1,298 mild recipes

Polvo frito is a classic Portuguese dish of tender precooked octopus dipped in a parsley-flecked egg batter and shallow-fried in olive oil until golden. Simple, briny, and crisp at the edges.

Quick bran muffins made with bran cereal and cake mix for a semi-homemade shortcut that still tastes scratch-baked. Golden, tender, and butter-brushed on top. Ready in 30 minutes, makes a dozen.

Homemade paneer: the classic Indian fresh cheese made from just milk and vinegar. Pressed into firm cubes, pan-fried golden, and ready for any curry or saag.

Gruiben, German-style pork cracklings rendered slowly from cubed bacon, yielding crisp, golden bits and a pot of pure lard. An old-world, two-ingredient technique for the ultimate savory snack.

Flan cheesecake combines creamy cream cheese custard with a caramelized sugar topping, baked in a water bath and chilled overnight. A Mexican-inspired hybrid dessert that's rich, silky, and unforgettable.

Ground beef curry in a creamy milk-based sauce with ginger and curry powder, simmered for 25 minutes. A mild, beginner-friendly weeknight curry served over rice or noodles.

Vietnamese coffee (ca phe sua) with strong dark-roast brew poured over sweetened condensed milk. Two ingredients, layered for that signature creamy, sweet-bitter sip.

A sweet coconut rice cake made with glutinous rice flour, coconut milk, and shredded coconut. This traditional Chinese New Year treat bakes up sticky, chewy, and subtly sweet.

Bourbon-soaked vanilla wafer crumbs blended with melted chocolate and condensed milk, shaped into bite-sized balls. Roll in cocoa or walnuts for a crowd-pleasing treat.

Tres leches cake using store-bought pound cake soaked in a blend of evaporated milk, condensed milk, and heavy cream, topped with broiled meringue. A shortcut Latin classic.

Easy chicken and dumplings with boiled whole chicken, cream of chicken soup, lemon pepper, and fluffy Bisquick drop dumplings. A shortcut comfort classic ready in 45 minutes.

Traditional Rhode Island johnnycakes from scratch: thin cornmeal griddle cakes scalded with boiling water, then slow-fried until lacy edges form a crackly golden crust.

Pretzel and peanut butter truffles roll crunchy peanut butter and chopped salted pretzels into bites, freeze them firm, and dip in melted milk chocolate. Three ingredients and no baking required.

Foamy omelet made by folding stiff egg whites into seasoned yolks, cooked on the stovetop then finished in the oven. A puffy, souffle-style egg dish in 20 minutes.

Ramona's toasted almond is a creamy classic cocktail: coffee liqueur and amaretto poured over ice with milk. A smooth, dessert-like sip that tastes of coffee, almond, and vanilla cream.

Quick johnnycakes from corn muffin mix: just thin the box batter slightly, fry on a hot griddle like pancakes. Crispy edges, tender corn-flavored center, ready in 15 minutes for breakfast or supper.