Slow cooked classic, beefy just bursting with flavor, easy to make and feeds a crowd. Perfect for company.
Thai chicken soup with lemongrass, galangal, fish sauce, fresh chili, cilantro, and mint. A light, aromatic broth inspired by tom yum, served with rice.
Pork stew with green chilies, jalapeno, and oregano slow-simmered until fork-tender. A New Mexican-style chile verde served rolled in warm flour tortillas.
Cuban-style black bean soup simmered with ham hock, scotch bonnet pepper, and a splash of dark rum stirred in just before serving. Rich, smoky, and deeply satisfying.
Mushroom barley bake with pearl barley simmered in chicken broth, tossed with sauteed mushrooms, onion, and thyme, bound with eggs, and baked until golden. A hearty, savory side dish.
Fresh red onion salsa with ripe tomatoes, cilantro, and parsley. A no-cook chunky salsa that's bright, herbaceous, and ready in 10 minutes flat.
Meatless Cajun jambalaya with black-eyed peas, bell peppers, zucchini, and rice simmered in a smoky paprika-thyme tomato broth. One pot, big Louisiana flavor, no meat required.
Potage Crecy is a classic French pureed carrot soup with rice, chicken stock, tomato paste, and heavy cream finished with butter. Silky smooth, naturally sweet, and garnished with delicate carrot curls.
Ham bone and bean soup made from leftover holiday ham scraps simmered with beans, onion, garlic, and a homemade aromatic stock. A thrifty, waste-nothing soup that turns a spent ham bone into dinner.
Cuban-style black beans and rice made from scratch with dried beans, cumin, oregano, garlic, and vinegar. A budget-friendly vegan meal simmered low and slow.
Southern-style country captain chicken: floured and pan-browned chicken pieces baked in a curry-spiced tomato sauce with onion, green pepper and garlic, topped with raisins and slivered almonds. A Lowcountry classic with Indian roots.
Cream of corn soup builds a classic milk-based bechamel with butter, flour, and minced onion, then folds in sweet corn and celery leaves. A simple, vegetarian comfort soup ready in 40 minutes.
Slow-baked chickpeas in tomato sauce with bacon, molasses, brown sugar, and dry mustard. A hearty from-scratch baked bean recipe using garbanzo beans instead of navy beans.
USDA-style beef loaf for a crowd: makes four 8-inch loaves with milk-soaked bread, eggs, ketchup and Worcestershire. Bake all four, freeze three. Government-tested batch cooking at its most practical.
Paneer is a fresh cheese with plenty of texture and protein. In this traditional northern Indian dish, Paneer is combined with green peas in a spicy tomato-ginger sauce. Fresh Paneer is quite crumbly, so it is generally cut into cubes and sauteed until golden before combining with other ingredients. For variety, try adding some finely minced fresh cilantro and a little freshly ground black pepper to the mixture before cubing and frying. If you do have any left over, serve it warm in whole wheat pita bread topped with sliced tomaotes and crunchy red onions.
Slow-roasted pork loin stuffed with apple and onion slices, rubbed with sage, and basted in a creamy chicken soup and sherry pan sauce.
Oriental pork stew with cubed pork, water chestnuts, mushrooms, green beans, and bell pepper in a soy sauce broth thickened with cornstarch. Serve over rice for a filling Asian-inspired dinner.
Authentic New Mexican chili with cubed beef chuck, pork, mild and hot ground chilies, amber beer, and a long simmer. Serve beans on the side, Southwest-style.
Mock lobster Flemish style dresses up humble white fish, poached in a beer broth, bound in a silky cream and egg-yolk sauce, spooned into scallop shells, and broiled under Gruyere. An elegant fish gratin on a budget.
Deep-dish chicken pie from scratch with poached chicken, carrots, celery, baby lima beans, and mushrooms in a creamy half-and-half sauce, under a hand-rolled egg-washed pastry lid. Sunday supper royalty.
Chicken paprika with strips of chicken breast simmered in a paprika-vegetable juice sauce, finished with sour cream and served over rice. A quick Hungarian-inspired weeknight dinner for two.
Creamy asparagus soup with onion, celery, a whisper of mace and a finish of cream. Garnished with chopped hard-cooked egg for an old-fashioned springtime starter. Six ingredients, 35 minutes.
Veal steaks pan-seared and finished in a curried onion sauce with tomato paste, evaporated milk, lemon, and a splash of cognac. A fast German-Indian crossover for weeknights.
Sweet onion shrimp balls grind Vidalia onion, potato, and shrimp into a thick batter, then fry into crispy golden bites. Five-ingredient appetizer with no breading required.
Vegan curried vegetable soup simmers split peas with turmeric, then combines them with curry-spiced onions, carrots, celery, and plum tomatoes. Half gets pureed for a thick, creamy texture without any dairy.
Steamed salmon with fermented black beans, ginger, sherry, and sesame oil. A classic Chinese-style steamed fish that cooks in about 10 minutes for a light, clean-flavored dinner.
Moo goo gai pan stir-fries sliced chicken breast with fresh mushrooms and scallions in peanut oil and soy sauce. Six ingredients, classic Cantonese takeout favorite, ready in 30 minutes.
Hearty potato salad with steamed red potatoes, hard-boiled eggs, black olives, and red onion rings in a creamy yogurt-dill dressing with Dijon mustard and lemon. Diabetic-friendly and satisfying enough for a main dish.
Cheesy creamy shrimp and rice layers cooked rice, shrimp, sour cream, sauteed mushrooms, and cheddar in a 30-minute casserole. Comfort food without the cream-of-anything can.
Fourth of July grilled Cornish hens split lengthwise and basted with a lemon-garlic-Italian dressing marinade. Backyard BBQ centerpiece that feeds eight for summer holidays.
Sweet pepper and basil frittata with slow-cooked red and yellow peppers, fontina, Parmesan, and fresh basil, finished with a brushed-on balsamic reduction for a tangy glaze.
Beer-marinated shrimp with garlic, chives, and parsley, soaked overnight then broiled in minutes. Served on shredded lettuce with green onions for a light, flavorful appetizer.
Slow cooker Mexican beef with round steak strips, kidney beans, tomatoes, chili powder, and mustard. A hands-off Tex-Mex dinner served over rice, ready after a low 8-hour simmer.
Louisiana-style okra and shrimp gumbo built on a dark roux with oysters added in the last five minutes. Served over rice with the holy trinity of celery, onion, and bell pepper.
Bacon onion pie with a buttered bread crumb crust, crispy bacon, golden sauteed onions, and a cheddar-topped egg custard. A savory quiche-style pie without traditional pastry dough.
Old-fashioned creamed spinach with bacon, onion, and a milk-based bechamel. The classic steakhouse side dish made from scratch in 30 minutes.
Potato salad with a tangy egg yolk dressing made by mashing hard-boiled yolks into vinegar, mustard, and mayonnaise. Egg whites get chopped into the salad.
Farm sausage is homemade country pork sausage seasoned with sage, herbs, and a kick of chili and red pepper. Shape it into a log, chill overnight, then slice and fry. No casings, no special gear, just real sausage from scratch.
Tomato onion pork chops simmered in a sweet-tangy tomato soup sauce with onions, brown sugar, basil, and Worcestershire. The classic six-ingredient skillet dinner that turns budget pork chops into something craveable.
Sauerbraten with Coke uses cola in the vinegar marinade for a sweeter, more caramelized take on the classic German pot roast. Marinated 2 to 4 days, braised until fork-tender, and finished with gingersnap gravy.
Fire up the wok and start cooking this tantalizing and delicious dish that will satisfy anyone's hunger.
A tender and juicy beef roast that is simmered to perfection with the help of your crockpot.
Shrimp and scallop kabobs marinated in soy, lemon, garlic, and crystallized ginger, then grilled with pineapple chunks and zucchini. Surf-and-sweet skewers for summer cookouts.
Quick vegan ratatouille with eggplant, Roma tomatoes, garlic, oregano, and basil. A 15-minute weeknight dinner that's plant-based and full of flavor.
Lighter picadillo with lean beef, cinnamon, and cloves. Quick Mexican-spiced ground beef for tacos, burritos, or rice bowls.
Three-cheese ball with blue cheese, sharp cheddar, and cream cheese rolled in chopped walnuts or pecans. A classic make-ahead party appetizer with bold, savory flavor.
Slow cooker pot roast in a spiced red wine and tomato sauce with mustard, Worcestershire, and garlic. Set it and forget it for 10 hours of hands-off braising.
Classic turkey hash casserole with leftover turkey, diced potatoes, peas, cream of celery soup, and melted American cheese. A thrifty post-holiday dinner that comes together in under 45 minutes.