Recipes with salt and black pepper

Fried turtle meat simmered in a dark roux-based tomato sauce with mushrooms, shallots, bell pepper, lemon peel, and cayenne, served over hot rice. An authentic Louisiana Cajun dish that's as wild as the bayou itself.

Greek spanakopita with a savory spinach and feta filling layered between sheets of buttered phyllo for shatteringly crisp tops and bottoms. The classic Mediterranean pie cut into squares for sharing.

Oven-fried white fish with a crispy cornmeal-Parmesan crust and Cajun seasoning. Cod, sole, or flounder baked at high heat in just 10 minutes for a healthy, crunchy dinner.

Tex-Mex chicken casserole layered with corn tortillas, sauteed chicken, stewed tomatoes, green chilies, and Velveeta. King Ranch Chicken's lighter weeknight cousin.

Pan-braised veal chops smothered in a Boursin, Dijon mustard, and cream sauce with Swiss cheese, then broiled until bubbly and golden. A French-inspired dinner for two.

Herring salad with apples, dill pickles, and horseradish in a sour cream sauce. Matjes herring soaked in buttermilk overnight, then dressed for a classic Northern European appetizer.

Pan-seared chicken breasts glazed with a sweet-spicy sauce of peaches, chunky salsa, orange juice, and fresh cilantro. A fruity, zesty skillet dinner in 40 minutes.

Butternut squash, zucchini, corn, and tomatoes seasoned with coriander, ginger, and allspice, baked under a blanket of melted cheddar. A vibrant fall vegetable casserole.

Velvety Spanish-inspired almond soup simmered with chicken stock, celery, garlic, and mace, then puréed and finished with heavy cream. Topped with toasted almonds.

Red dragon pie is a vegetarian British-style shepherd's pie with adzuki beans and brown rice braised in tomato and herbs, blanketed with mashed potatoes and baked until the top browns. Hearty, meatless, freezer-friendly comfort food.

Crispy beer battered soft shell crabs soaked in milk, fried golden, and served with a punchy Asian dipping sauce of fish sauce, lime, honey, and chili. Restaurant-worthy seafood at home.

Texas-style chili loaded with cubed brisket and ground chuck, simmered low and slow in beer, beef stock, and toasted cumin. No beans, no tomato sauce, just bold, meaty heat that's worth every minute of the 4-hour cook.

One-pan chicken and rice bake with broccoli, mushrooms, green pepper, and cream of celery soup. A dump-and-bake casserole with 10 minutes of prep for easy weeknight dinners.

Traditional Portuguese salt cod and rice simmered with onions, tomatoes, and olive oil. A rustic northern Portugal classic with short-grain rice.

I think this is the best chicken I have ever tasted! Never try to use cardamom with chicken, goes very well!

French bread quiche casserole layered with Swiss and Monterey Jack cheese, eggs, white wine, and crumbled sausage. Assembled the night before and baked in the morning.