1,659 elegant recipes

Pan-seared lamb rib chops rubbed with curry powder, cooked to a golden crust, then drizzled with a quick white wine and tomato pan sauce finished with butter. Elegant enough for date night, ready in 40 minutes.

Chilled avocado soup with shrimp, buttermilk, lemon, and garlic blended silky smooth. A no-cook cold soup that's creamy, tangy, and elegant for summer entertaining.

An elegant chilled walnut custard cream spiked with kirsch, unmolded and drizzled with warm chocolate sauce. A make-ahead French-inspired dinner party dessert that serves 10.

No-bake orange cheesecake on a chocolate wafer crust with cream cheese, whipped cream, orange juice, and zest set with gelatin. Creamy, citrusy, and elegant.

Galia melon in port wine with honey and pomegranate seeds is an elegant, no-cook fruit dessert. Just four ingredients for a light, boozy finish to a dinner party that looks as stunning as it tastes.

Company ham sauce turns the drippings from a baked ham into an elegant sweet-savory sauce, thickened with cornstarch and layered with currant jelly, Dijon, sherry, and plump currants. The finishing touch your holiday ham deserves.

Shirred eggs baked in bacon-lined muffin cups with dry sherry and cream, served on toasted English muffins. An elegant 30-minute brunch that looks fancy but couldn't be easier.

Mushroom-stuffed eggs baked on a bed of sauteed mushrooms with grated cheese. A Marguerite Patten classic that turns simple deviled eggs into a warm, elegant vegetarian starter.

Homemade vol au vent shells made from puff pastry shaped around a foil ball for a hollow center. Fill with chicken, seafood, or mushroom sauce for an elegant French appetizer.

Scallops marinated in lemon, honey, soy sauce, and fresh ginger, then seared in a blazing-hot skillet until caramelized and tender. Elegant enough for date night, fast enough for a Tuesday.

Fresh asparagus salad with a bright lemon Dijon vinaigrette, finished with crumbled bacon and black olives. Blanched until bright green then shocked in ice water for snap and color, this is a sharp, elegant spring side.

Light salmon mousse made with canned and smoked salmon, Greek yogurt, ginger, and whipped egg whites, served with a grapefruit-walnut oil salad. An elegant British-style starter.

Lobster chunks poached in herbed chicken broth with fresh mushrooms and garden vegetables, finished with lime juice. A light, elegant seafood dish ready in 30 minutes.

Asian-style Cornish hen wraps split hen breasts around asparagus spears and steams them in a bamboo steamer over rice with bok choy, broccoli, and peppers. Elegant pan-Asian dinner.

French meringue strips with a buttery shortbread base topped with vanilla meringue, cinnamon sugar, and chopped almonds. Elegant bar cookies that yield 8 dozen.

Cream consomme with grated apple, onion, curry powder, and paprika, pureed smooth and served in small cups with chopped apple garnish. Elegant and simple.