Recipe Sifter

A quick dinner for two: canned salmon, sorrel or spinach ribbons, and broccoli tossed with buttered fresh spaghetti, lemon, and Parmesan. Pantry-friendly elegance in 20 minutes.

Grilled curry-apricot shrimp and scallops skewered and brushed with a sweet-spicy marinade of apricot preserves, Dijon, jalapeño, and fresh cilantro.

Eggplant with tofu stir-fries thinly sliced Japanese eggplant and silky tofu cubes with garlic, fresh chiles, basil, and salty yellow bean sauce. A Thai-style 30-minute vegetarian main.

Tofu Caesar salad dressing made creamy with silken tofu instead of egg yolk and oil. Anchovy, garlic, lemon, and parmesan keep the classic Caesar punch with a fraction of the fat.

Creamy crab and clam dip with cream cheese and a kick of Tabasco, spread on melba rounds and warmed in the microwave. Ready in 10 minutes for easy party snacking.

Dijonnaise glazed pork chops with a sweet-tangy sauce of Dijon mustard, apricot preserves, soy sauce, and green onions. A quick pan-seared weeknight dinner with a glossy, flavor-packed glaze.

Creamy hash brown potato casserole loaded with cheddar cheese, sour cream, and cream of chicken soup, topped with crushed cornflakes and baked until golden. A classic potluck side dish.

Old-world pickled cherry tomatoes with dill seed, garlic, and peppercorns, packed with grape leaves for crisp texture. Russian-Ukrainian fermentation tradition in canning jars.

Crispy deep-fried samosas with spiced curried meat filling wrapped in homemade pastry. Seasoned with garam masala, fresh ginger, and mint, these golden triangles shatter at first bite.

Rosettes are delicate Scandinavian fried cookies shaped on a decorative iron, crisp like a wafer and dusted with powdered sugar. A Christmas tradition in Nordic and Midwestern kitchens.

Korean-style marinated mung bean sprouts (sukju namul) with sesame oil, toasted sesame seeds, garlic, and green onions. A crunchy, nutty side dish ready in under 20 minutes.

Citrus-marinated pork chops with smoky chipotle, bright orange juice, and lemon zest. Broiled until caramelized on the edges for a bold weeknight dinner with serious smoke-and-citrus punch.

Butter in India is called makkhan. Clarified butter, instead of being called makkhan ghee, is called usli ghee (usli means "real" or "pure," which in this context refers to the real or original fat of the ancient Indians). Clarified butter or usli ghee is essentially French brown butter with the brown residue strained off. Usli ghee has a light caramel color and a heavenly aroma. Since there is no moisture present, it keeps well covered, at room temperature, for several months.

Acadian plogues, thin buckwheat pancakes cooked on one side only until bubbled and firm. A traditional Maritime Canadian breakfast made with just flour and water.

Delicate sole fillets rolled around garlicky sauteed spinach and baked with a brush of melted butter. An elegant, light dinner for two ready in 20 minutes with just six ingredients.

Shrimp saute with orzo: garlicky butter-poached shrimp finished with white wine, lemon, capers, and parsley over al dente orzo. Restaurant-style dinner ready in 25 minutes.