Recipes By Kay Chun
274 recipes found
Spring Minestrone With Kale and Pasta
This one-pot springtime minestrone combines asparagus, peas and kale with a healthy dose of fresh ginger. The ginger is optional, but it energizes the broth. This recipe is fairly flexible overall: You can swap green vegetables according to taste, use vegetable or chicken stock and toss in any type of short pasta. The pesto and Parmesan swirled in at the end provide brightness and richness, but you could also finish the soup with tapenade, sour cream, ricotta or even a splash of your favorite hot sauce.
One-Pan Chicken With Peperonata and Olives
Peperonata is a classic Italian side of tangy stewed peppers that is often served with meat, stirred into pasta or draped over crostini. There are many regional varieties (the traditional Sardinian recipe uses only yellow peppers, while the Venetians add eggplant), but this combination of roasted peppers, tomatoes, olive oil and vinegar creates a vibrant, versatile sauce. Olives add a hint of brine, but capers would also do the trick. In this version, boneless, skinless chicken breasts roast directly on top for a no-fuss, one-dish meal. (You could also use chicken thighs, but you’d need to increase the cook time.) Serve this dish with any short pasta, rice or toasted country bread — and any leftovers tucked into a sandwich or tossed into salad.
Sheet-Pan Chicken With Artichokes and Herbs
This weeknight sheet-pan dinner takes inspiration from porchetta, the classic Italian pork roast that’s scented with fennel and herbs. Here, a fragrant spice rub of ground fennel, garlic, rosemary and sage is placed onto chicken thighs, instantly elevating plain chicken with minimal effort. Canned artichokes are a versatile and time-saving pantry staple, commonly tossed into salads but here, they are fantastic roasted. The juicy chicken thighs create a bright pan sauce mixed with briny olives and lemon juice. Leftovers can be chopped and tossed with mayonnaise for a fantastic chicken salad the next day.
Sticky Coconut Chicken and Rice
This comforting one-pot chicken dish features fragrant coconut rice infused with aromatic ginger, garlic and scallion, and studded with toasty cashews. The cashews soften as the rice steams, adding subtle nuttiness to the dish. Chicken thighs absorb the coconut milk as they cook, which keeps the meat tender and juicy. Fresh chopped cilantro brightens the dish, while hot sauce adds nice heat and tang to balance the creamy, rich and slightly sweet rice.
Sheet-Pan Chicken With Squash and Dates
This weeknight sheet-pan dinner combines chicken with simple ingredients that hit a number of notes, all salty, sweet, tangy and rich. The juicy Medjool dates caramelize as they cook, while the chickpeas become extra toasty and nutty. Their textures complement the velvety roasted squash and meaty chicken. A lemony olive-caper relish with fresh parsley, bolstered by pan juices, brightens and balances. Chop up leftovers and repurpose them in a rice salad with crumbled feta or grated Parmesan for extra tang. Or, for a fantastic vegetarian side dish or warm salad, you could make this recipe without the chicken.
Sheet-Pan Chicken With Potatoes, Scallions and Capers
This one-pan chicken dinner requires only five ingredients, making it perfect for busy weeknights. Meaty chicken thighs roast on top of scallions and potatoes until the chicken is golden and juicy and the scallions are tender and sweet. Despite the short ingredient list, this dish delivers deep flavor and varying textures: The potatoes on the bottom soak up the tasty pan juices while the ones on top turn crispy. Any extra pan drippings get mixed with capers and lemon juice for a quick, tangy sauce. You could also use some of the sauce to dress a simple side salad.
One-Pot Braised Pork Ragù
This vegetable-heavy baked ragù is a great way to stretch one pound of meat into a hearty pasta sauce. There’s only about 15 minutes of active work; the oven does the rest. Pork shoulder (also known as picnic shoulder) is a relatively inexpensive cut of pork that takes well to braising, which yields super flavorful and tender meat. Cubing it into small pieces helps it soften faster, while a little heavy cream helps tenderize the meat as it cooks. The versatile ragù can be served over pasta or polenta, and leftovers easily turn into craveable sandwiches the next day. The recipe is easily doubled and freezes extremely well, if you’d like to cook once and eat twice.
Chicken and Vegetable Donabe
Donabe refers to the Japanese clay pot traditionally used to make this warming dish. Clay holds heat for a longer period of time than other materials. This one-pot comforting donabe is made in a Dutch oven, which still keeps heat well and can accommodate a party of four. Chicken, vegetables and broth are combined in the pot and simmered together; as it cooks, the soothing broth is reinforced with fragrant aromatics and the flavorful juices from the chicken and vegetables. A citrusy ponzu sauce adds a bright, fresh finish to the otherwise mellow dish. Yuzu kosho, a Japanese fermented condiment made with fresh chiles, yuzu peel and salt, adds a pop of heat to the donabe, but it can be left out for a milder dish.
Arroz con Pollo Verde
Peruvian arroz con pollo stands apart from other versions of chicken and rice across Latin America thanks to the addition of a bright green cilantro purée and aji amarillo, a fruity yellow hot pepper that’s similar in flavor to habaneros or scotch bonnets. Traditionally, the dish contains choclo, very large and chewy Peruvian corn kernels with earthy flavor. Cooked canned hominy makes a great substitute that offers a similar taste and texture. This one-pot homestyle dish is commonly served with salsa criolla, a tangy and spicy red onion relish, but a Louisiana-style hot sauce is a good alternative.
Kimchi Soondubu Jjigae
This classic Korean stew features silken tofu in a fiery kimchi broth. While kimchi jjigae traditionally starts with browning thinly sliced pork, this vegetarian version features mushrooms instead for a similarly meaty texture. Dried kelp deepens the broth’s flavor with subtle briny notes; reserved kelp can be chopped and tossed in soy sauce and sesame oil for a fun side dish or topping for rice. Be sure to use well-fermented kimchi for an intense broth that is spicy, tart and pungent all at once. Leftover stew makes a fantastic base for ramen noodle soup the next day.
Chicken Chili
This comforting weeknight chili recipe takes advantage of quick-cooking ground chicken, for speed, and ancho chile powder, which brings deep, smoky flavor. Caramelized tomato paste adds savory depth, plus a touch of acidity to brighten the rich sauce. Meaty kidney beans simmer alongside until they break down a little, thickening the stew. Enjoy the chili on its own, perhaps paired with crusty bread, or turn your meal into a more festive affair with a tasty toppings bar to customize as you like.
Hot Mustard and Honey Glazed Chicken
Asian hot mustard powder is a versatile pantry staple that can quickly transform into a spicy sauce, glaze or dressing. Here, the hot mustard is tamed with sweet honey and balanced by fragrant garlic for a savory glaze that caramelizes on chicken when roasted. Once cooked, the chicken receives a final basting for a fresh burst of spicy flavor. Make a double batch of the glaze, as it also tastes great on pork chops and grilled shrimp. Leftover chicken can quickly become a salad the next day; just chop and toss with spinach or romaine and a simple vinaigrette.
Honey-and-Soy-Glazed Chicken Thighs
In this simple weeknight recipe, chicken thighs are tossed with a sweet-salty glaze made of honey and soy sauce that caramelizes into a sticky coating as it roasts in the oven. Serve the sliced chicken with bibb lettuce cups for wrapping, or over steamed rice to catch all the juices. Leftovers can be chopped and combined with vegetables for a tasty clean-out-the-fridge fried rice.
Pernil-Style Roasted Chicken Thighs
Pernil is a Puerto Rican slow-cooked marinated pork shoulder dish in which the pork is roasted for hours until succulent and crispy-skinned. The flavors of pernil become accessible on a weeknight with the use of quicker-cooking chicken thighs. The chicken pieces are coated in a garlicky, oregano-and-citrus rub that combines orange and lime juice for a sweet-sour hit. Serve the juicy chicken with rice or tucked into corn tortillas; a simple green salad or cabbage slaw would also make a nice accompaniment to complete the meal.
Sheet-Pan Scallion Chicken With Bok Choy
This weeknight sheet-pan chicken dinner makes exciting use of refrigerator staples. A fun mash-up of mustard, miso, scallions, garlic and ginger creates a zesty coating for skinless chicken thighs. The flavors soak into the chicken as it roasts, and the thighs are left on the bone to keep the meat juicy. The chicken cooks atop a bed of fresh bok choy, which picks up the rich aromatics of the pan juices, but broccoli florets also work well here. Turn leftovers into chicken salad sandwiches for lunch the next day: Simply pick the meat off the bones, chop the bok choy and mix it with some olive oil, lemon juice and chopped celery or fresh herbs.
Shake and Bake Chicken Thighs With Parmesan Peas
Crushed shredded-wheat cereal perked up with spices creates a super-crunchy coating reminiscent of the "Shake 'n Bake" of countless childhoods. Here, it works so well on boneless, skinless chicken thighs that you won’t even miss the crispy skin. For a twist on the classic beloved side dish, buttered peas are showered with Parmesan cheese.
Tea-Soaked Drunken Chicken With Cilantro-Scallion Oil
Made from fermented glutinous brown rice, Shaoxing wine is what gives this dish its slightly sweet flavor and nutty fragrance. The dish relies heavily on the wine's aroma and flavor, so if you can’t find it, substitute with a good quality dry sherry (a Manzanilla variety will work well). Here, the chicken is poached instead of simmered, guaranteeing a moist bird that soaks in the flavor of its cooking liquid. But if it's a more intense flavor you're looking for, allow the chicken to chill in the poaching liquid overnight.
Pasta Amatriciana
Pasta amatriciana is a traditional Italian dish that features a sauce of guanciale (salt-cured pork jowl), tomato, pecorino romano and chiles. Some variations include onion and white wine. The final product tastes much more complex than the ingredient list would suggest: This simple pantry meal delivers deep flavors, as the bright, tangy tomato base balances the rich pork, and a mix of dried peppers adds layers of subtle heat. Guanciale can be found in Italian specialty shops or online, but pancetta is a good alternative. Bucatini is a thicker pasta with a hollow center that captures the thick sauce, but spaghetti delivers equally tasty results.
Chicken Miso Meatballs
Ground chicken breast meat is fairly lean, so milk is added to this recipe to keep them moist and tender. As the meatballs bake, the miso caramelizes into savory bites of sweet-salty umami. Crumbled Ritz crackers add richness and create a more juicy meatball (but plain, dry bread crumbs will also work). To make the Ritz crumbs, place the crackers in a resealable plastic bag and lightly crush them with the back of a wooden spoon or measuring cup. These also make a tasty hors d’oeuvre: Simply roll the mixture into smaller 1-inch balls. For a quick dipping sauce, combine 2 parts soy sauce to 1 part distilled white vinegar, and add sliced scallions, or red-pepper flakes, if you like heat.
Spiced Roast Chicken With Tangy Yogurt Sauce
This weeknight meal is inspired by the spiced chicken and rice that draws lines at halal street carts across Manhattan. Whether it’s lunchtime or late at night, the scent and Mediterranean flavors of grilled and chopped chicken served over turmeric-tinged yellow rice (or wrapped in pita) alongside shredded iceberg salad lures a crowd. Everything gets an imperative, generous drizzle of that signature creamy and tangy white sauce, made here with a blend of yogurt, mayonnaise and spices. Fresh garlic, cilantro and lemon juice are combined with a tasty mix of fragrant spices, then rubbed all over the chicken before it’s roasted until golden and crispy. The iceberg-and-tomato salad offers a cool, refreshing contrast to the spiced chicken.
Smoked Almond Pesto Spaghetti
Smoked almonds lend their signature salty, smoky flavor to this unique weeknight pesto pasta. The sauce is reinforced with smoked paprika for extra depth and brightened with a generous amount of fresh, herbaceous parsley. Peas are added to the pasta during the last couple minutes of cooking; broccoli florets would also work nicely. The versatile sauce can be doubled and stored in the fridge for about 5 days. It’s great on roasted chicken, fried eggs or even potato salad.
Shrimp Piccata Spaghetti
The zesty piccata sauce of fresh lemon juice, briny capers and rich butter is the inspiration behind this weeknight seafood pasta. Plump, meaty shrimp pair perfectly with the pantry-staple sauce, which is simple yet fresh and bright. The chopped shrimp are gently cooked over low heat in a shallot and garlic-infused olive oil to keep them tender. Peas are an easy way to add a vegetable with pops of sweetness. (Thawed frozen corn would also work well.) The dish is finished with fresh parsley, but other herbs like basil, chives or dill would yield equally delicious results.
Eggplant and Zucchini Pasta With Feta and Dill
This simple yet hearty weeknight pasta is packed with two whole pounds of vegetables. Meaty eggplant makes this vegetarian meal satisfying, while zucchini adds texture and a touch of natural sweetness. Since eggplant tends to absorb oil like a sponge, the key here is to sauté it slowly in a nonstick skillet until it softens and caramelizes without adding too much oil. The feta does double duty, adding bright tang to the dish and creating a creamy sauce. Fragrant dill is a natural pairing for eggplant and zucchini, but fresh parsley or basil would also be great.
Sausage and Peppers Pasta With Broccoli
The classic Italian combination of sausage and peppers creates a satisfying and easy weeknight meal when combined with pasta. Broccoli is a fantastic nutritious addition that adds texture and cooks up quickly, or you can opt for broccolini or broccoli rabe if you want a more assertive vegetable. Sweet Italian pork sausage is used here, but there's no need to feel tied to the recipe: Substitute with spicy Italian sausage for extra heat, use chicken-apple sausage for a healthier take, or swap in fresh chorizo or breakfast sausage to turn this dinner into brunch.