Mititei are traditional Romanian skinless beef sausages seasoned with garlic, rosemary, cloves, and baking soda for a tender bite. Grilled until crisp and brown on the outside.
Spiced garbanzo stew with chickpeas simmered in vegetable stock with fresh ginger, garlic, coriander, cumin, and tomato. A vegan low-fat one-pot dinner finished with lime and parsley.
Creamy potato cheese soup brightened with a generous full cup of fresh dill and finished with sharp cheddar. A warming bowl with golden carrots, soft potatoes, and a pop of fresh herb.
These plant-based sausages taste great, contain no added fat except the vegetable oil they're fried in, and are easy to make. These ingredients yield fairly mild sausages; after you've tried them, adjust the seasonings to please your palate.
Wild and brown rice pilaf with a full pound of fresh mushrooms, thyme, parsley, and optional pecans, simmered in chicken broth. A nutty, earthy side dish for holiday tables.
Spaghetti with lots of garlic and olive oil is the Italian aglio e olio classic: linguine cooked in garlic-steeped water, then finished with parsley and grated Parmesan. Pantry pasta perfection.
Pasta cooked in vegetable broth instead of water for built-in flavor, tossed with diced kalamata olives, fresh parsley, and olive oil. A fast, vegan-friendly weeknight dinner.
Sherried barley soup is a hearty mushroom and pearl barley soup deepened with a browned roux, a splash of sherry and Worcestershire. Earthy, savory and thick, the kind of cozy bowl that warms you through.
Chicken in corn cream sauce layered in a baking dish with Parmesan, nutmeg, and heavy cream, then broiled golden. A from-scratch roux-based casserole with broth-poached chicken.
Herbed zucchini-pea soup blends tender zucchini and shelled green peas with parsley, oregano, chervil, a touch of horseradish, and half-and-half. A chilled summer soup with a sneaky sharp finish.
Three bean pasta salad with kidney beans, chickpeas, and green beans tossed in a tangy Dijon mustard and red wine vinegar dressing. A hearty no-cook side dish packed with protein.
Mexican style pizza trades marinara for a chili-spiked bean sauce, piled on homemade yeast crust with mozzarella and cheddar. Half pizza, half nachos, all flavor.
Shrimp scampi sauteed in butter with garlic, lemon juice, and a hit of Tabasco. Five minutes from pan to plate over angel hair pasta or rice. The classic Italian-American restaurant dish made faster than takeout.
Fish fillets baked in foil packets with sliced onions, herb-rolled potato sticks, lemon juice, and paprika. A complete dinner for two with easy cleanup.
Lasagne rolls stuff cooked lasagna noodles with a three-cheese ricotta filling, then bake them under tomato sauce and Parmesan. A portion-friendly twist on classic lasagna.
Skordalia, the bold Greek garlic and potato dip whipped smooth with lemon and olive oil. This punchy, no-bread version is naturally vegan and gluten-free, served cold with fried fish or vegetables.
Salmon-rice pie made with canned salmon, eggs, celery, and lemon juice baked in a deep dish and served with a creamy pimiento olive sauce with mustard.
Baked chicken legs glazed with raspberry jam, balsamic vinegar, and red pepper flakes for a sticky sweet-heat finish that caramelizes beautifully in the oven.
Mediterranean-style minted potato salad with olive oil, lemon juice, scallions, and parsley. No mayo, served chilled with warm pita bread on the side.
Pasta with deeply caramelized onions deglazed with white wine, tossed with fresh parsley and Parmesan. A simple, budget-friendly vegetarian pasta where slow-cooked onions are the star.
Insalata tricolore with fire-roasted red and yellow bell peppers and raw fennel strips dressed in extra-virgin olive oil and parsley. A vibrant Italian salad with smoky, sweet, and anise flavors.
Mushroom vegetable barley soup with a full pound of fresh mushrooms, carrots, celery, and pearl barley simmered in chicken broth with thyme and nutmeg.
Perfect salsa to go with meats, sides, etc. Make it your own! A plus is they are all natural ingredients and have veggies!
Quick marinara pasta baked with melted mozzarella on top. Canned tomatoes simmered with basil, oregano, and garlic over tricolor pasta, then broiled until bubbly and golden.
Smoky mushroom tart with sauteed shiitake and button mushrooms layered over smoked mozzarella in a blind-baked butter pastry shell, topped with Asiago and walnuts.
Tomato-zucchini casserole layered with chili powder seasoning and topped with crispy breadcrumbs. A light vegetarian side dish that puts summer produce to work.
Italian tuna cheese (caciotta al tonno) topped with fresh anchovies marinated scapece-style in lemon, olive oil, and red pepper flakes. Bold antipasto for serious seafood lovers.
Shortcut beef pot pie with canned beef stew and store-bought pie crust, topped with Parmesan and parsley. A 45-minute weeknight comfort dinner.
If you love corn chowder, then you will love this easy recipe that will instantly become one of your favorites!
Carciofi alla Giudia are Roman Jewish-style fried artichokes baked in olive oil until crisp and golden. Finished with black pepper and fresh parsley.
Middle Eastern sesame soup made with tahini, lemon juice, and stock in just 5 ingredients. A creamy, nutty, tangy vegetarian soup that comes together in minutes. Serve with crusty bread.
Minced lamb fondue rolls seasoned ground lamb with scallions and breadcrumbs into walnut-sized balls that get speared and deep-fried at the table. Served with a creamy sherry-mushroom sauce for dipping.
Saffron potato and almond casserole, a rustic Spanish-style side with golden threads, toasted almonds, and a garlic-bread crumb that thickens into a silky sauce as it bakes.
Butter-baked salmon steaks served on a generous bed of fresh herbs: parsley, chives, mint, lemon thyme, and tarragon. Simple, elegant, and endlessly customizable.
Roasted tomato and rice salad chars tomatoes over an open flame, then tosses with warm rice, olive oil, white wine vinegar, lemon juice, and parsley. Smoky Mediterranean side dish.
Make-ahead baguette sandwiches stuffed with sun-dried tomatoes, black olives, capers, anchovies, and watercress. Mediterranean flavors wrapped tight for picnics, road trips, and packed lunches.
Couscous with red peppers, onion, garlic, and cumin finished with lemon juice, olive oil, and fresh parsley. A quick side dish ready in 30 minutes.
Mushroom spaghetti in a garlic-butter sauce loosened with a splash of dry red wine, tossed with thin spaghetti and a shower of Parmesan. A simple meatless pasta that comes together fast.
Charcoal-grilled brook trout marinated in a spicy lemon-butter baste with Tabasco, ginger, sesame seeds, and parsley. Five minutes per side over hot coals for flaky, smoky fish.
Traditional Mexican tortilla soup with fried tortilla strips simmered in a garlicky tomato broth with chili powder, topped with grated cheese. Simple, warming, and ready in 45 minutes.
Chicken breasts braised in a sweet and savory honey tomato sauce with white wine, black olives, thyme, and tarragon. A one-skillet dinner with Mediterranean flavors.
Slow cooker whole chicken with lemon juice, thyme, paprika, and parsley. Rub with butter, set it, and forget it for tender, fall-off-the-bone results in 8 hours.
Salmon rollups wrapped in flaky crescent dough with dill and parsley. Canned salmon makes these a quick appetizer or snack, baked golden and served with warm cheese sauce.
Baked crab cakes with lump crab, nonfat yogurt, fat-free mayo, Worcestershire, and dry mustard coated in bread crumbs. A lighter, oven-baked version with big chunks of crab.
Red clam sauce with canned clams, tomato paste, lemon juice, rosemary, and thyme simmered for 15 minutes. A quick Italian-American pasta sauce served over linguine with parmesan.
Toasted crab rolls with a mayo-bound crab salad, melted cheese, and crispy bacon on split dinner rolls. A quick open-faced seafood sandwich baked until bubbly.
Pilav kuzulu: Turkish lamb and rice pilaf with tomatoes, pine nuts, raisins, and cinnamon. A one-pot Ottoman-inspired dinner finished in the oven for fluffy grains and tender lamb.
Vegetarian stuffed winter squash filled with brown rice, carrots, peas, celery, and hazelnuts, then baked in a homemade tomato sauce. Serve hot or cold as a hearty plant-based main dish.