Recipes with peppercorns

Authentic Thai red curry paste from scratch: dried chilies, galangal, lemongrass, kaffir lime rind, shrimp paste, and toasted coriander and cumin seeds blended into a fiery aromatic base.

Cold eggplant Provencale slow-baked for 5 hours with tomatoes, onions, capers, currants, and olive oil. A French-style make-ahead appetizer served chilled with lemon.

Indian-style red lentil soup (masoor dal) simmered with ghee-bloomed onion, peppercorns, bay leaves, dried red chilies and grated fresh ginger. Vegetarian, high in fiber, ready in 45 minutes.

German-style pot roast braised with chopped dill pickles, dried mushrooms, and peppercorns, finished with sour cream for a tangy, rich gravy. A Central European twist on classic pot roast.

Poached salmon steaks for two, simmered in an aromatic bay-dill-peppercorn broth and served with a cool yogurt-cucumber sauce. Light, elegant date-night dinner.

Salmon corncakes flake poached salmon with sweet corn, shallots, peppers, and cilantro into pan-fried cracker-crumbed patties. Pacific Northwest meets Southwestern in one crispy bite.

Steelhead fillet Bonne Femme: poached in fish fumet, blanketed in white wine sauce and sauteed mushrooms, glazed with hollandaise under the broiler. A classic French seafood preparation.

Strawberry fool with crushed berries folded into whipped cream and sour cream, drizzled with a spiced port wine syrup. The classic English dessert updated for summer dinner parties.

Marinated poached scallops served chef-salad-style over greens with hard-boiled eggs, cherry tomatoes, radishes, and cheddar. A vintage seafood salad platter with a bright tarragon-vinegar dressing.

Szechwan dry-fried beef: shredded steak fried until dark and chewy, then tossed with hot bean sauce, chiles, ginger, and toasted Sichuan peppercorns for that signature mala numbing-spicy heat.

Olive oil marinated mushrooms simmer button mushrooms in herbed wine vinegar with thyme, garlic, and brandy. A make-ahead antipasto that gets better after a night in the fridge.

White veal stock, the classic clear, pale fond blanc made by blanching veal and chicken bones, then simmering low with aromatics for hours. A neutral, gelatin-rich base for fine sauces and soups.

Maple mustard game hens spatchcocked, marinated overnight in Dijon, lemon, and maple syrup, then roasted in a hot oven until skin is bronzed and crackling. Date-night dinner with restaurant flair.

Chicken pieces poached in a seasoned broth, then baked in a robust tomato sauce loaded with green chiles and garlic. A two-step method that keeps the meat juicy while building deep, layered Mexican flavors. Feeds 8 to 10.

Steak au poivre, sirloin pressed with a bold crust of cracked peppercorns, chilled overnight, then seared and oven-finished. Sliced thin and brushed with a bright lemon butter, this is French pepper steak done simply.

Pressure cooker chicken stock simmers browned chicken carcasses with carrots, celery, onion, and a bundle of herbs into a deep, golden broth in 45 minutes. Browning and deglazing build all-day flavor, fast.