Recipe Sifter

Two-ingredient New Mexico style barbecued salmon. Salmon fillets brushed with red chile barbecue sauce and grilled over wood embers. The Southwestern way to cook a piece of fish.

No-oil spice cake using a box cake mix with applesauce replacing the oil and cinnamon for warm spice. A 5-ingredient, lower-fat cake hack that stays moist.

Nut crust made with minced nuts, flour, margarine, and cold water for a tender, toasty pastry shell that works under savory tarts or sweet pies. A flaky pie crust alternative with a buttery crunch.

Old-California empanadita pastry with a flaky cream cheese and butter dough. A versatile chilled make-ahead dough for sweet or savory hand pies, brushed with egg wash before baking.

Pearl onion gratin baked in seasoned cream with nutmeg until browned and bubbly. A classic French side dish with just six ingredients and a blanching trick for easy peeling.

Vegan orange chocolate mousse made with silken tofu, cocoa powder, brown rice syrup, and orange zest. A dairy-free, egg-free dessert with a rich, creamy texture from blended tofu.

Orange hollandaise sauce reduces fresh orange juice to a thick syrup then blends it with unsalted butter for a citrusy, buttery finish on eggs Benedict or asparagus.

Oven-dried tomatoes, a simple slow-roast technique that concentrates summer tomatoes into chewy intensely sweet jammy slices. Better than store-bought sun-dried, with infinite uses across the kitchen.

Oysters Rockefeller on the half shell, topped with a herbed green butter of scallion, celery and tarragon plus crisp breadcrumbs, then broiled until golden and bubbling. An elegant New Orleans classic.

Paksiw na Isda is Filipino vinegar-poached fish simmered with ginger, banana peppers, and eggplant. A tangy, brothy classic that deepens after a day in the fridge.

Parmesan twists braid a buttery cheese-and-sour-cream dough into golden savory straws topped with caraway or poppy seeds. Crisp cocktail party appetizer that bakes in 10 minutes.

Pecan praline cookie pizza with a buttery brown sugar shortbread crust, sour cream topping, and toasted pecans. A festive dessert that slices into wedges like a pie.

Peking pancakes (Mandarin pancakes) made with boiling water dough, lard, and sesame oil. Thin, pliable wrappers for Peking duck and mu shu pork. Just 4 ingredients.

All-purpose pie pastry combining vegetable shortening and butter for the best of both fats: shortening for tenderness, butter for flavor. Makes enough for two double-crust pies.

Low-fat pie crust made with a blend of unbleached and whole wheat pastry flour and margarine. A lighter, flaky shell for savory pies and quiches with a simple blind-bake option for fruit fillings.

Pesto Toscano made with fresh kale, garlic, and olive oil instead of traditional basil. A robust Tuscan pesto with just 4 ingredients, no nuts, and no cheese required.