Spicy baby back ribs with a Chinese-style marinade of fermented black beans, ginger, garlic, soy, fish sauce, and chopped orange. Marinated overnight, grilled low and slow, basted constantly.
Louisiana crawfish étouffée smothers tender tails in a buttery trinity of onion, celery, and bell pepper with a kick of pepper. Serve over hot rice for Cajun country at its finest.
Broiled crab melts on Melba toast rounds with lime, green onion, and hot mustard, topped with bubbling Swiss cheese. A two-bite appetizer for parties, ready in 20 minutes.
Saffron-braised lamb shoulder served over herb couscous with cucumber, red pepper, and fresh mint. A North African-inspired one-pot meal with bright, herby accompaniments.
Chicken pasta salad with roasted peanuts, julienned bell peppers, and a sesame-ginger vinaigrette made with Dijon mustard, brown sugar, and fresh ginger. Served cold with cucumber and watercress.
Cheese and corn tortilla enchiladas: flour tortillas stuffed with cottage cheese, corn, cheddar, scallions, and cilantro, topped with salsa and more cheese. Vegetarian, 40 minutes, crowd-pleasing.
Confetti chicken and pepper rice with tri-color bell peppers, honey Dijon chicken, and green onions. A colorful one-pot dinner ready in 30 minutes.
Shrimp and cheese enchiladas in a creamy jalapeño-pepper sauce with Monterey Jack, sour cream, and fresh tomatoes. A rich, Tex-Mex seafood enchilada baked until bubbly.
A great dip that is creamy yet refreshing. Served best chilled.
Persian lentil and greens khoreshe with spinach, parsley, cilantro, scallions, and turmeric simmered until tender. A fragrant Iranian stew served over basmati rice.
Traditional Japanese noodles in a homemade dashi broth made from kombu, bonito flakes, tamari, mirin, and fresh ginger juice. An authentic kake-udon or kake-soba base ready in 30 minutes.
Crispy pantry tuna patties with celery, scallions, and soft breadcrumbs, pan-fried golden and served with a quick lemon sour cream sauce. Pantry dinner that doubles as next-day cold lunch.
Sliced tomatoes with raw salsa: ripe tomato slices over a bed of alfalfa sprouts, topped with a chilled fresh salsa of green pepper, scallions, cilantro, cumin, and apple cider vinegar.
Freezer-friendly shrimp quesadillas with Monterey Jack cheese, green onions, and cilantro in flour tortillas. Assemble ahead, freeze, and cook from frozen in minutes.
Whole chicken slow-cooked with parsnips, carrots, white wine, and fresh oregano. Set it and forget it for 8 hours, then reduce the pan juices into a rich sauce.
Greek spanakopita Peloponnisos style: spinach, leeks, and spring onions rolled in olive oil-brushed phyllo pastry and baked golden. A dairy-free version without the traditional feta cheese.
Quick microwave tuna casserole layered with egg noodles, fresh zucchini, and melted Monterey Jack cheese. Ready in 45 minutes with tangy sour cream and Dijon mustard.
Thai-inspired hot and sour stir-fried vegetables with ginger, garlic, soy sauce, lime juice, and cayenne. Carrots, green beans, cabbage, and zucchini cooked crisp-tender in minutes. Vegetarian.
Red beans and rice with ham, a quick Creole-style skillet built on the holy trinity, garlic, and a little jalapeno heat, simmered with canned kidney beans and spooned over rice. Weeknight-fast.
Pad Thai with chicken, shrimp, rice noodles, bean sprouts, and crushed peanuts in a fish sauce and lime dressing. A classic Thai stir-fry made at home.
Creamed lobster and clams in a white wine cream sauce with mushrooms and a touch of cayenne. Served in warm pastry shells for an elegant appetizer.
White bean salad with a blended lemon-dill dressing, garnished with sieved hard-cooked eggs, black olives, and green onions. A make-ahead cold salad with Russian roots.
One-dish curry chicken baked with red bell peppers, Red Delicious apples, scallions, turmeric, and curry powder. Low-fat, no pre-cooking needed. Just layer everything in a dish and bake.
Roast beef salad with a teriyaki-ginger marinade over mixed greens, tomatoes, mushrooms, and bell peppers. A hearty no-cook main dish salad that uses leftover roast beef.
Pasta with grilled turkey or chicken sausages, fresh tomatoes, roasted peppers, and saffron vinegar. A light, Mediterranean-style pasta toss ready in 30 minutes.
Cold citrus rice salad molded into a ring and served with fresh orange and grapefruit segments, watercress, and chicory. A retro party presentation that's light, fresh, and make-ahead friendly.
Asian-style beef and couscous with flank steak in an apricot-ginger sauce, bell peppers, and mushrooms. A sweet-savory microwave meal with crisp-tender vegetables.
Fiddlehead salad marinates frozen fiddleheads in white wine vinegar, Worcestershire, and hot sauce, then finishes with olive oil and green onions. A tangy spring side dish.
Garlicky black pepper shrimp and black-eyed peas is Low Country Southern cooking in one skillet: bacon, holy trinity, bay-scented peas, and wine-splashed shrimp finished with cracked pepper.
Stir-fried asparagus with shiitake mushrooms, garlic, and oyster sauce in a light bouillon-cornstarch glaze. A quick Thai-inspired vegetable side dish ready in minutes.
Hot sourdough bread bowl filled with a creamy chipped beef dip made from cream cheese, sour cream, and green onions. Baked in foil until warm and bubbly, then served with torn bread for dipping.
Vietnamese-style beef soup with lemongrass, garlic, and fish sauce: a fragrant, quick broth with tender beef chuck and fresh cilantro. Light, bright, ready in 30 minutes.
Tangy potted cheese spread with sharp cheddar, port wine, caraway seeds, mustard, and Worcestershire topped with walnuts. A make-ahead British-style appetizer for crackers or Melba toast.
Homemade Jamaican jerk seasoning paste with allspice, scallions, thyme, scotch bonnet pepper, and fresh lime juice. Blend and rub on any meat for authentic island heat.
Stir-fried pork with dried black mushrooms, celery, onion, and scallions in soy sauce, ready to toss with chow mein or lo mein noodles. A versatile Chinese noodle topping that comes together in minutes.
Potato-tomato bisque with rehydrated sun-dried tomatoes, corn, celery, and thyme in a half-pureed base thickened naturally with blended potatoes and low-fat milk. A creamy, low-fat soup with concentrated tomato flavor.
Steamed shrimp cooked shell-on in a spiced broth with celery, peppers, scallion, and a kick of cayenne. Serve the peel-and-eat shrimp with the cooking liquid for dunking garlic bread. Messy, casual, and fun.
Korean BBQ beef bulgogi-style with soy sauce, sesame oil, sugar, garlic, and green onions. Marinate sirloin cubes for two hours, then grill or stir-fry.
Guacamole with serrano heat, white onion, and a surprise hit of pureed zucchini for body. Mexican-style avocado dip finished with tomato, green onion, and cilantro garnish.
Shrimp in tarragon-caper mayonnaise served open-faced on toasted English muffins with bell peppers, lettuce, and endive. An elegant no-cook lunch or light dinner.
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.
Pan-seared salmon steaks topped with crispy ginger and green onion matchsticks, served over peppery arugula with a sherry-soy pan sauce. Date-night dinner for two in under 30 minutes.
Hot and sour fish soup poaches cod in lemongrass broth with lime juice, serrano chile, fish sauce, ginger, and cilantro. Vietnamese-style canh chua, served over jasmine rice.
Breakfast quiche with a crispy hash brown crust filled with ham, sharp cheddar, green peppers, and eggs in a creamy chicken soup base. No pastry crust needed.
Pasta bean salad with navy beans, snow peas, red pepper, toasted sesame oil, and tangy ume vinegar. A protein-packed Japanese-leaning lunch that holds up in the fridge.
Let your tastebuds run wild with this stuffing that is perfect for a turkey or as a side dish during the holidays.
Spicy Sichuan-style pork with peanuts, a fast wok stir-fry of cubed pork tossed in a fiery soy, rice wine, and chili sauce with toasted peanuts and dried chilies. Big heat, deep crunch, restaurant flavor at home.
Caramelized pork carnitas with brown sugar, molasses, tequila, and garlic simmered until glazed and sticky. A one-skillet Mexican appetizer served with picks.