655 water recipes

Homemade sweet gherkins the old-fashioned way: a 4-day process of soaking, brining, and building layers of spiced vinegar-sugar syrup. Turmeric, cinnamon, and celery seed. Water bath canned for the pantry.

Old-fashioned sweet chunk pickles brined for two weeks, then packed in a warm cinnamon-clove syrup and water bath canned. Crunchy, spiced, and worth every day of the wait. Makes 3 pints.

Tasted awesome and the house smelled so good while it was baking. I also added a ton of garlic and sliced onion to my brine. I just used all water and threw in several chicken bullion cubes to make up the broth part of the recipe. Soooo good and moist!

Homemade pizza dough from just flour, yeast, salt, and water, kneaded soft and stretched into thin 12-inch rounds. The trick to a crisp base is a screaming-hot oven and a preheated tray.

Freezer pickles made with sliced cucumbers, onions, sugar, vinegar, and celery seed. No canning, no water bath, no special equipment. Just salt, slice, and freeze for bread-and-butter flavor any time of year.

Broccoli with roasted red peppers tossed in a quick water saute with sliced garlic and fresh marjoram. A bright, oil-free Mediterranean side that doubles as a warm salad with a squeeze of lemon.

Par-cooked balti meat is a Birmingham-curry-house technique: meat simmered with masala paste then frozen for fast curry assembly. A make-ahead British-Indian meal prep base.

Maple taffy apples coated in a boiled maple syrup and brown sugar candy shell that snaps when you bite through. An ice water dip sets the coating smooth and glossy. Real maple flavor, not just caramel.

Whole-wheat couscous pilaf with chicken broth, hot sauce and fresh parsley. Healthy 10-minute side dish with a touch of heat.

Imam bayildi, Turkish stuffed eggplant braised in olive oil with a tomato, onion, currant, and allspice filling. Served cold after chilling overnight.

Easy chocolate angel food cake combines boxed angel food mix with cocoa powder and water for a fat-free, low-calorie loaf with a tender, cloud-like crumb. Three ingredients and one bowl, no whipping required.

Cooking grains the foolproof way: two parts water to one part grain, rinse first, simmer covered, never stir. Works for quinoa, rice, millet, and farro. The basic ratio every home cook should know by heart.

Preserved blueberries in orange liqueur syrup with fresh lavender flowers, canned in a boiling water bath. Spoon over vanilla ice cream, fold into yogurt, or gift a jar to someone who deserves something truly special.

Whole wheat soft pretzels, a chewy, golden twist made with just whole wheat flour, yeast, and water, brushed with egg and sprinkled with sea salt. A high-fiber, homemade take on the snack-stand classic.

Crispy deep-fried tofu triangles stuffed with curried tofu, mushrooms, and ginger in wonton wrappers. A fusion appetizer that's part samosa, part wonton, and totally addictive. Makes 30.

Warm barley salad with zucchini, fresh tomatoes, cilantro, and lime juice. A light, high-fiber grain salad that's vegan and ready in 30 minutes.