25 finest recipes

Lebanese tabbouleh herb salad heavy on fresh parsley and mint, fine bulgur, lemon and olive oil. Served on romaine leaves, the proper Middle Eastern way.

"Prime rib is one of the most delectable dinners there is. We order it in our favorite upscale restaurant on special occasions, but few consider they have the skill to make it at home. Yes, you do and here's how. It will compare to the finest you've ever eaten and you'll be be amazed at how easy it is to do. It's not a budget dinner, so go to a reputable butcher and buy the best quality 'Prime' Rib roast available.

Golden-fried baby potatoes simmered in a tangy tamarind sauce with cardamom, fennel, turmeric, and cinnamon. This vegetarian dum aloo is Indian comfort food at its finest.

Rainbow trout with lemon, capers, and brown butter is a restaurant classic you can make in 10 minutes. Crisp skin, nutty butter, bright lemon, briny capers. Pan-seared fish at its finest.

Deer heart soaked, boiled, sliced into steaks, and pan-fried with steak spice, then served alongside a rosemary and thyme vegetable simmer. Nose-to-tail wild game cooking at its finest.

Soft persimmon cookies spiced with allspice, nutmeg, and cinnamon, loaded with dates and walnuts. Fall harvest baking at its finest.

Red snapper a la Mexicaine with seared fillets baked in fresh tomatoes and herbs, finished with a creamy avocado sauce spiked with lime and Tabasco. French-Mexican fusion at its finest.

Cuspajs is a traditional Hungarian cabbage and potato soup finished with zafrig, a browned flour roux. Simple, hearty peasant cooking at its finest.

A proper British boiled suet pudding with currants, wrapped in a pudding cloth and simmered for two hours. Spotted Dog is old-fashioned English comfort at its finest, served warm with custard.

Pakoras: crisp Indian fritters of onion, potato, and spinach dipped in spiced chickpea-flour batter and deep-fried to golden crunch. Monsoon-season street food at its finest.

Santa Maria-style grilled tri-tip marinated 24 hours in red wine, olive oil, Worcestershire, soy sauce, and garlic. Central California barbecue at its finest.

Old-fashioned Southern crackling bread made with cornmeal, buttermilk, and crispy pork cracklings. Shaped into oblong cakes and baked golden, this is country cooking at its finest.

Afghan layered eggplant with tomatoes, peppers, and onions topped with garlic yogurt sauce. This vegetarian main dish is comfort food at its finest, served with flatbread.

Tender pork medallions braised with fennel, mushrooms, and wine in a rich tomato ragout. This Italian-inspired one-pan dinner is comfort food at its finest.

Savory beef strips with green peppers, celery, and tomatoes in a Coca-Cola-sweetened sauce. This one-pot Chinese pepper steak is comfort food at its finest.

Maple-roasted acorn squash, creamy Gorgonzola, and melty mozzarella on a crispy crust, topped with peppery arugula. This vegetarian fall pizza is seasonal eating at its finest.