Vegetarian Pad Thai built from pantry staples: rice noodles tossed with a quick peanut butter, soy, and brown sugar sauce, scrambled egg, garlic, scallions, and a hit of lime.
Lamb steamed in rice powder, a Sichuan-style fen zheng rou with toasted rice and star anise coating marinated lamb. Banana leaves line the bamboo steamer for aromatic, silky-tender meat.
Cream of artichoke and oyster soup poaches plump oysters in butter, then folds them into a tarragon-chervil pureed artichoke veloute finished with cream. Elegant French Creole first course.
Indian-spiced carrots and spinach with turmeric, ginger, fresh coconut, and coriander. Vibrant vegetarian side dish ready in 30 minutes for healthy weeknight meals.
Thai devilled crab salad stuffed into Roma tomato halves with lemongrass, fish sauce, lime juice, mint, and chili. A no-cook, elegant appetizer with bold Southeast Asian flavor.
Pasta with Szechwan peanut dressing tosses linguine in a creamy, spicy peanut butter sauce sharpened with rice vinegar, garlic, and chili, plus broccoli and cherry tomatoes. A vegan peanut-noodle bowl, warm or chilled.
Fettuccine with shrimp and scallions in a ginger-chili-soy sauce spiked with pecans and sesame oil. A 25-minute Asian-Italian fusion pasta.
Tex-Mex biscuit sandwiches stuff cornmeal-coated refrigerator biscuits with roast beef, taco sauce, barbecue sauce, olives, and cheddar. Baked golden with a sour cream dollop on top.
Bread Provencale is a Provençal stuffed baguette filled with sausage, tomatoes, olives, capers, and basil, then chilled overnight and sliced into rounds. A make-ahead picnic classic from the South of France.
Garlicky pasta chicken salad made with 6 whole heads of garlic slow-cooked in olive oil and puréed with basil and rosemary. Tossed with rotini, Parmesan, and toasted walnuts.
Fettuccine tossed with melted goat cheese, roasted red and yellow peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, kalamata olives, and capers. A Mediterranean pasta ready in 25 minutes.
Long life noodles with egg: blanched egg noodles topped with wilted spinach, a soft-poached egg, and a glossy soy-sesame chicken broth. Chinese New Year birthday tradition in a bowl.
Chinese lamb hot pot with a homemade lamb bone broth, shredded lamb, bean thread noodles, cloud ear fungus, bean sprouts, and Szechuan mustard greens. A communal fire pot meal.
Vegan no-egg egg salad: crumbled firm tofu tinted yellow with turmeric and dressed with soy mayo, vinegar, mustard, and hot sauce. Tastes like egg salad in a sandwich, no eggs required.
Chinese-style vegetarian broth made with dried shiitake mushrooms, Sichuan preserved vegetables, scallions, and both light and dark soy sauce. A rich, savory base for soups and stir-fries.
Hot and sour soup with shredded pork, chicken, tofu, cloud ears, and golden needles in a rice vinegar broth thickened with cornstarch and finished with egg ribbons.
Korean-style beef skewers marinated in soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, and scallions, coated in crushed toasted sesame seeds, and broiled or pan-fried. A bulgogi-inspired appetizer or main dish.
Crawfish potato boats stuffed with whipped potato, sharp cheddar, butter, and a pound of crawfish tails. Twice-baked potatoes with a Cajun seafood twist that freeze beautifully.
Orange and spinach pasta salad with bow-tie pasta, fresh orange segments, baby spinach, and scallions, tossed in an Italian dressing spiked with orange juice and fennel. Bright, fresh, and lunchbox-ready.
Easy kimchi for first-timers: salted napa cabbage fermented with green onion, garlic, ginger, and dried chile in a simple brine. No fish sauce, no special paste. Let it bubble on the counter, then chill the funky, sour, crunchy result.
Light fiesta shrimp dip blends chopped shrimp with reduced-fat cream cheese, picante sauce, horseradish, cumin, and green onions. Lighter than your average shrimp dip, full of southwest punch.
Grilled salmon with minted tomato salsa: pink fillets seared over fire and topped with a half-pureed warm salsa of tomato, mint, jalapeño, and green onion. A bright, garden-fresh dinner.
Chicken pot pie with broccoli and Parmesan in a creamy soup-mix sauce, topped with flaky egg-washed pastry baked golden. A cozy one-dish dinner from scratch.
Spicy shrimp and fish patties with ginger, cilantro, mint, and cayenne, coated in breadcrumbs and dipped in a chickpea flour batter before frying golden. South Asian-style seafood kebabs.
Light fiesta shrimp dip with reduced-fat cream cheese, picante sauce, horseradish, and cumin. A creamy, zesty cold dip with real chopped shrimp served with vegetable dippers.
Incredibly moist, aromatic and tasty. So easy to make, definitely a keeper!
Classic Cantonese siu mai with ground pork, dried mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and green onions, wrapped in open-top dumpling skins and steamed until juicy. Dim sum at home.
Simple homemade kimchi with napa cabbage, garlic, ginger, scallions, and red pepper flakes. Salt-brined overnight and packed into jars for quick fermentation.
Grilled sweet and sour halibut with a brown sugar-ginger glaze, charred bell peppers, and scallions. A light, flavorful fish dinner ready in 30 minutes.
Christmas vegetable salad mold: a savory gelatin holiday side built with chicken broth, yogurt, green peppers, radishes, dill, and scallions. Retro festive table presentation, diabetic-friendly.
Fresh no-cook salsa with Roma tomatoes, lime juice, green chiles, and scallions. A quick chunky salsa you can adjust to your heat level, ready in 15 minutes.
Individual Thai-style pizzas with peanut sauce, Monterey Jack, bean sprouts, shrimp, and green onion on Italian bread shells. A Thai-Italian fusion appetizer in 30 minutes.
Vegan brown rice and wheat berries cooked together in one pot with sauteed scallions. A chewy, nutty whole grain side dish with hearty texture from the wheat berries.
Crab and corn cakes pulse half the corn with garlic, mustard, and egg as a binder, then mix with whole corn kernels, lump crab, and scallions for pan-fried savory cakes. A summer-easy seafood appetizer.
Curried spinach salad with walnuts, fresh orange, golden raisins, and a cumin-curry vinaigrette. Includes a homemade ginger-raisin chutney. Vegetarian and vibrant.
Radishes in cream: a 10-minute peppery radish salad in a tangy sour cream, yogurt, and horseradish dressing. Served in crisp lettuce cups. A classic Eastern European spring side.
Stir-fried crabs with ginger and green onions in a classic Cantonese wok preparation. Fresh crab cooked fast over high heat with garlic, rice wine, and soy sauce.
Creamy artichoke and oyster soup with a white roux base, pureed artichoke hearts, green onions, and plump oysters added at the end. Rich, elegant, and quick.
Dry-fried shrimp with fresh ginger, garlic, scallions, and Chinese rice wine in a hot wok. A fast, saucy stir-fry that goes from raw to plate in under 5 minutes.
Chile rubbed shrimp pizza Vera Cruz style with fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, Monterey Jack, and a zesty Texas gremolata of lime zest, garlic, and cilantro. Bold Tex-Mex meets pizza night.
Chinese egg drop soup with shredded pork, dried mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and silky egg ribbons in a cornstarch-thickened stock. A hearty homemade version beyond basic takeout.
Serve this Thai twist on pizza as is or with optional toppings, such as thinly sliced basil, cilantro, chopped peanuts and/or crushed red pepper on the side.
Steamed open dumplings (siu mai) with ground pork, ham, ginger, and sesame oil in wonton wrappers. A classic dim sum favorite you can make at home with a simple steamer setup.
General Tso's chicken double-fried until shatter-crisp, then tossed in a glossy soy and rice wine sauce with dried chilies, ginger, and scallions. The takeout favorite, made better at home.
Light English pea soup blended with fresh spinach, lettuce, and green onions. A low-fat pureed soup with bright green color and clean garden flavor.
Smoked sausage kebabs grilled with green bell peppers, pineapple, peaches, and scallions, brushed with a tangy apricot-Dijon glaze. A sweet-and-savory backyard skewer ready in 30 minutes.
Sole fillets stuffed with Monterey Jack cheese and fresh tomato slices, dipped in garlic-basil butter, and baked with Parmesan. A cheesy baked fish dinner in 30 minutes.
Baked vegetarian walnut burgers with silken tofu, sunflower seeds, herb stuffing mix, scallions, and nutritional yeast. A hearty meatless patty that holds together on the bun and delivers plenty of savory flavor.