Regional Cuisine, Main Dish Recipes

A stunning cold Chinese platter of shredded vegetables, wood ear fungus, egg strips, and hand-pulled chicken, layered and dressed in a mustard-ginger-sesame-Chinkiang vinegar sauce. A showpiece salad for special occasions.

Boiled wontons tossed in a savory blend of oyster sauce, soy sauce, and sesame oil, garnished with fresh scallions. A classic Cantonese dim sum dish (Ho Yau Gon) that's simple and satisfying.

Homemade gyro meat made from ground lamb and beef, twice-ground for that signature fine, sliceable texture and seasoned with oregano, cumin, cinnamon, and paprika. Baked in a loaf pan, then sliced thin for pita gyros.

Quick Italian mushroom and tomato pasta sauce with garlic, parsley, and marjoram cooked in olive oil. A 20-minute vegetarian sauce with a full pound of mushrooms.

This recipe is for a Cuban stew/soup that I used to enjoy con mucho gusto. This version of Ajiaco was prepared by Senora Garcia in her little store front restaurant on Collins Ave. in Miami Beach. Although this is not her exact recipe, it's the closest I could get to it. Ajico del Restaurant Garcia

South African Cape Malay fruit and vegetable curry with apricots, apples, raisins, and warm spices over rice. A fragrant, naturally vegan one-pot dinner full of sweet-spicy depth.

Texas Red Chili loaded with cubed beef, pork, and veal simmered three hours in chili powder and cumin. No beans, no tomatoes, just meat and heat the Lone Star way.

Chinese cashew chicken stir-fries sliced chicken breast with snow peas, mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and toasted cashews in a savory soy-cornstarch sauce. A classic takeout favorite from scratch.

Vegan pesto pasta with spinach, parsley, basil, pine nuts, garlic, and miso paste instead of Parmesan. A dairy-free pesto that's savory, bright, and ready in 15 minutes.

Klops is a traditional Polish meatloaf made with ground beef, pork, salt pork, and kidney fat, finished with a cream pan gravy. Rich, old-world flavor in every slice.

Indonesian pork tenderloin marinated in lime, soy, brown sugar, cumin, curry, and sambal ulek, then seared fast in a hot pan. Sweet, smoky, and chili-hot, served with fried bananas.

Deep-fried chicken chunks in a water chestnut flour batter, tossed with crispy peanuts and scallions in a fiery sauce of chili-garlic paste, dark soy, red vinegar, and sesame oil. Authentic Chinese restaurant-style kung pao.

Homemade wontons filled with ground pork, chopped shrimp, Chinese mushrooms, and crunchy water chestnuts, seasoned with oyster sauce and soy. Includes step-by-step folding instructions for beginners.

Cantonese steamed shrimp in shells with fermented black beans, garlic, and oyster sauce. This classic dim sum dish is tender, flavorful, and ready in just 30 minutes.

Creamy peanut butter swirls into a hearty West African stew loaded with sweet potatoes, okra, and cabbage for comfort with a subtle spicy kick.

A Vietnamese twist on meat sauce with ground pork, fresh tomatoes, fish sauce, lime, and serrano chilies served over steamed rice. Ready in 30 minutes flat.