Main Dishes

Strozzapreti with Fish Stew

Strozzapreti is a hand-rolled pasta that is like a longer cavatelli, so look for that as a substitute, if needed. Makes 4 to 6 servings Ingredients Fish Stew 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1 garlic clove, smashed 1 medium sweet white onion, chopped 1/2 cup dry white wine One 6-oz […]

Main Dishes, Sandwiches

Sweet and Spicy Ricotta Toast with Figs

Makes 4 servings If you like sweet but not spicy, skip the chili oil step. If you can’t get your hands on fresh figs, you can use fig jam, sliced berries, or peaches. For a vegetarian version, try adding salted nut butter or grilled eggplant. Ingredients 1/2 cup olive oil, […]

Main Dishes

Sweet Potato and Black Bean Tacos with Avocado-Pineapple Cream

Makes 4 servings These are a super-simple vegan dinner that is both flavorful and super filling. We used black beans and sweet potato to fill our corn tortillas, but you can substitute butternut squash and chickpeas, if that’s what you have on hand. You can make the pineapple-avocado cream a […]

Chef's Notes Plus, Family Fun

Taco Night

What comes to mind when you think about a taco? Is it a crunchy tortilla shell filled with ground beef and lettuce? Is it a flour tortilla wrapped around shredded chicken? Or maybe you live in southern California, and a taco means grilled, freshly-caught fish in a corn tortilla. That’s […]

Main Dishes

Tandoori Chicken

Makes 6 to 8 portions We use two whole chickens for this recipe, but you can use any mix you like, such as all thighs, legs and wings, or breasts. Bone-in cuts will help keep the chicken tender through roasting. Ingredients 2 whole chickens (about 3 lb each), broken down […]

Main Dishes

Turkey and Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie

Makes 6 servings The familiar flavors of the Thanksgiving holiday come together in this shepherd’s pie. The individual ingredients freeze well and reheat easily for some quick comfort food all year round. This goes well with a green salad and steamed vegetables on the side. Ingredients 2 medium or 1 […]

Chef's Notes Plus

Using Dried Pasta

A box of pasta in the pantry means you always have something to cook. Be sure to seek out high-quality pasta and remember to cook it properly. It should be al dente (meaning that it has a pleasant “chew” but not undercooked). There aren’t very many tricks to cooking pasta, […]

Main Dishes

Vegetable Lasagna with Fresh Tomato Sauce

Makes 6 to 8 servings Ingredients Roasted Vegetables 1 large eggplant (about 2 lb) 4 medium zucchini (about 1 1/2 lb) 2 large ripe yellow tomatoes Kosher salt, as needed 3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced Leaves from 6 thyme sprigs 3 red bell peppers Extra-virgin olive oil, as needed Extra-virgin […]

Appetizers, Hors D’oeuvre, and Snacks

Vietnamese-Style Fried Spring Rolls

Makes 20 pieces Spring roll wrappers usually can be found in the produce section. We opted to panfry these spring rolls, rather than deep fry them. Be sure the oil is heated properly. Ingredients 2 tablespoons peanut oil 2 teaspoons minced ginger 1/4 cup thinly sliced scallions, white portion only […]

Main Dishes

Vinegar Chicken

Makes 6 servings Braising chicken in vinegar is a very popular cooking method in the Mediterranean. You will find numerous variations in different countries and regions, but this particular recipe is a version of the French poulet sauté au vinaigre, or vinegar chicken. The method calls for marinating the chicken […]