649 simple 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.

Kosher dill pickles: classic garlic-and-dill brined cucumbers with snap and bite. A simple vinegar-brine canning recipe that turns out crisp, tangy pickles after a six-week cure.

Simple frozen dessert made with ice cream and a splash of sherry, frozen in a tray. A no-bake, 2-ingredient base you can customize with nuts, chocolate, or fruit.

Whole rainbow trout stuffed with chopped onion and tomatoes, spritzed with lemon juice, wrapped in foil, and grilled for 20 minutes. Five ingredients. Campfire-simple and stream-to-table fresh.

A quick microwave brownie made with Alba chocolate mix and artificial sweetener for a low-calorie chocolate fix. Mix, microwave for 7 minutes, and you're done. Just 6 simple ingredients.

Simple blue cornbread made with blue cornmeal, barley flour, and honey. Bakes into golden-topped muffins or a pan of cornbread in under 30 minutes. Earthy, slightly sweet, and versatile.

Microwave veal roast rubbed with garlic and pepper, cooked on an inverted saucer to stay out of the drippings. Simple technique with timing charts for rare, medium, and well-done.

Old-fashioned spiced raisin drop cookies with brown sugar, buttermilk, and cake flour for a soft, cakey texture. A simple, homey cookie with warm mixed spices and plump soaked raisins.

A Southern sweet potato pone made with raw grated sweet potatoes, allspice, cinnamon, and a simple batter. Baked in a square pan until golden. Old-fashioned comfort at its finest.

Carne asada y naranjas features skirt steak soaked in fresh orange juice, then grilled over charcoal alongside caramelized orange slices. Citrusy, smoky, and impossibly simple for a Mexican-inspired cookout.

Fruit buckle with a simple cream-and-egg batter, any fresh fruit you have on hand, and a crumb topping. An old-fashioned single-layer dessert ready in 25 minutes.

Sliced tomatoes, cucumbers, and onions marinated in a simple sweet vinegar dressing. Five minutes of prep, an hour in the fridge, and you've got a cool, crunchy summer side dish.

Live blue crabs steamed in beer, vinegar, and Old Bay-style seafood seasoning until bright red. A classic Chesapeake Bay crab feast recipe that's simple, messy, and absolutely worth it.

Baked red beans braised in red wine with garlic, bell pepper, tomato paste, and bay leaf. A simple, rustic bean casserole with deep, wine-rich flavor and almost no fat.

Citrus baked trout with fresh lemon, orange sections, sliced onion, and white wine, covered and roasted until flaky. A simple whole fish recipe with bright, clean flavors and minimal prep.

Spiral-cut ham with a honey and brown sugar glaze basted with pear nectar and orange juice. A simple 5-ingredient holiday ham that practically glazes itself in the oven.