Main Course
8665 recipes found
Leek, Turnip and Rice Soup
This simple, fragrant soup is delicious as thick vegetable soup, not puréed. It becomes a different soup altogether when you purée it, and I like both versions equally.
Maple-Roasted Rack of Venison
At a cabane à sucre, or sugar shack, a rough-hewn cabin for making syrup in Quebec, the syrup harvest is accompanied by a feast. The hourlong parade usually includes split-pea soup, pancakes, bacon and ham, pork rinds, omelets, eggs poached in syrup, baked beans, bread and pan drippings, pickled carrots and beets, maple-syrup pie and taffy — all washed down with an optional beer. This recipe comes from a feast held at the painter Marc Séguin's farm in Hemmingford, Quebec.
Lentil and Tomato Stew
Even people who swear they don’t abide beans find pleasure in the distinctive, profound flavor of lentils. They cook quickly, so for stews and soups, 40 to 45 minutes will suffice. Lentils never need to be soaked and for those of you who are sensitive to beans, you will be happy to hear that they don’t contain sulfur, the gas-creating compound present in most beans.
Feta-and-Herb Phyllo Tart
Kathy Tsaples, the author of the cookbook “Sweet Greek Life: My Shared Table,” inspired this savory tart. The quality of phyllo dough varies hugely from one brand to another. It’s particularly important here to get a good-quality phyllo as there is so much of it. This is a sort of quiche with a twist, with the phyllo both acting as a casing and adding the extra crispness you get from blind baking. It’s a meal in itself, served with a simple salad. If you don’t have a tart pan handy, use a 9-inch cake pan.
Pastel de Choclo (Beef and Corn Casserole)
Pastel de choclo is found in many different forms throughout South America — cake made with corn, baked corn pudding or a layered casserole. This recipe is inspired by the Chilean version, a beef-and-corn casserole, which consists of pino, a flavorful beef mixture often studded with black olives, raisins and hard-boiled eggs, topped with corn pudding. It’s reminiscent of shepherd’s pie, but with rich corn pudding in place of mashed potatoes. In this interpretation, the pudding is slightly sweet and cheesy, the way my mom Silvia used to make it. It also swaps out black olives for meatier Castelvetrano olives, and frozen corn can be used when fresh is out of season. The pudding is mixed entirely in the blender and can be baked on its own as a rich, cheesy side dish in a well-greased cast-iron pan at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.
Spring Cleaning Ribollita
This weeknight ribollita highlights the bounty of spring and is a great way to use up all of those leftover vegetables and day-old bread. The soup is highly customizable, so use whatever you have on hand in the fridge and pantry: Kale or spinach can sub in for the Swiss chard; sweet corn can step in for peas; and white beans can take the place of butter beans. In this Italian classic, bread dissolves into the soup, thickening it for a heartier texture. Leftover soup can be turned into a pasta meal with the addition of orzo or any short pasta.
Keema Bhare Karelay (Bitter Melon Stuffed With Minced Chicken)
The intoxicating bitterness of karelay (also known as bitter melon or bitter gourd), is either loved or hated. This divisive vegetable needs a bit of coaxing to truly shine, and, in this recipe, marinating the peeled and cored melon in salt draws out the lion’s share of its bitterness. The result is a delicately pungent flavor perfectly suited to the vegetable’s texture. There are two varieties of bitter melon: This recipe, a common preparation in Pakistan and Northern India, calls for the South Asian type (often labeled “Indian”), which is a darker green and has more pronounced ridges and tapered tips than the Chinese variety. The melons are stuffed with a ground chicken filling that comes together quickly and can be prepared up to two days ahead. Though this dish is rewarding for those who already have a taste for bitter foods, its adaptability makes it the perfect gateway for cultivating one.
Leek and Mushroom Cottage Pie
Traditionally, shepherd’s pie is made with minced lamb and vegetables, and topped with mashed potatoes instead of pastry. If made with beef, it is called cottage pie. So it should follow that a vegetable version could be named gardener’s pie. Filled with a saucy, savory leek and mushroom stew, it’s a pie that will please vegetarians and carnivores alike.
Fresh and Wild Mushroom Stew
Craving wild mushrooms? My compromise is to make a stew using mostly cultivated mushrooms. But I give them a boost of wild flavor in a couple of ways. The first is to make an intense, flavorful broth with a handful of dried porcini. The other is to actually buy some wild mushrooms. A scant half-pound of chanterelles, even if pricey, won’t break the bank. The rest of the rustic stew (call it a ragout if you wish) is made of shiitake, cremini and oyster mushrooms. As it simmers, this saucy, herbaceous mushroom stew gains depth and character. Spooned over pasta or nestled up to a soft mound of polenta, it evokes the comfort of home and the primal in each bite.
Grilled or Pan-Fried Marinated Tofu
This is one of my favorite ways to eat tofu. Keep some marinating in the refrigerator, then grill or pan-fry at will.
Spanish Tortilla With Tomato-Pepper Salad
A Spanish potato tortilla is an egg dish unlike any other. It doesn't resemble the French omelet, which is loose and wobbly. Nor is quite like an Italian frittata, which is puffy and custardy. Instead, a tortilla is a solid cake with just enough egg to bind the soft, sliced potatoes. The first step to making it is to gently cook sliced potatoes and onions in plenty of olive oil. And plenty means at least a cup, or maybe two. It sounds like a lot but most of it stays in the pan (and you can reuse it). Other than adding great flavor, the oil turns the potatoes velvety and luscious. Just make sure the heat is low enough so the potatoes and onions cook but don’t brown very much, though a few darkened spots are okay. In Spain, a tortilla is a tapas staple nibbled with drinks. But it’s also delightful for brunch, dinner or lunch, served either warm or at room temperature.
Savory Bread Pudding With Artichokes, Cheddar and Scallions
Tangy marinated artichokes star in this cheesy, golden-topped casserole, which is layered with scallions, Cheddar and baguette cubes that get crisp at the edges. Look for the best-quality marinated artichoke hearts, then taste them before using. If they seem very acidic, give them a rinse and pat them dry before proceeding.
Grilled Pizza With Grilled Red Onions and Feta
I use a perforated grill pan to cook sliced onions and other vegetables on the grill. They’ll have a nice charred flavor and be just soft enough if you cook them before you put them on the pizza.
Buttery Moong Dal With Garlic and Cumin
This a basic mung bean dal, meant to be a simple everyday Indian meal with rice and chapati, or a side dish as part of a larger meal. The wonderful buttery flavor is obtained from the technique called tarka, which means spices sizzled in ghee, added to the pot at the end of the cooking process. Whirl the dal in a blender for a velvet-smooth texture. You could serve it as is, with the texture of a thick vegetable purée, or thin it with a little water and serve it as a soup. Other legumes such as red lentils or yellow split peas may be used instead.
Grilled Pizza With Grilled Eggplant and Cherry Tomatoes
The grilled eggplant slices are equally good on their own, or use them instead of crusts for “eggplant pizzas” (see variation below). The slices have to be thick, so that you get a creamy interior with a charred exterior. If they’re too thin, they’ll just burn.
Lentil Soup With Cilantro (Lots of It)
This easy lentil soup is seasoned with cumin and an entire bunch of chopped cilantro, stirred in just before serving.
Skillet Spanakopita
Buttery, bright and herbaceous, this recipe is a faster take on the Greek spinach and feta pie and far less effort than forming individual triangular spanakopita pastries. A combination of stovetop cooking and oven baking ensures that the filling stays moist while the crust gets crisp. First, the spinach is cooked down in a mixture of butter, garlic and leeks until it wilts enough to release any moisture. Then, the filling is prepared, and the spanakopita assembled in the skillet. Give the phyllo a head start on the stovetop, then transfer to the oven so the spinach filling cooks through at the same time the phyllo becomes flaky. The timing may be precise for the cooking, but you can eat it whenever you want: This spanakopita is just as good at room temperature as it is warm.
Locro de Gallina (Chicken Soup With Squash, Green Plantains and Yuca)
Derived from a Quechua term for a hearty soup-stew hybrid, locro originated in the Andes mountain range but today encompasses a glut of South American soups that vary from country to country, and household to household. Originally made with varying combinations of squash, corn, beans and potatoes, locro has transformed regionally, with some even including ingredients like poached eggs and thinly shaved brisket. Inspired by versions found in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, this recipe starts with chicken broth seasoned with turmeric, paprika and annatto seeds, and uses squash, plantains and yuca, but feel free to use whatever vegetables you have in your fridge. Make sure to keep the pieces large so they don’t disintegrate into the soup as it simmers; cutting them with your spoon as you eat is part of the experience.
Suvir Saran’s Mushroom and Farro Burger
When I was introduced to these burgers, a creation of the chef Suvir Saran, I was struck by the brilliant idea of using sweet potatoes as a binder. I’ve struggled to find ways to hold my burgers together, and this solution was perfect. Try to find light-fleshed sweet potatoes; they are drier, and a little less sweet than orange yams. I also love all the textures in these hearty patties. I have made some changes to Suvir’s recipe, roasting the potatoes rather than boiling them, and I use less oil.
Sweet Potato, Quinoa, Spinach and Red Lentil Burger
You can use blond or black quinoa for these delicate burgers. Black will look striking against the sweet potato’s orange when you cut into the burgers. The red lentils pale to yellow when you cook them; they contribute texture and flavor. The burgers have a decidedly Mediterranean flavor, with feta and mint included in the mix. But I still like to serve them with raita or chutney; a more Mediterranean condiment would be yogurt seasoned with puréed garlic and mint.
Roasted Mushroom and Butternut Squash Tart
This is a substantial tart with a crunchy, whole-grain dough. Don’t be put off by the yeast in the dough. It makes it both airy and crisp, and isn’t at all hard to handle. You don’t even need a mixer; this dough comes together quickly and easily by hand. For the most complex flavors, use a variety of different types of mushrooms, though just one kind is fine if that's what you have. Oysters, maitake, shiitake, black trumpet and chanterelles are best, but even cremini mushrooms work nicely. Serve this warm or at room temperature, preferably within 6 hours of baking for the crispiest crust, though it will hold up for a day or two if you store it in the refrigerator and reheat it in a 300 degree oven before serving.
Lasagna With Spicy Roasted Cauliflower
Now that I’ve discovered how delicious roasted cauliflower is and how easy it is to do it, that’s the only way I want to cook it. It might be difficult to abstain from eating the cauliflower before you’ve gotten it into your lasagna.
Grilled Eggplant and Tomatoes With Chermoula
Chermoula, the pungent Moroccan herb sauce that is traditionally used as a marinade for fish, is also great with grilled vegetables, like the last of the summer’s eggplant and tomatoes. You can use an outdoor or an indoor grill for these.
Baked Ziti
This baked ziti is layered almost like a lasagna to ensure every bite has enough creamy ricotta, stringy mozzarella and tangy tomato sauce. But the key to its success comes from undercooking the pasta during the initial boil so it stays perfectly al dente, even after a trip to the oven. Heavy cream is added to prevent the ricotta from becoming grainy or dry during baking, letting it be its most luscious self. While this baked ziti is meatless (there’s plenty of richness from the cheese — three types, to be exact), you could always incorporate a bit of sausage, ground meat or pancetta, if you like. Simply add 1/2 pound to the onions while sautéeing and proceed with the recipe.