Recipe Sifter

Chicken Yassa from Senegal: lemon-marinated chicken broiled and simmered with caramelized onions, olives, habanero, and carrots. A tangy, savory West African classic served over rice.

Moroccan-style sauteed eggplant, zucchini, peppers, and tomatoes served room temperature on lettuce with olive oil and lemon. A vibrant, crisp-tender vegetable appetizer with a spicy kick.

Thai satay sauce from scratch: a dry-toasted aromatic paste of chiles, shallots, garlic, and galangal cooked into coconut milk with peanuts, sesame, tamarind, and fish soy.

Light Greek yogurt cheesecake with a melba toast and walnut crust, topped with dried figs poached in an ouzo syrup with cinnamon stick and orange zest. A Mediterranean twist on cheesecake that skips the heaviness.

Grilled tuna steaks marinated in sherry vinegar with just salt and pepper. A three-ingredient recipe for rare-to-well-done tuna with a tangy, caramelized crust.

Orange roughy with basil and peppers is a light microwave fish dinner for two: mild white fillets steamed over julienned red bell peppers and onions with fresh basil and lemon. Ready in 25 minutes with almost no fat.

Polenta crostini topped with a savory porcini and cremini mushroom sauce. Crisp broiled polenta rounds stand in for bread, making this Italian appetizer naturally gluten-free.

Pickled figs in a spiced syrup with clove, allspice, cinnamon, and mace. Old-Southern preserve that turns whole figs into glossy, jewel-like jars for cheese boards and roasted meats.

Eye of round roast marinated overnight in Chinese hot mustard, garlic, soy, and Worcestershire, then high-heat roasted with potatoes. A budget cut cooked right.

Asparagus sauce blends boiled asparagus tops with unsalted butter and infuses heavy cream with the woody ends, creating a silky verdant sauce ideal for pasta, fish, or grilled chicken. San Francisco chef's elegant green sauce.

Pan-fried bass coated in cornmeal and cooked in bacon drippings in a cast iron skillet. A classic Southern fish fry technique with a crispy golden crust and just three main ingredients.

Curried shrimp toasts top toasted baguette with chopped shrimp in curry, mango chutney, and a soy-spiked mayo. Make-ahead-friendly cocktail party hors d'oeuvres.

Old-fashioned orange marmalade made from scratch with just oranges, sugar, lemon juice, and water. No pectin needed, slow-simmered for 3 hours until naturally set.

Mapo tofu is a Sichuan classic: silky tofu simmered with ground pork, black bean garlic sauce, and red chili paste, ladled over steamed white rice.

German elderberry soup (Holunderbeersuppe): cooked elderberries with lemon, sugar, and cornstarch for a traditional tart-sweet fruit soup served hot or chilled.

Fig ice cream made from fresh figs cooked into a puree and folded into a rich egg custard base with heavy cream, vanilla, and a splash of Cognac. A unique, honey-sweet frozen dessert.