Regional Cuisine Recipes

Creamy leek soup blended smooth with apples, potato, carrots, orange juice, and a hint of curry. A one-pot pureed soup with a sweet, earthy flavor and no cream needed.

Lemon-pecan torte made with ground pecans and matzoh meal instead of flour, topped with a lemon curd glaze. A naturally flourless cake perfect for Passover.

Simple lettuce salad dressed in a homemade vinaigrette of olive oil, white vinegar, garlic, basil, and scallions. A fresh, classic side salad with no-fuss dressing.

Russian marinated pearl onions (Luk Marinovannyi) pickled in apple cider vinegar with dill, caraway seeds, red pepper flakes, and peppercorns. Ready in two weeks.

Malinnik is a chilled Russian raspberry soup blended with claret wine and sugar, lifted with a fizz of soda water, and finished with a dollop of sour cream. A bright, boozy summer dessert soup.

Mexican bean cake made with pinto bean puree, apples, raisins, and warm spices like cinnamon, cloves, and allspice. A moist, spiced sheet cake with a simple glaze.

Welsh honey-glazed leg of lamb (Oen Cymreig Melog) roasted with apple cider, rosemary, and ginger. Basted frequently for a sticky, caramelized crust with cidery pan gravy.

Hungarian-style paprika gravy with sour cream, beef stock, green peppers, tomatoes, and garlic. A rich, velvety sauce for schnitzel, dumplings, or roasted meats.

Russian chicken liver pate (pashtet) with butter, onions, garlic, and white bread baked into a smooth, rich spread. Served cold as an elegant appetizer.

Pistachio kulfi pops made the traditional Indian way: whole milk slowly reduced to a concentrated, caramelized base, then frozen with chopped pistachios. No ice cream maker required.

Pollo en salsa de mani is Latin American chicken braised in a peanut butter and tomato sauce with garlic, red pepper, and fresh coriander. Serve with coconut rice for a complete meal.

Chow Gee Yok Har is a Chinese pork and shrimp stir-fry with Smithfield ham, bamboo shoots, dried mushrooms, peanuts, and ginkgo nuts in a hoisin-soy sauce.

Rice pilaf with green peas, bay leaves, and a whole cinnamon stick cooked in the Middle Eastern soaked-rice method. A fragrant vegetarian side with toasted, fluffy grains.

Sandcake is a Scandinavian butter cake made with three flours: all-purpose, potato flour, and rice flour. Incredibly fine-crumbed, tender, and rich with a golden crust.

Santa Maria salsa is the no-cook California barbecue staple: chopped canned tomatoes, celery, onion, and green pepper sharpened with horseradish, vinegar, and Worcestershire. Pour, chill, serve.

Homemade seitan from scratch using bread flour, kneaded and washed to extract pure wheat gluten, then simmered in a savory tamari, ginger, and kombu broth. The ultimate plant-based protein.