3,736 bitter recipes

Silky double-boiler polenta topped with a melting slice of tangy Gorgonzola and a swirl of butter. This elegant Italian side dish is simple enough for weeknights yet impressive enough for dinner parties.

Baked green tomatoes with brown sugar, butter cracker crumbs, and a sweet-savory contrast. A classic Southern side dish that's an oven-baked alternative to fried green tomatoes.

Jansson's Temptation (Janssons Frestelse), a classic Swedish potato and anchovy gratin baked in cream with soft onions and breadcrumbs. A traditional Christmas side dish.

Classic French chicken fricassee from the Poitou region. Golden-browned chicken braised on a bed of caramelized onions that melt into their own sauce.

Almond lace cookies, those delicate, paper-thin discs that roll into cigarettes or fans while warm. The classic French tuile-style cookie with ground almonds and orange zest.

Shellfish crepes with shrimp in vermouth, filled and topped with creamy Swiss cheese sauce, baked until bubbling and golden. A classic French bistro appetizer or elegant dinner party main.

Candied pecans simmered in Dr. Pepper until the soda evaporates into a sweet glaze, then oven-roasted until crispy for a unique Southern snack.

Award-winning almond shortbread cookies with a buttery dent filled with homemade butterscotch frosting and topped with chopped pistachios. A 1986 classic.

This easy to prepare coffee cake comes out moist, fluffy and absolutely delicious. Sour cherries give the cake fruity flavor with some sourness and sweetness zing in every bite.

Just two ingredients: softened butter stirred with vanilla extract. Spread it on toast, pancakes, or warm bread for a fragrant, slightly sweet twist on plain butter.

Melt in your mouth Russian tea cookies with walnuts. Perfect accompaniment for a cup of tea.

Silky whipped summer squash beaten fluffy with evaporated milk and butter. A light, creamy low-carb side dish that's diabetic-friendly and ready in 30 minutes flat.

Crock-Pot rice cooked on high with butter for fluffy, hands-off results. A slow cooker method for cooking perfect rice without watching the stove.

A comforting Eastern European side dish of egg noodles layered with sliced apples, brown sugar, and cinnamon, baked until bubbly and caramelized.

Irish-style baked parsnips parboiled then slow-baked in stock with butter and nutmeg. A simple, traditional side dish that draws out the natural sweetness of the root vegetable.

Restaurant-style salmon, sliced thin and gently butter-cooked until silky, draped over greens in a pool of reduced white wine and mushroom cream sauce. An elegant chef's plate made at home.