Recipe Sifter

California-style stir-fry with broccoli, zucchini, squash, and cauliflower tossed in garlic, herbs, and white wine with a bright squeeze of lemon. Vegetarian and vibrant.

Mama's chicken cacciatore: paprika-dusted chicken browned in olive oil, then braised in dry Marsala with crushed plum tomatoes, carrots, celery, and peppers. Italian comfort food the way Madre made it.

This is another healthy recipe, low calorie, and low-fat, a lot of protein.

Crispy baked chimichangas stuffed with spiced black beans, melted cheese, and fresh green onions. Skip the deep fryer for this healthier take on the classic Tex-Mex favorite.

Swordfish escabeche features golden-crusted swordfish bathed in a tangy red wine vinegar sauce spiced with toasted oregano, cumin, allspice, and cinnamon. Served at room temperature with sweet onion rings and red chilies.

Crispy marinated tempeh tossed with al dente pasta, bell peppers, celery, and red onion in a tangy oregano-garlic vinaigrette. A colorful, protein-rich vegan pasta salad that works as a main or a hearty side.

Vegetable pasta sauce loaded with zucchini, mushrooms, carrot and a secret of blended chickpeas that add body and protein to a red-wine tomato base. A hearty, vegan sauce that eats like a meaty ragu.

Creamy white beans bound with garlicky spinach puree and soft bread crumbs, seasoned with oregano and thyme. A hearty, plant-based side dish with earthy flavor.

Greek red wine and tomato sauce with bay leaf, whole cloves, and oregano for oven-baked keftedes meatballs. Simmered until thick and fragrant, this is the authentic way to finish keftedes tou fournou.

Vegan vegetable soup with lentils, chickpeas, pattypan squash, zucchini, and miso paste for deep umami flavor. Hearty, protein-rich, and made with water, not broth.

Easy meatballs simmered in a quick tangy tomato sauce of puree, onion, vinegar, and oregano, then spooned over rice or pasta. A simple stovetop dinner that comes together in under an hour.

Bright, herb-forward hummus with no tahini needed. Sautéed onion and garlic blend with fresh parsley, basil, oregano, and coriander into silky chickpeas for a lighter Middle Eastern dip that skips the paste but keeps all the flavor. Ready in 25 minutes.

Vegan split pea soup: green split peas simmered with celery, carrot, onion, potato, and herbs into a thick, hearty bowl finished with frozen sweet peas and a splash of tamari. No ham needed.

Turkey meatloaf with sun-dried tomatoes, Italian herbs, and egg whites instead of whole eggs. Sauteed aromatics cooked into the mix give this lighter meatloaf deep, savory flavor.

Spicy Spam kabobs grilled with pineapple chunks wrapped in snow peas and red bell pepper, marinated in a lemon-thyme-oregano sauce with red pepper flakes. Served over rice for a fun, retro cookout meal.

In Sicily bistecche like these are served as an antipasto, a contorno, or, when a charcoal fire is going, as one of many dishes in a mixed grill.