprika, and pepper, then braised in beef bouillon for 8-10 hours. Fork-tender, hands-off, and endlessly adaptable.
Hot and sour tofu soup builds a silky Chinese-style broth with shiitake mushrooms, ginger, garlic, rice vinegar, and chili oil, thickened with cornstarch and finished with green onions.
Santa Fe red pork chili with coarsely ground pork shoulder, beer, stewed tomatoes, and layers of cumin and chili powder. No beans, no shortcuts. A thick, meaty Tex-Mex red chili simmered low and slow.
Ginger chicken soup with soy-marinated tofu, fresh spinach, and a ginger-infused broth. A light, warming bowl with clean Asian flavors, low in calories and ready in under an hour.
Classic mushroom bisque with sauteed mushrooms in a butter-cream roux with dry mustard, chives, and a splash of sherry. Rich, velvety, and ready in 25 minutes.
Drunken pioneers pasta: wagon wheels topped with sauteed peppers and onions in a quick red wine and beef-stock sauce with basil and rosemary. Pantry weeknight pasta in 25 minutes.
Chinese-style chicken with snow peas, mushrooms, and celery in a ginger-soy sauce thickened with cornstarch. A simple one-skillet stir-fry dinner ready in 45 minutes.
Savory curry crepe batter made with chicken broth, curry powder, and butter in a blender. A spiced twist on French crepes that pairs with chicken, vegetables, or chutney fillings.
Oven-baked risotto with peas, scallions, brown rice, and rosemary. A no-stir, hands-off Italian-style rice dish with no constant ladling required. Done in 45 minutes.
Carne guisada, a Tex-Mex beef stew braised with cumin, chili powder, serrano peppers, and tomato paste. Fork-tender stew meat in a thick, spiced gravy.
Veal stew with oranges, carrots, and mushrooms: tender braised veal in a bright orange-infused broth with baby carrots and browned mushrooms. A rustic French country stew.
Poached chicken salad with fermented Chinese black bean sauce, julienned snow peas, and sesame oil. An Asian-inspired composed platter with a blended bean vinaigrette.
Wild rice amandine with toasted slivered almonds, green pepper, onion, and chives cooked in beef bouillon. A quick, savory rice side dish ready in 25 minutes.
Easy 5-ingredient cheese soup made with canned cream of chicken, cream of celery, sharp cheddar cheese spread, and chicken broth. Stovetop in under 30 minutes, no roux needed.
Cream of spinach soup pureed silky-smooth with butter-sauteed onion, celery, chicken broth, sherry, and a finishing splash of cream and nutmeg. The classic French-style starter soup.
Lightened cream of cauliflower soup that swaps heavy cream for nonfat dry milk and a touch of flour. Silky, low-fat, and ready in 35 minutes with a whisper of nutmeg and lemon.
Chive vichyssoise is a chilled potato-leek soup made lighter with buttermilk instead of cream. Silky, tangy, and brightened with lemon juice and a dash of hot sauce.
Cajun shrimp bread stuffed into a hollowed French loaf with toasted bread crumbs, sauteed onions, paprika, and melted cheddar on top. A Louisiana-style appetizer or party centerpiece.
Banquet meat loaves are a 50-serving, banquet-scale recipe for tender ground beef loaves bound with sauteed onion, celery, eggs and breadcrumbs moistened with beef stock. Bake-ahead, slice and reheat for caterers and large gatherings.
Lamb and pine nut stir fry: quick microwave stir fry with thinly sliced lamb, bok choy, mushrooms, and oyster sauce. Toasted pine nuts on top for crunch. Ready in under 30 minutes over rice.
Creamed carrot soup pureed silky-smooth with butter-sauteed onions, beef stock, and a finishing pour of milk. A whisper of nutmeg on top. An easy, weeknight side soup with old-fashioned roots.
Lobster chunks poached in herbed chicken broth with fresh mushrooms and garden vegetables, finished with lime juice. A light, elegant seafood dish ready in 30 minutes.
Vichyssoise is the chilled French leek and potato soup, enriched with heavy cream and half-and-half, finished with snipped chives. Silky, cold, and the original elegant summer first course.
Minestra di riso per Pesach is an Italian-Jewish Passover soup with tiny chicken-matzo meatballs, rice, and a hard-boiled egg yolk in each bowl. Delicate holiday soup with cinnamon-spiced meatballs.
White bean soup with sage: creamy great northern beans simmered with onion, carrot, tomato and fragrant sage in chicken broth. A quick, low-fat soup that's on the table in about 30 minutes using canned beans.