313 first recipes

Smoky grilled chicken, fire-roasted poblano, and sweet corn simmered into a creamy melted-cheese soup. The chicken and pepper char on the grill first, lending a Southwestern depth no stovetop soup can match.

Crystal-clear salmon consomme with poached prawns, salmon flakes, carrot flowers, and a splash of sherry. Classic raft-clarified technique for an elegant first course.

Creamy German cucumber salad (Gurkensalat) tossed in a tangy sour cream dressing with mustard and fresh dill. Salting the cucumbers first keeps every slice crisp and the dressing thick, never watery.

Maritime Madness is a retro East Coast ground beef casserole bound with oatmeal, cream of mushroom soup, ketchup, and sage. Mix, bake, brown. No browning the meat first.

A simple and succulent beef dish that will have you hooked after the first bite!

Orjaleves is a traditional Hungarian wedding soup made with beef bones, pork, saffron broth, root vegetables, and handmade spiral egg noodles. A rich, celebratory first course.

Hot artichoke dip baked with mayonnaise, Parmesan, garlic, and green chiles until golden and bubbly. Five ingredients, 30 minutes, and always the first thing gone at a party.

This cake won me First Prize at the county fair last year. It is very chocolaty.

Burmese-style roast duck steamed first then roasted with soy and Worcestershire marinade. The double-cook method delivers crispy skin and tender meat with a savory pan gravy.

Braised baby back ribs finished on the grill or in the oven with a homemade vinegar barbecue sauce. Braise first for tender meat, then glaze with a tangy, spiced sauce for smoky, sticky ribs.

Serve as the first course of a traditional Chinese dinner or alone as a light nutritious supper.

This elegant first course looks very attractive served in clear glass bowls or clear stemmed dessert dishes.

A scrumptious seafood dish that's perfect to take with you to your next or first dinner party.

While watching the first snowfall, try these scrumptious cookies that contain a hint of cinnamon and nutmeg.

Hunter's minestrone with cubed beef, kidney beans, pasta shells, and red wine simmered for four hours in three stages. A hearty, meaty Italian soup built for cold weather.

Ukrainian kutia is a traditional Christmas Eve grain dish of buckwheat, ground poppy seeds, honey, and walnuts. The first of 12 dishes served at Sviata Vecheria, eaten cold and symbolic of family unity.