Corn recipes

A Mexican mole-inspired chili with cubed lamb, black beans, toasted tortilla and seed thickener, warming spices, and a square of unsweetened chocolate. Deep, complex, nothing like a Texas chili.

A Tex-Mex tamale-style bake with seasoned ground beef, green chilies, melted Monterey Jack, and a golden cornbread crust. Pantry ingredients, one baking dish, and dinner is on the table.

Pumpkin pecan pie layers a spiced pumpkin custard under a classic pecan pie filling for two desserts in one slice. Looks like pecan, eats like Thanksgiving, balanced sweetness throughout.

Green chicken chilaquiles casserole: shredded chicken in tangy tomatillo salsa and cream, layered with softened corn tortillas and three Mexican cheeses, then baked bubbling and golden.

Turkey meatloaf ring: a lean, veggie-flecked ground turkey loaf baked in a ring pan with peas, corn, and a tomato glaze, then filled with steamed broccoli and cauliflower. A lighter take on meatloaf.

Pollo borracho: a whole chicken browned and braised in red Burgundy wine with tomatoes, zucchini, and warm Mexican spices. One Dutch oven, big bold flavors, and the house smells incredible. Serve with brown rice and pinto beans.

Vegetable gumbo is a lighter, meatless take on the Cajun classic: the holy trinity simmered with okra, corn, tomatoes and paprika, thickened naturally by the okra. No roux, no meat, just hearty vegetable comfort.

Creamy tuna and mushroom pasta sauce made lighter with evaporated skim milk, Parmesan, shallots, and fresh herbs. A quick pantry-friendly dinner that tastes far richer than it is.

Chicken mulligatawny soup: a curried Anglo-Indian classic with carrots, celery, apple, rice, and tender chicken in a spiced broth. Comfort food with serious depth.

Oat bran Russian black bread with rye flour, whole wheat, carob, molasses, caraway, and fennel seeds. A dense, dark, vegan loaf with just one short rise.

Spinach moong dal: tender yellow split mung beans simmered with spinach, tamarind and turmeric, finished with a sizzling tadka of mustard seeds, fenugreek and dried chiles. South Indian comfort food.

Enchiladas banderas are chicken enchiladas striped with green salsa verde, white sour cream and red salsa colorado to mirror the Mexican flag. A festive, party-ready presentation built on a from-scratch dried chile sauce.

Mexican manicotti: pasta shells stuffed with beef, refried beans, and cumin, smothered in corn and picante salsa. A microwave-friendly fusion casserole on the table in under 40 minutes.

Zuni vegetable stew: a Southwestern medley of winter squash, corn, pinto beans, and zucchini simmered with poblano and jalapeno chiles. A hearty, chile-spiced three-sisters stew with real depth.

Low-fat pumpkin raisin cake made with egg whites, no butter, and pumpkin pie spice. Served with a strained yogurt cream sauce for a lighter fall dessert.

Grilled chicken fajitas with a bright raisin salsa of tomatoes, cilantro, scallions, jalapeno, and lime. Warm corn tortillas and sweet-spicy salsa make this a build-your-own dinner party hit.