7,783 thickener recipes

Joe Cooper's chili is a classic Texas bowl of red: three pounds of beef simmered with dried chiles, garlic, cumin, oregano, and a hint of cocoa. No beans, no tomatoes, just deep beef-and-chile flavor thickened with cornmeal and flour.

Texas-style beanless chili with cubed pork loin and beef brisket braised in beer, tequila, and triple cumin, thickened with masa harina. Six pounds of meat, no beans, all heat.

Pineapple ginger sauce with garlic and soy sauce, thickened with cornstarch for a glossy finish. A fat-free, 15-minute stir-fry sauce with bright tropical flavor.

Mama's rhubarb pie is a heirloom double-crust dessert with a tart, juicy filling thickened just enough by flour and a beaten egg. Old-fashioned, fuss-free, and ready for ice cream.

Fettuccine Uzie tosses shrimp and sea scallops in a buttery cream sauce with shallots and garlic. The pasta starch thickens the sauce naturally for a silky, rich finish.

Old-fashioned lemon meringue pie with a cornstarch-thickened filling, real lemon juice and zest, and a golden billowy meringue topping. Tart, sweet, and absolutely classic.

Cream of sun-dried tomato soup thickened with rice flour and infused with a classic bouquet garni. A silky, intensely tomatoey French-style soup that works low-fat or with a swirl of cream.

Stewed oysters simmered in their own liquor and heavy cream, thickened with a butter-flour paste, and served over toasted brioche. A classic, elegant oyster stew.

Lanarkshire cheese soup: a traditional Scottish milk-based soup thickened with flour and finished with Stilton. A humble, comforting recipe with roots in the Scottish Lowlands.

New England clam chowder with rendered salt pork, golden onions, tender potatoes, and fresh chopped clams in a milk broth. Old-school chowder, no flour thickener.

Spanish-style garlic soup with toasted bread crumbs, tomatoes, paprika, and egg ribbons stirred in at the end. A rustic, warming bowl thickened with stale bread.

Warm Swiss cucumber soup thickened with arrowroot and soy milk, seasoned with fresh dill and parsley. A creamy, dairy-free vegetarian soup ready in 30 minutes.

Summer soup with potato, leek, watercress, and fresh basil in vegetable stock. A light, peppery vegetarian soup that celebrates green flavors without cream or heavy thickeners.

Old-world warm beer soup spiced with cloves, cinnamon, and lemon zest, thickened with milk, flour, and egg yolk. A traditional European comfort drink-meets-soup.

A Scandinavian-style chilled fruit soup with dried apricots, prunes, raisins, apples, and cherries simmered in sauterne wine with cinnamon, cloves, and cardamom. Thickened with tapioca.

Vegan pepper steak made with seitan, shiitake mushrooms, and bell peppers in a rich miso-tamari sauce thickened with arrowroot. Serve over rice, noodles, or mashed potatoes.