388 traditional recipes

Ossi di Morti (Bones of the Dead) Italian cookies flavored with cinnamon and clove oil, baked hard and meant to be dunked in coffee or tea. A traditional Italian All Souls Day treat.

Ryzi me araka: traditional Greek rice and peas simmered with onion and olive oil in a one-pot pilaf. Simple, vegan, and a no-fuss weeknight side from the Greek home-cooking playbook.

Sweet Indian lemon pickles (nimbu ka achar) with whole lemons cured in salt, cumin, and black pepper, then candied with sugar, raisins, and dried chiles. A traditional condiment that builds flavor over weeks.

Michaelmas broth is a traditional Irish chicken and rice soup served on the Feast of Saint Michael in late September. Whole chicken simmered with mirepoix, then strained and finished with long-grain rice.

Stuffed eggplant pickles filled with minced cabbage, red bell pepper, garlic, and dill, tied with softened celery ribs and fermented in vinegar brine. A traditional Middle Eastern style pickle ready in 2 to 3 weeks.

Lunn Cake, a traditional English yeast cake baked in a ring mold with scalded milk, eggs, and a light crumb. Served warm with butter, this no-knead bread rises twice for a pillowy texture.

Traditional Mexican barbacoa: whole lamb slow-roasted in a maguey leaf-lined earth pit for hours. This ancient communal feast from Mexico City feeds 24 and delivers smoky, fall-apart tender meat like nothing else.

Zlicni rezanci are traditional Croatian drop noodles made from a simple egg batter spooned into boiling broth. Just four ingredients, 15 minutes, and you have tender homemade noodles for soup or a buttery side dish.

Appetizers have long been a part of the culinary tradition in Europe, but they're relatively new to America. One of the first to appear in American cookbooks, at the turn of the century, was shrimp cocktail.

A show-stopping sour cherry pie with a hint of almond extract, topped with overlapping heart-shaped pastry cut-outs instead of a traditional crust. Gorgeous for Valentine's Day or any day you want to impress.

Traditional British coconut ice with a white and pink layered look. Just sugar, water, desiccated coconut, and vanilla cooked to soft-ball stage and pressed into squares. A classic Christmas sweet that's dead simple to make.

Do you like oatmeal, but are tired of the traditional boring bowl? Well here is a little twist on an old favorite! With the addition of apples, chia seeds and flaxseed meal, This breakfast is both very tasty and is high in omega 3 and fiber!

This relish is based on a prize-winning English recipe of more than a generation ago. It is less sweet than traditional chutneys; most of its sweetness comes not from sugar, but from apples, dates, and parsnips. I generally use Winesap apples but any well-flavored, crisp eating apple will do.

This Chinese invention is loved by Thais, who serve salty eggs as a contrast to the incendiary heat of a green curry or a bland dish. Kai kem is traditionally made with duck's eggs, which are cured for several weeks in a simple salt brine. Once cured, they keep for many months at room temperature, and are boiled when it's time to eat them.

A fresh take on the traditional banana bread utilizing the widely-available persimmon – the national fruit of Japan. Persimmons are rich in vitamins A and C, and contain high amounts of manganese, a co-factor for the enzyme superoxide dismutase, for healthy mucous membranes and skin, as well as a known protectant against lung and mouth cancers. They are also an excellent source of fibre and B-complex vitamins.

Fruit Cheeses are closely related to jams and jellies but have a firmer texture and are usually served moulded and cut into chunks as an accompaniment to roast or cold meats. Quince really makes the best cheese and is a wonderful rich amber colour. It is a particular speciality of Spain and is traditionally eaten as a sweet snack. This recipe will keep for 2 years and makes a wonderful and unusual gift.