Lunch
2782 recipes found
Leek or Spinach Soufflé Pudding
When a soufflé is cooked slowly, as this one is, in a water bath, it often has the word ‘‘pudding’’ appended to it. I like the word, so I don’t mind the practice, but this soufflé is airy and closer to its Webster’s etymology — ‘‘a murmuring or blowing sound’’ — than the appendage suggests. It has less flour than a regular soufflé. It needs less scaffolding. This soufflé is equally good with either vegetable; it can be made hours ahead and will rise again upon reheating.
Gruyère and Chive Soufflé
This soufflé is as classic as they come, with beaten egg whites folded into a rich, cheese laden béchamel for flavor and stability. Gruyère is the traditional cheese used for soufflé, but a good aged Cheddar would also work nicely. This makes a great lunch or brunch dish. This recipe is part of The New Essentials of French Cooking, a guide to definitive dishes every modern cook should master.
Spring Chicken Miso Soup
Soup is welcome all year round, but it goes without saying a springtime soup veers lighter, even if the weather is still cool. Fresh green vegetables, like young leeks, peas and spinach, should play a major role. This delicate yet flavorful soup re-works the comforting chicken-noodle concept with a Japanese-inspired ingredient list.
Lemon Soufflé
This soufflé, adapted from Mark Bittman's famous tome, "How to Cook Everything," is rich, fluffy and very easy. You can also make orange or Grand Marnier variations. If you want to make individual soufflés, use a little more butter and grease four 1 1/2- to 2-cup ramekins.
Salt and Pepper Shrimp Rolls
Inspired by jiao yan xia, the classic Chinese dish of head-on, fried shrimp finished with a Sichuan or white pepper salt seasoning, these shrimp rolls celebrate the flavors of salt and pepper. Peeled shrimp are seasoned, breaded with cornstarch and fried until super crunchy, then sprinkled with a black pepper-salt. Once cooked, they’re tucked into toasted rolls smeared with a zingy garlic mayo. Fresh cilantro, sliced chile and a squeeze of fresh lime brighten the hearty sandwich. Store any leftover pepper-salt in an airtight container and use it as a seasoning for roasted meats and vegetables.
Brown Sugar-Cured Salmon
This grilled and smoked salmon recipe by the food writer Betty Fussell calls for curing the fish for several hours with salt, brown sugar and spices before smoking it over indirect heat on your grill. While the fatty fish absorbs the smoke beautifully, the fish can also be successfully cooked in a grill pan, or under the broiler. The salt and sugar cure, laced with sweet spices, both flavors the fish and firms up its flesh, giving it a meaty, silky texture. Serve it with a crisp salad for a light supper, or with rice for something more substantial.
Buttery Kimchi Shrimp
Kimchi, a classic Korean dish of fermented vegetables, creates a subtle, funky sauce for sweet shrimp when stirred into melted butter. Some kimchis can be spicier than others, so taste yours before deciding if you want to add heat with red-pepper flakes. A good squeeze of lime juice just before serving gives the whole dish a bright lift and really brings it together, so don’t even think about skipping it. Serve with sautéed bok choy or tatsoi on the side.
Connecticut-Style Shrimp Rolls
This speedy seafood dish tucks butter-poached shrimp into warm toasted buns, reminiscent of summer and decadent lobster rolls. The butter sauce is lightly infused with garlic, and a final shower of chives brings mild and fresh onion notes that brighten the rich sauce. Allow the shrimp to simmer in the skillet slowly for the most tender, juicy results. Although chives are a classic choice, dill, parsley, tarragon or basil are all great options.
Tunisian Shakshuka With Shrimp
The Arabic word shakshuka loosely translates to “all mixed up” in English, and rightly so, as the dish usually includes a colorful array of ingredients that are traditionally served in a cast-iron skillet. Made with eggs poached in a bright, peppery tomato sauce, it is a staple of Tunisian home cooking. Shrimp shakshuka is popular on the Mediterranean Coast, where shrimp are fresh and plentiful, but you could substitute merguez or skip the protein entirely for a vegetarian option. It is easy to make and can be eaten for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Shrimp, Cilantro and Tamarind Soup
Goan cuisine is known for its bold use of sourness, heat and spices. Seafood occupies an important position in Goan food, and, in this shrimp soup, tamarind is used to provide sourness while chiles provide heat. Here, the raw shrimp are cooked slowly over low heat, helping the stock to develop its rich savoriness. But the method also works spectacularly with frozen shrimp, and you can use shrimp with their tails left on, if you prefer. Whatever you do, be sure to avoid using those thick, syrupy tamarind concentrates. They lack tamarind's fruity flavor and carry a noticeable artificial aftertaste. Serve with toasted slices of lightly buttered bread to finish off any remaining liquid in the soup bowl.
Glass Noodles With Shrimp and Spicy Mustard Sauce
The secret pantry ingredient in this superfast, superflavorful noodle dish is Asian hot mustard powder. Mixed with equal parts water, the golden powder blooms into a pungent, spicy sauce. The noodles can be made a few hours ahead and served chilled or at room temperature. They will develop more flavor as they sit, though you should remove from the refrigerator 15 minutes before serving so that the noodles return to room temperature and soften. Jumbo shrimp cook in just a couple minutes, but precooked shrimp are also a convenient option. Eggs add a nice creamy texture that helps tame the hot mustard.
Zucchini Salad With Pecorino, Basil and Almonds
Many recipes call for shaving raw zucchini into long strands, which looks whimsical but often leads to soggy squash. Cutting zucchini into thicker batons helps the vegetable retain some bite. Douse the strips with a bright garlic-caper vinaigrette, tender herbs and tangy pecorino, and just before serving, toss in some chopped almonds for crunch. This zucchini salad makes a great starter or a side, but it can also be the foundation of a meal: Add it to cooked penne or pearl couscous for a quick pasta salad, or scatter it over a slice of grilled bread that’s been slathered with mascarpone or ricotta.
Crispy Coconut Shrimp and Shallots
Crispy coconut, caramelized shallots and tender shrimp are cloaked in a spicy-sweet orange chile sauce in this recipe, which is slightly reminiscent of coconut shrimp, the beloved beachside snack. However, the vibe here is more dinner main and perhaps even more laid-back because no battering and frying is needed. Instead, shrimp are simply sautéed in coconut oil to build coconut flavor, then bathed in sauce, before being crowned with the crunchy flakes of coconut and shallot. To soak up the sauce and round out this meal, steamed rice sits at the base, but wilted spinach or roasted green beans would be delightful.
Fried Zucchini
Fried food is probably not on anyone’s lists of healthy eats, but you have to start with this: Fat is good for you. There are differences among fats, of course, but with trans-fats in full retreat and lard and butter making comebacks, the whole fat-eating thing is starting to make some sense. Of course, the key word is moderation. You can eat fat as long as it’s high quality and you don’t eat it to the exclusion of plants. That’s one reason you shouldn’t reject deep-frying at home; I do it about once a month. The second reason is that you know you love it. The third is that it can be fast and easy. The fourth is that you can deep-fry plants. (And anything else.)
Lemony Pasta With Zucchini and Fresh Herbs
This simple pasta comes together quickly and makes use of what can sometimes be an overwhelming bumper crop of zucchini and other summer squash come August. Browning the squash in two batches is the only semi-fussy request, and it pays off by giving the squash an almost crunchy texture. Lemon and an abundance of fresh herbs provide brightness to this soon-to-be summer staple. Serve it with a tomato and onion salad dressed with plenty of grassy olive oil.
Cumin-Lime Shrimp With Ginger
These quick, flavorful shrimp are versatile enough to work their way into an assortment of weeknight dinners. Fold into soft tortillas and top with sliced avocado for shrimp tacos, or serve over steamed rice studded with tomatoes, chiles and fresh herbs. They also work well served on top of a red or green cabbage salad. If cumin’s not your thing, feel free to swap in another dried, warm spice, such as coriander or curry powder.
Lemony Zucchini Slaw
This salad of julienned zucchini is dressed in yogurt and tossed with a generous amount of lemon juice and zest. Use as many bright herbs as possible, or a single herb if you prefer, and chop them at the last minute.
Coconut-Stewed Bamboo Shoots With Shrimp (Ginataang Tambo)
Dressing seafood in coconut milk is a classic way of cooking it, writes Nicole Ponseca in her book, “I Am a Filipino.” Here, shrimp are quickly sautéed in a heady coconut milk sauce laced with onion, ginger and slivers of red chile. Slippery pieces of bamboo shoot (canned, or fresh if you can find it) add texture and a gentle earthiness.
Sopa Tlaxcalteca (Creamy Chicken Vegetable Soup)
Sopa Tlaxcalteca, from the central state of Tlaxcala, is a seasonal chicken soup simmered with ripe local produce like corn, carrots, mushrooms, squash and squash blossoms. What makes it special is the whole milk that is added to the simmering broth. It lends a very slight creaminess that accentuates the sweetness of the vegetables and amps up the richness of the chicken stock. There are many soups in Mexico, but this is easily one of the most comforting.
Smashed Zucchini With Chickpeas and Peanuts
The contrasting flavors and textures in this dish might make you wonder — in a good way — “What is going on here?” First, raw zucchini is treated like cucumber, smashed and left to intensify with salt and lime juice. Next, it’s showered with toasted chickpeas and peanuts, which are zingy from lime zest and citrusy spices like sumac or coriander. Offsetting the sweet crunch of zucchini and the fatty, crispy topping are thick rounds of jalapeño. Eat this quick mix with whole grains, tortillas or pita, yogurt, Cotija or another crumbly cheese, salad greens or soft-boiled eggs.
Summer Pasta With Zucchini, Ricotta and Basil
A summer pasta should be simple and fresh, ideally made with vegetables straight from the garden or market. Look for the best artisanal ricotta; top-quality ingredients make all the difference here.
Pasta With Zucchini, Feta and Fried Lemon
This is a less saucy, more pasta-salad-like pasta, which is to say it’s best served at room temperature after being carted to an outdoor location and eaten directly from the container. The zucchini mixture should be deeply flavorful and concentrated, rather than loose or watery. If you’re looking for something saucier, add more olive oil (not pasta water) as needed to coat each piece of pasta before serving.
Pasta With Seared Zucchini and Ricotta Salata
My favorite summer pasta toppings split the difference between salad and sauce. They should be chunky and filled with plenty of vegetables and herbs like a pasta salad, yet still be thoroughly seasoned and well integrated. Ideally, the pasta-to-vegetable ratio should be about equal; light, bright and fresh is what I’m after. This recipe is an example.
Maple-Glazed Butternut Squash and Sweet Potatoes
You can dress up this side as a whole meal by piling these sweet, warmly spiced vegetables into a grain bowl, putting them over quinoa, couscous or white rice, and adding a lean protein — or even another wintry vegetable like brussels sprouts. You could also throw an egg on top, finishing it with cracked black pepper. Just don’t be tempted to put everything on one sheet pan. Using two allows for more air flow, which creates those crispy edges, a contrast to the soft middles.