Chinese-style lamb hot pot with paper-thin slices cooked tableside in boiling chicken broth, dipped in a soy, sesame, peanut butter, and bean curd sauce. Served with spinach, cabbage, and cellophane noodles.
Asian-style stir-fried napa cabbage slaw with daikon, shiitake mushrooms, carrots, and barbecue sauce. Doubles as a side for grilled flank steak and a roulade filling for meal prep.
Mapo tofu stir-fries marinated ground pork with hot bean paste, ginger, garlic, and chiles, then simmers cubed tofu in the spicy sauce. Authentic Sichuan classic ready in under an hour.
Healthy pasta with spiced lentils, tomatoes, and yogurt in a warmly spiced sauce with cumin, coriander, and ginger for a low-fat vegetarian meal.
Old-fashioned veal stew is the French classic blanquette de veau: blanched veal gently simmered with pearl onions, mushrooms, and chicken stock, finished with a velvety egg-yolk and cream velouté sauce.
Scallops stir-fried with bamboo shoots, carrots, and snow peas in a ginger-gin sauce, served inside a crispy deep-fried potato basket. A Chinese banquet showpiece you can pull off at home.
Creamy garlic soup made with 40 cloves of garlic, plum tomatoes, and a hint of cayenne and curry. A pureed cream soup with deep mellow garlic flavor and a touch of warming spice.
Rabbit almondine, an old-school braise where flour-coated rabbit pieces simmer in herbed chicken broth, then finish in a sour cream gravy with toasted slivered almonds. Country French comfort food with rustic bones.
Tender rice simmered with tuna, stewed tomatoes, mixed vegetables, and melted cheddar in a one-pot Creole-style dish.
Hongshao wanyu: crispy whole fish (or cod fillet) pan-fried then braised in a fragrant sauce of dried tangerine peel, black bean, ginger, garlic, and dark soy. Classic Chinese technique.
Golden chicken breasts sauteed with shallots, carrots, and fresh herbs in a light Riesling wine sauce. A refined French-style dinner that's on the table in 30 minutes.
Italian lentil crostini topped with a velvety lentil puree and bubbly melted Fontina cheese. Earthy, rich, and ready for your next antipasto spread.
Serve as the first course of a traditional Chinese dinner or alone as a light nutritious supper.
Pasta e fagioli with cranberry beans, tubetti pasta, white wine, and Parmesan. Half the beans are pureed for a thick, creamy broth with no cream needed.
Quick potato and salmon bisque made in the microwave with canned salmon, instant mashed potatoes, chicken broth, and lemon zest. A creamy, no-fuss soup ready in about 15 minutes.
Grilled chicken pieces brushed with a glossy sesame-soy sauce alongside charred bell peppers and zucchini. Includes both direct and indirect grilling methods for any setup.
Chili verde stew for a crowd: browned pork simmered with potatoes, corn, green peppers, and tomatoes in a cumin-and-oregano broth. A hearty big-batch stew built to feed a hungry party.
Pan-fried sweetbreads and button mushrooms baked under a golden yogurt, egg, and cheese gratin. A refined dinner for two that's ready in an hour.
Punchy black bean soup simmered with bacon, the holy trinity, and chili powder, then blended silky smooth. A smoky, chunky-or-creamy crowd-feeding pot with salsa and cream garnish.
Curried ground beef and rice one-pot supper with peanut butter, raisins, honey, and warm spices. Cook it stovetop or bake it as a casserole for an easy weeknight dinner.
Chilled curried broccoli soup pureed smooth with chicken stock and finished with cold cream and fresh watercress. A silky, spiced cold soup that comes together in under 45 minutes.
Late-summer pepper rainbow soup with multicolored bell peppers floating in a lemon-and-egg-yolk thickened broth. Greek avgolemono technique meets a confetti of red, yellow, and green peppers.
Thick, high-fiber black bean chili simmered with dry sherry, honey, cilantro, and fresh vegetables. Topped with Monterey Jack and yogurt. Feeds 6 to 8 hungry folks.
Individual stuffing portions made in the microwave with buttery onions, celery, mushrooms, sage, and chicken broth. Adorable single-serve holiday stuffing in custard cups.
A big-batch vegetable stew loaded with carrots, turnips, parsnips, and mushrooms in a spicy tomato-chicken broth. Freezer-friendly and served over couscous.
Lightened-up single-serving Boston clam chowder built on chicken broth and low-fat milk instead of cream, with leek, celery, red potato, canned clams and a handful of shredded spinach folded in at the end. Ready in about 30 minutes.
Turkey legs braised in a rich mole sauce built from chocolate, peanut butter, raisins, ground chile, and warm spices. This authentic Mexican mole delivers deep, layered flavor that will have you licking the plate clean.
Golden vegetable fondue made from pureed carrots, turnip, swede, and celery simmered in chicken broth and finished with butter and nutmeg. A savory dipping pot for sausages and potatoes.
Vegetarian pumpkin walnut loaf: fresh pumpkin, rice, walnuts and herbs baked together and served with a quick stewed tomato sauce. A fall main dish that doesn't apologize for being meat-free.
Crispy breaded chicken breasts brushed with oyster sauce and pan-fried, then drizzled with a honey-lemon glaze made from chicken stock, soy sauce, and fresh lemon zest.
Pork with cumin braises cubed pork shoulder with bacon, tomatoes, potatoes, and a bright orange-lime accent, finished with sour cream. A Mexican-inspired stew with toasted cumin warmth.
Georgetown red rice cooked in bacon fat with tomatoes, onions, ketchup, and chicken broth. The Lowcountry South Carolina classic that holds the line as the unofficial state rice dish, smoky and tomato-stained.
Chilled cream of potato soup made with instant potato flakes and evaporated milk for a velvety-smooth finish. Serve cold or hot in just 30 minutes. A refreshing summer starter for 4.
Pasta e ceci, a classic Italian chickpea and pasta soup with garlic, olive oil, Parmesan, and parsley. Simple, rustic, and deeply satisfying.
A simple but succulent dish that is perfect to enjoy when having a significant other over for dinner.
Pan-seared chicken breasts in a creamy Dijon mustard sauce served over noodles with mixed vegetables. A comforting one-skillet weeknight dinner ready in under an hour.
Light sesame chicken salad with rice, snow peas, cucumber, and red pepper tossed in a soy-sesame dressing. No cooking required, just toss and serve for a fresh, filling meal.
Tender chicken breast strips and red potatoes simmer in a light garlic broth brightened with lemon zest, fresh cilantro, and a Parmesan finish. Ready in 35 minutes.
Hearty potato and leek chowder with carrots and onions simmered in chicken broth, finished with milk and fresh parsley. Thick, creamy, and warming.
Lentils and spinach simmered in chicken broth with popped mustard seeds, coriander, and lemon juice, topped with melted cheddar. A hearty, high-fiber soup with Indian-inspired spicing.
Creamy curried peanut soup with rice, carrots, and three tablespoons of curry powder, half-pureed with peanut butter for a thick, nutty broth. Make-ahead friendly and topped with scallions and cilantro.
Basmati rice simmered in chicken broth with sliced mushrooms and a bay leaf. A simple, fragrant 4-ingredient side dish ready in 35 minutes.
A quick and easy version of chicken pie that uses soft bread crumbs instead of a pastry crust.
Leftover vegetable soup pureed smooth with chicken broth and seasoned with Tabasco, herbs, and a touch of cream. The thrifty cleanout-the-fridge soup that turns leftovers into something genuinely good.
Salmon confit gently poached in duck fat with lemon and thyme, served with roasted shallots, garlic, and a velvety red wine reduction. Restaurant-quality at home.
Five ingredients, thirty minutes, and pure Italian simplicity. Garlic warmed to pale gold in olive oil, then chicken broth reduced until glossy and drizzled over spaghettini with fresh parsley.
Lorraine soup: classic French velvety chicken soup thickened with bread, ground almonds, and egg yolk, finished with cream, nutmeg, and lemon. An old-world first course with silky elegance.
Cheese tortellini in deeply savory porcini mushroom broth with mixed wild and fresh mushrooms. An elegant 30-minute Italian primo course on a weeknight.