Recipe Sifter

San Antonio chili made Texas-style with coarse ground beef chuck, no beans, no tomatoes. Slow-simmered with chili powder, cumin, oregano, and cayenne, thickened with cornmeal.

Poached eggs nestled on warm corn tortillas with sliced avocado, a smoky green chile-tomato sauce, and melted Monterey Jack. California's laid-back take on huevos rancheros.

Calamaria Gemista: traditional Greek stuffed squid filled with rice, pine nuts, currants, and fresh herbs, then slow-simmered in wine and tomatoes until fork-tender.

Paprika-dusted chicken thighs with mushrooms and onions in a sour cream pan sauce, spooned over fluffy baked potatoes. Hungarian comfort meets loaded potato.

Broccoli with spicy chickpea sauce, steamed broccoli florets cloaked in a creamy hummus-style sauce of chickpeas, yogurt, blanched garlic, cumin, and cayenne. Vegetable side that doubles as a Middle Eastern main.

A hearty vegetable soup with black beans, okra, zucchini, and crushed tomatoes braised in red wine with cumin, ginger, and cayenne. Served over brown rice for a filling vegan meal.

Thick meaty spaghetti sauce simmers ground beef, bell pepper, celery, garlic and mushrooms with three forms of tomato. Slow-cooked 2 to 3 hours into a deep, batch-friendly Italian-American gravy.

Light pasta in chicken broth with wilted spinach chiffonade, garlic, olive oil, and Parmesan. A brothy, clean-flavored Italian dish ready in under 15 minutes.

Huachinango: grilled red snapper marinated overnight in achiote (annatto) paste with garlic, orange juice, and oregano. The Yucatecan fish classic with deep red color and citrus-spice depth.

Eggplant Italiano sauteed with mushrooms, peppers, and tomatoes, then baked under melted mozzarella until bubbly and golden. A hearty Italian vegetable casserole.

Kowloon duckling: a whole duck stuffed with scallion and garlic, slow-smoked over hickory and basted with a soy, honey, and lemon glaze until lacquered. Served with plum sauce. A smoky, Chinese-style barbecued duck.

Hearty lentil vegetable stew with turnips, leeks, and fresh rosemary. One-pot comfort food simmered until tender, finished with bright lemon juice and parsley.

Pork chili verde slow-cooked with tomatillos, jalapeños, and green chiles, then crisped under the broiler. Tex-Mex burrito and bowl filler with deep, smoky flavor.

Ground turkey and black bean chili: a leaner, tomato-paste-thickened weeknight chili with sweet bell peppers, carrots, chili powder, and cumin. Healthier than beef chili, just as satisfying.

Layered black bean casserole with cumin-spiced beans, Rotel tomatoes, corn tortillas, and gooey Monterey Jack. Topped with lettuce, olives, and sour cream for a Tex-Mex feast.

Chicken livers browned in bacon drippings, simmered in dry sherry and tomato sauce with mushrooms, onions, and herbs. Served over rice, polenta, or pasta with grated Parmesan. Ready in 20 minutes.