482 fast food recipes

Spicy green beans glazed with orange juice, brown sugar, and butter with serrano chiles. Marinated for an hour, then simmered into a sweet-heat side dish.

Layered Mexican dip with mashed avocado, picante sauce, black olives, sour cream, and Monterey Jack cheese. A no-cook party appetizer served with tortilla chips.

German beer-braised Brussels sprouts simmered until tender and finished with butter and salt. A simple 4-ingredient side dish that might convert sprout skeptics.

Light summer asparagus soup made with fresh asparagus sauteed until golden, simmered in broth, then strained and thickened with egg yolks and milk. A delicate, thin soup built for warm weather when asparagus is cheap and plentiful.

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.

Harvest-time meatballs simmered with zucchini, mushrooms, and tomato wedges under a blanket of Parmesan. A one-skillet take on end-of-summer garden produce and pantry meatballs.

Praline macaroons from Mississippi: chewy meringue cookies built on whipped egg whites, brown sugar, and toasted pecans, each one crowned with a whole pecan half. Crisp shell, soft center, pure Southern bakery counter.

Smoky Thai mashed eggplant, charred whole over a grill then pounded with shallots, garlic, and chili. Fried briefly and served with hard-boiled eggs and fresh mint as a savory dip or side.

Steamed spinach dressed with soy sauce, toasted sesame oil, sesame seeds, garlic, and a touch of vinegar. An authentic Korean banchan side dish (sigumchi namul) in minutes.

Pork loin in green sauce: Mexican-style pork simmered tender, then sliced into a tomatillo-tomato-chile-cilantro salsa verde. Serve with rice or boiled potatoes.

Kashmiri spinach (haak) with asafetida, turmeric, cayenne, and a homemade garam masala of black cumin, cardamom, cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon. A deeply spiced, vegan North Indian side dish.

No-bake Easter baskets made from shredded wheat, peanut butter, and butterscotch chips. A fun three-ingredient Easter craft kids can shape and fill with candy.

Crunchy napa cabbage and sweet strawberries tossed with toasted almonds in a warm Sichuan dressing of sesame oil, five spice, and crystallized ginger. Ready in 15 minutes flat.

Italian vegetable hoagies stuff baguettes with balsamic-marinated artichoke hearts, tomatoes, provolone, romaine, red onion, and pepperoncini. A 15-minute vegetarian sandwich packed with Mediterranean flavor.

Lamb kebabs marinated in lemon juice, garlic, and mint, threaded with fresh mint leaves and scallions, then grilled over medium-hot heat. Works with beef sirloin too.

Mexican shrimp cocktail with lime-poached shrimp, avocado, jalapeno, tomato, cilantro, and carrots in a concentrated lime-garlic broth. Served chilled on lettuce.