306 elegant recipes

Elegant broccoli terrine with basil, Parmesan, and lemon baked in a water bath until silky smooth. Served chilled and sliced, this low-calorie vegetable showstopper is a stunning appetizer or light lunch.

Crispy dried pear chips made by slicing pears paper-thin, dipping in simple syrup, and slow-baking until dehydrated. A two-ingredient snack and elegant garnish for desserts, salads, and cheese boards.

Roasted fish fillets coated in a tangy creme fraiche, Dijon, and whole-grain mustard sauce with shallots and capers. Ready in under 25 minutes, this elegant weeknight fish dinner is impossibly simple.

Light and creamy tuna mousse blended with cottage cheese, tomato sauce, and fat-free mayo, set in a gelatin mold with crunchy celery and onion. An elegant low-fat appetizer or lunch.

Cornish hen braised in burgundy wine with fresh raspberries, rosemary, thyme, and garlic, then finished under the broiler for crispy edges. An elegant dinner for one or a romantic meal for two.

Flattened chicken breasts stuffed with asparagus spears and Swiss cheese, rolled tight, and topped with a white wine-mushroom sauce spiked with tarragon and lime. Elegant, light, and ready in 45 minutes.

Grilled Cornish hens roast halved in the oven, then get glazed with plum barbecue sauce during the final 45 minutes until tender and sticky. Elegant personal-sized dinner from just 2 ingredients.

Mandarin Cornish hens: small game hens roasted and basted in a bright orange juice glaze for tender, citrus-kissed meat and burnished skin. An elegant, simple main with one bird per person or to share.

Brandy-flambéed chicken baked with fresh apples, pears, sliced mushrooms, and apple wine until tender and saucy. An elegant fall dinner that comes together in just 35 minutes. Serve over couscous or rice.

Boneless beef rib eye roast seasoned simply and oven-roasted, then carved thin and served with a savory red wine and mushroom pan sauce. Elegant enough for holidays, easy enough for Sunday dinner.

Silky crab meat stir-fried with ginger, scallions, and cooking wine, finished with wispy egg white and poured over blanched baby bok choy. A light, elegant Chinese seafood dish ready in 35 minutes.

Pepper poached pears simmer in white wine with black peppercorns, ginger, cinnamon and a whisper of chili heat, then chill in a syrup reduced from the poaching liquid. An elegant, lightly spiced dessert.

Basic rack of lamb: a French-trimmed rack marinated, then roasted hot to a rosy medium-rare and carved into elegant double-bone chops. The foundation technique for an impressive special-occasion main.

A show-stopping caviar mold set in a tangy blend of sour cream, mayonnaise, lemon juice, and unflavored gelatin. Unmold, crown with sour cream and caviar, and serve as a retro-elegant party centerpiece.

A medieval recipe brought to life: young turnips simmered in white wine with chestnuts, sage, and a touch of honey. Simple, earthy, and elegant enough to grace a lord's table or your Tuesday dinner.

Hot zabaglione is the classic Italian dessert: egg yolks, sugar, and Marsala whipped over a double boiler into a warm, frothy custard served in glasses. Three ingredients, ready in 15 minutes, restaurant-quality elegance.