Recipe Sifter

Bird of Paradise chicken braised in pineapple syrup with sherry, soy sauce, and crystallized ginger, topped with bell pepper, celery, papaya, and a glossy pan sauce.

Authentic Chinese hot and sour soup with wood ear fungi, dried lily buds, shiitake mushrooms, pork shreds, and silken tofu. Tangy, peppery, and finished with egg ribbons and sesame oil.

Kobeba samakeyah are Lebanese fish-filled bulgur croquettes seasoned with cumin and cilantro, deep-fried golden, and served with homemade tahini sauce. A Middle Eastern classic.

Thai stir-fried gemfish with green beans and mushrooms in a lemongrass-garlic paste with fish sauce, crushed peanuts, and bird's eye chillies. A fast, fragrant weeknight dinner served over rice.

Tabbouli salad with bulgur soaked in hot vegetable stock, fresh parsley, mint, tomato, and a punchy lemon-garlic dressing. A bright, low-fat vegan Middle Eastern side.

Thai peanut pork chops stir-fried in a creamy peanut butter, honey, and soy sauce with ginger, cucumber, and green onions. Marinated for 30 minutes, cooked in 10.

Spring vegetable soup with matzo balls: a vegetarian Passover-friendly soup brimming with carrots, potatoes, cauliflower, and tender peas, finished with fluffy matzo dumplings and fresh dill.

Beer-marinated flank steak with soy, lime, and brown sugar bathing overnight, then hitting hot grates for a caramelized crust. Sliced thin across the grain for tender, beer-smoky strips that beat any expensive cut.

Breakfast spiced pork casserole layers ground pork seasoned with fennel and garlic over cubed bread in a lightened egg-substitute custard. Assemble the night before, bake in the morning.

Holiday pork loin stuffed with brown rice, toasted almonds, orange, and crystallized ginger, glazed with cranberry-orange sauce. A festive Christmas centerpiece roast that slices into ruby-red rounds.

Baked hot bean dip with cream cheese, cheddar, Monterey Jack, sour cream, and taco seasoning, spiked with hot sauce. Bubbling, cheesy, and perfect with tortilla chips.

Thai-style stir-fried bean sprouts with deep-fried tofu, tomatoes, red chilies, and oyster sauce. A quick vegetarian wok dish garnished with fresh cilantro.

Hearty double-crusted spinach quiche packed with feta, melted cheese, scallions, and five boxes of spinach between layers of homemade shortening crust. A Greek-inspired savory pie that feeds a crowd.

Chili shrimp stir-fry: wok-fired shrimp in a glossy Thai chili paste sauce with ginger, garlic, scallions, sherry, and a sesame oil finish. A 30-minute restaurant-style dish done cleaner than takeout.

Asian-style brown rice salad with sesame oil, rice vinegar, snow peas, corn, carrots, and scallions. A nutty, crunchy cold salad that's vegan and make-ahead.

Microwave salmon patties with yogurt-cucumber dill sauce. Canned salmon, bread, milk, and egg shape into tender patties that set in 7 minutes. Light weeknight dinner.