Creamy peanut butter swirls into a hearty West African stew loaded with sweet potatoes, okra, and cabbage for comfort with a subtle spicy kick.
Grilled shark steaks marinated in lime juice, beer, cumin, and Dijon mustard, topped with fresh salsa and avocado slices. A bold Mexican-style fish for the grill.
A three-bean salad dressed in tangy molasses-mustard vinaigrette with celery, green onion, and torn curly endive. No-cook, make-ahead, and gets better the longer it marinates. Bring this to the cookout.
Smoky chicken hash baked in a cast-iron skillet with hash brown potatoes, BBQ sauce, cumin, and chili powder, topped with melted sharp cheddar and jalapeno. A hearty one-skillet meal in 30 minutes.
Sweet and sour pork stir fry with pineapple, cucumber, tomato, and red pepper in a fish sauce and vinegar glaze, finished with a light cornstarch coating. A 30-minute wok dinner.
Lemony risotto with quartered artichoke hearts, sweet peas, fresh dill, and Parmesan stirred in at the end. A bright, herb-forward Italian rice dish that captures spring in every creamy spoonful.
Traditional Scottish hough soup made from beef shank simmered for hours with carrots, onion, and turnip, then thickened with sago. A hearty, old-fashioned broth from the bone.
Tasty pork stroganoff swaps beef for tender pork strips in a creamy mushroom sauce, lightened and tangy with Greek yogurt and a savory hit of soy. A quick weeknight twist on stroganoff over fettuccine, and easily gluten-free.
Loaded Spam sandwich on beefsteak rye with sharp cheddar, horseradish, Vidalia onion mustard, coleslaw, dill pickles, and thick Bermuda onion slices. A towering, no-apologies deli-style stack.
A succulent dish that's easy to make and will satisfy everyone's hunger at the dinner table.
Lamb and mushroom korma braised in yogurt with cumin, coriander, cardamom, turmeric, and fresh ginger. A fragrant North Indian curry served with naan and saffron rice.
Saddlebag chili with ground brisket, bacon fat, beer, sour mash whiskey, and eight whole jalapeños. A boozy, smoky cowboy-style chili built for the long simmer.
Greek-style vegetarian pastitsio with spiced lentils, fettuccine, and a fluffy egg white topping. Comfort food without the meat.
Traditional Ukrainian fish in aspic (studynyna rybiacha): whole fish poached in aromatic stock, layered with carrot rounds, and set in shimmering gelatin. A stunning cold appetizer for holidays.
Erbsenpuree, a traditional German yellow split-pea puree with carrot, turnip, marjoram, and thyme, thickened with a butter-flour roux and beaten until fluffy.
Silky chicken and ham mousse blended with Madeira wine and whipped cream, set in a gelatin mold. An elegant make-ahead appetizer for cocktail parties and holiday entertaining.
A hearty vegetarian barley stew simmered in sweet carrot juice with shiitake mushrooms, kale, and a hit of ginger. Toasted barley cooks risotto-style into a cozy, warming, fiber-rich bowl.
Hearty Creole gumbo pot loaded with shrimp, eggplant, okra, corn, and rice in a smoky paprika-tomato broth. One pot, one hour, six happy bowls.
Homemade white vegetable stock simmered with celery, carrots, leeks, mushrooms, garlic, and white wine. A versatile vegan base for soups, risottos, and sauces that's clean-tasting and full of depth.
Crispy-skinned roast duck over a smoky black bean sauce with cumin, green chili, and apple puree, drizzled with tangy tamarind jus. A fusion showpiece worth every minute.
Chunky Southwestern chicken stew with kielbasa, potatoes, zucchini, summer squash, and corn in a cumin-tomato broth. A Dutch oven crowd-feeder that serves 8.
A bold, slow-simmered tomato sauce spiked with beer, molasses, Dijon mustard, and a powerhouse blend of nine spices including cayenne and cumin. Two hours on the stove builds serious depth.
Vegetarian Chinese boiled dumplings (shwei jow) with handmade wrappers and a tofu, mushroom, and lily bud filling. Served with a soy-vinegar dipping sauce. Makes 24.
Texas-style Brazos turkey chili loaded with poblano, jalapeno, serrano, and chipotle peppers, simmered with Mexican beer and finished with grated dark chocolate. Bold, smoky, and layered with heat.
Warm, puffy baked cheddar dip with beaten egg whites, mayo, mustard, and Worcestershire. A hot souffle-style appetizer served with tortilla chips.
South American pork and brown lentil stew finished with firm bananas and fresh cilantro. A surprising, hearty one-pot meal where savory meets sweet in the most satisfying way.
Sauteed shrimp with a curried banana sauce made from pureed bananas, apple, curry powder, cardamom, and ginger simmered in chicken stock. An elegant fusion dish.
Canned refried beans transform into a velvety smooth soup with chicken broth, green chilies, and cilantro, topped with melted cheese and sour cream for a quick Mexican-inspired meal ready in 20 minutes.
A Moroccan-inspired beef stew marinated overnight in red wine with cinnamon, ginger, saffron, and cloves, then braised for three hours and finished with cognac-soaked prunes, almonds, and sesame seeds.
Rustic Irish turnip and bacon soup with potatoes simmered until soft and creamy. Simple 4-ingredient comfort food that tastes like the Irish countryside.
Calves liver stroganoff with sautéed mushrooms, onions, and white wine in a tangy low-fat yogurt sauce over noodles. A lighter, iron-rich spin on the classic in just 30 minutes.
This is a good "guest" food. You can appear to have mastered esoteric Oriental cooking techniques without ever having actually prepared the dish before... Unless you drop the pot on the kitchen floor and set it on fire with the hot salt, it's a pretty foolproof cooking technique.
Vegetarian cabbage rolls stuffed with tofu, pearl barley, bulgur, rice, and pine nuts, baked low and slow in a sweet-tangy tomato sauce. A hearty, meat-free comfort classic.
Rich, velvety chicken liver pate with a warm curry kick, blended smooth with hard-boiled eggs and sealed under a golden layer of melted butter. A stunning make-ahead appetizer that's ready in minutes and improves overnight.
Pork stir-fry with green beans and mushrooms cooks quick in a wok with soy sauce and a cornstarch gravy. Tender shredded pork, snapping green beans, meaty mushrooms. A 30-minute Chinese-American weeknight dinner from one pan.
Finely chopped pork shoulder mixed with water chestnuts, dark soy, and sesame oil, topped with salty Tianjin preserved vegetable and steamed until tender. A traditional Cantonese home-style pork dish.
Florida-style barbecue sauce with orange, pineapple, and mango juice mixed with dark brown sugar, ketchup, and onion juice. A sweet, tropical BBQ sauce that makes 1 1/2 quarts.
Scallops en papillote - bay scallops with asparagus, ginger, and lemon baked in parchment paper hearts. An elegant low-calorie dinner for two, ready in 1 hour.
English farmhouse vegetable soup simmers carrots, leek, onion, celery, and potatoes in lamb stock with a bouquet garni. Potatoes break down to thicken the broth naturally.
Grilled grouper marinated in tequila, triple sec, and lime juice, served with fresh tomato-jalapeno salsa. A margarita-inspired fish dish straight off the grill.
A chilled rice salad tossed with shrimp, cucumber, radishes, and peas in a zingy ginger-sesame-horseradish dressing. Served on fresh spinach leaves, this no-cook sushi-inspired bowl comes together in 10 minutes flat.
Mediterranean rosemary chicken stew with potatoes, carrots, black olives, lemon juice, and a triple-herb finish of rosemary, basil, and parsley. Light, brothy, sun-soaked, on the table in an hour.
Hungarian-style peasant potato soup built on a paprika-tinted blond roux with cubed potatoes, carrots, tomato, and green pepper. Simple pantry ingredients, deep flavor.
Quiabada is a Bahian Brazilian beef and okra stew with garlic, tomatoes, and malagueta peppers, simmered into a reddish sauce served over rice or angu.
Boiled pierogi topped with caramelized onions and red peppers in a sweet-tangy vinegar glaze. A quick, comforting Eastern European weeknight dinner ready in 30 minutes.
Grilled chicken basted in a tangy limeade, soy sauce, and curry glaze with coriander and ginger. East African-inspired flavors that'll own your next cookout.
French onion soup (Marguerite Patten): the classic bistro soup of slow-caramelized onions in rich beef stock, topped with toasted bread and bubbly gruyere cheese. Ready in 60 minutes.
Spam fajitas with seared canned pork, peppers, and onions tucked into warm flour tortillas with cheese, lettuce, and salsa. Pantry weeknight dinner ready in 25 minutes.