154 crocked recipes

Old-fashioned stone crock pickles made over 15 days with a salt brine, alum soak, spiced vinegar cure, and sugar layering. A heritage pickling method that produces crisp, sweet pickles that keep indefinitely.

Fermented mincemeat made with venison or beef tongue, suet, apples, dried fruit, red wine, cider, and brandy. A six-to-eight-week crock cure transforms the ingredients into the deep, boozy filling of old hunting cabin Christmas pies.

Soft and creamy mozzarella balls wrapped in a thin slice of zucchini then marinated in a savory mix of olive oil, lemon zest, coriander and mint. Party poppers that are healthy and tasty.

This colorful low fat salad can be enjoyed warm or cold.

A simple salad with big health credentials: avocados are an excellent source of good fats, and more recently have been shown to also inhibit inflammation when eaten in combination with foods that typically trigger it. They are also a rich source of potassium (which balances sodium to keep blood pressure levels stable) and vitamin E, an important antioxidant.

Broiled grouper fillets seasoned with lemon juice and cracked black pepper, ready in under 10 minutes. The simplest low-fat preparation for one of the Gulf's best fish.

Chicken breast with sour cherry sauce, cracked peppercorns, and coriander in a white wine-brandy reduction. A French-inspired pan sauce built right in the skillet.

Classic steak au poivre with flank steak: pepper-crusted beef pan-seared in butter, flambeed with brandy, and finished with cream for a bistro steak dinner in 30 minutes.

Classic apricot sweet simmers dried apricots with cardamom, ginger, and almonds into a fragrant, spiced compote, much like Hyderabad's qubani ka meetha. Naturally fruit-sweet, served chilled. A make-ahead Indian dessert.

Caprese-style tomato basil and mozzarella salad drizzled with olive oil and cracked black pepper. A fresh no-cook summer salad with only 5 ingredients and 20 minutes of prep.

Meetha lassi, a sweet Indian yogurt drink blended with sugar, ice water, and cracked ice. A cool, creamy refresher ready in 5 minutes.

Crunchy Italian taralli made with white wine and cracked peppercorns. These boiled-then-baked bread rings from Southern Italy are the ultimate snack for antipasto boards and wine night.

Fresh nectarine smoothie blended with orange juice, lemon juice, sugar, and ice. A five-ingredient fruit drink ready in 10 minutes with no dairy and no added fat.

Crispy cast-iron cornsticks with cracked fennel seeds and black pepper, baked in a sizzling hot mold for crunchy golden edges. Ready in 20 minutes, served piping hot with butter.

Tomato, basil, and mozzarella salad (insalata caprese) with thick-sliced ripe tomatoes, shredded mozzarella, fresh basil strips, and a drizzle of olive oil. Five ingredients, 15 minutes, Italian perfection.

Garlic steak marinated in steak sauce, cracked pepper, and crushed garlic then broiled to juicy medium-rare. Five ingredients, one hour marinade, and dinner is handled.