Chilled poached shrimp served with a bold, spicy peanut dipping sauce made with ginger, garlic, red pepper flakes, and soy sauce. Both the sauce and shrimp can be made days ahead for easy entertaining.
Homemade egg pasta layered with ricotta-spinach filling, fresh tomato-red wine sauce, mozzarella, and silky bechamel. A from-scratch vegetarian lasagna worth every minute.
Layers of tender leeks and firm tomatoes baked under golden bread crumbs and melted cheese with a splash of red wine vinegar. A rustic, customizable vegetable casserole ready in 45 minutes.
Wok-fried orange chicken with fresh orange peel, ginger, dried red peppers, soy sauce, and rice wine. A homemade version with real citrus flavor, not sugary sauce.
Spanish-style vegetable salad dressed in a smoky, nutty romesco sauce made from roasted tomatoes, garlic, and almonds. A showstopping side that feeds a crowd.
Peruvian-style beef skewers marinated overnight in jalapeño-spiked vinegar marinade and grilled over mesquite for smoky, spicy, tangy street food at home.
Make your own cajun style vinegar by using this simple recipe.
Crunchy, cool, and tossed in a zingy ginger-sesame dressing with orange zest, this glass noodle salad with snow peas, red cabbage, and enoki mushrooms is a no-cook showstopper ready in 30 minutes.
Grilled steak strips meet a tangy homemade Caesar dressing with Parmesan, blue cheese, and crunchy croutons. This steak Caesar salad is a quick 40-minute main dish that turns a classic side into a full meal.
Golden-browned whole chicken pieces simmered with okra, fresh tomatoes, cumin, and white wine until fall-off-the-bone tender. A soulful one-pot stew that tastes even better the next day.
Red pepper rouille is a Provencal-style emulsified sauce of roasted peppers, garlic, basil, and chili. The smoky, garlicky French aioli for grilled fish, bouillabaisse, and crusty bread.
A French-style chiffonade salad of finely shredded radicchio, Bibb, and iceberg lettuce with green pepper strips, tossed in a simple red wine vinaigrette. Crisp, colorful, no cooking required.
Grilled turkey burgers seasoned with chipotle, cumin, cilantro, and allspice, topped with tangy quick-pickled red onions on whole wheat buns. Lean, bold, and ready in 30 minutes.
Taco salad with a fresh cumin vinaigrette, toasted tortilla chips, cooked turkey, ripe avocado, and cheddar. Lighter than the diner version with a sharp dressing in place of creamy sauce.
No-cook tuna rice salad tossed in a tangy sweet-and-sour vinegar dressing with fresh tomatoes, red onion, celery, scallions, and green peas. Low-fat, filling, and ready in 20 minutes from pantry staples.
Seared sirloin steak braised with sliced apples, onions, honey, and red wine vinegar in a tomato-broth sauce. Serve over noodles, rice, or mashed potatoes for a hearty dinner.