18 clay pot recipes

Sri Lankan clay pot curd, traditional set yogurt made from just milk and a spoonful of starter, cultured overnight in a clay pot for a thick, creamy curd. Drizzle with treacle for a classic dessert.

If you do not have a clay cooker, you can use a large covered Dutch oven and reduce the oven temperature to about 375 F. Do not fear the large amount of garlic in this recipe. Garlic cloves are nutty and mellow when cooked whole. Once you try it, you may end up adding even more garlic, because they are so good!

Clay pot roast marinated 3-4 days in soy sauce, marsala, sesame oil, and curry powder, then roasted at high heat with carrots and onions. Tender, deeply seasoned beef.

Chinese clay pot crab stir-fried with fermented black beans, garlic, ginger, and scallions in rice wine and chicken stock. A dramatic, fragrant shellfish dish ready in 25 minutes.

Steamed clams in a coconut green curry sauce with lemongrass, garlic, basil, and white wine. A Hawaiian-Thai fusion seafood dish that's aromatic, creamy, and ready in 40 minutes.

Stuffed mushrooms with whole littleneck clams topped with a spicy horseradish, mayo, and hot sauce mixture, then broiled until golden. A bold seafood appetizer.

The sauce here is no kin whatsoever to the ketchupy stuff that too often swamps cold seafood; it's a good bet with cold shrimp or crabmeat, too.

Sea bass simmered in a fragrant homemade curry paste of lemongrass, turmeric, ginger, and cumin with coconut milk. A from-scratch Thai fish curry that's deeply aromatic and satisfying.

Arugula is most commonly employed in salads as in the infamous tricolor salad.

Whole wheat flowerpot bread with oatmeal and molasses, baked in clay pots for a rustic round loaf. A fun yeast bread that rises right in the pot for a charming presentation.

Chinese hot pot lemon chicken with bone-in pieces seared then simmered in a clay pot with sliced lemon, oyster sauce, brown sugar, and ginger. A saucy, citrus-bright braise served over rice.

Whole chicken and lentils baked in a clay cooker with smoked pork, aromatics, red wine, and dry mustard. A one-pot French-style braise with deeply concentrated flavor.

Smoky ancho and fiery chipotle chilies form a bold spice crust on tender pork loin, slow-roasted in a clay pot with sweet onions until fall-apart tender.

Chinese clay pot salmon with cloud ear mushrooms, bean thread noodles, and pressed tofu in a gingery chicken broth. Elegant Cantonese-style fish dish with delicate aromatics and a silky sesame finish.

Lower-calorie chocolate ripple cake baked in a clay pot with a coconut cream cheese swirl. Made with nonfat cream cheese, egg whites, and fat-free sour cream. Serves 12.

A traditional Spanish clay pot dish of fresh clams cooked with garlic, onion, lime juice, red wine, parsley, and bread crumbs. Rustic, briny, and served straight from the cazuela to the table.