Weeknight
3487 recipes found
One-Pot Paneer Pilaf
Meaty hunks of seared paneer let this pilaf hold its own as a satisfying vegetarian meal. Frozen cauliflower and peas keep the prep work to a minimum while frizzled onions, toasted tomato paste and aromatic garam masala add layers of flavor to this one-pot meal. To ensure distinct, fluffy grains, thoroughly rinse the rice and let it soak briefly while you prep other ingredients. For the best flavor and texture, look for an aged and parboiled basmati rice but regular basmati will work, too.
Creamy Lemon Zucchini Pasta
To transform an abundance of zucchini into a silky, irresistible mash, slice it thinly, pile it into a pot with a pool of butter and olive oil, and cook it slowly, concentrating its sweet and mild flavor. Tossed with chewy, nutty fregola and brightened with lemon, this spoon-friendly recipe becomes an elegant yet accessible dinner for toddlers and grownups alike, or a versatile side dish alongside any number of proteins. This dish makes great leftovers and reheats beautifully.
Grilled Steak With Tomato Tartare
This warm-weather dinner channels steak tartare's signature combination of rare meat and sharp accoutrements: The steak is charred on the outside and medium-rare within, then topped with a mixture of chopped tomatoes, shallots, capers and chives. But unlike classic tartare, the embellishments are left in larger pieces for bigger, bolder punches. The steak and tomato juices combine to form a bright and briny sauce that you can sop with grilled bread or drizzle over a tuft of arugula, watercress or Little Gem lettuces.
Slow Cooker Chickpea Stew With Lemon and Coconut
Soothing yet bright, this soup tastes like something that took careful attention, but really just requires throwing five ingredients into a slow cooker and letting it cook for hours. Dried chickpeas and cauliflower soften in the gentle heat, and the coconut milk thickens as the mixture cooks, seasoned with earthy turmeric and sweet lemon peel. While a little lemon juice balances the richness, the predominant lemon flavor here isn’t tangy but rather floral from the peels releasing their oils into the stew. Reminiscent of curries throughout South and Southeast Asia, it can be eaten over rice, or with sliced almonds or cilantro on top, but it can just as well stand alone.
Tajín Mango Cucumber Salad
Vibrant, refreshing, juicy and crisp, this salad is perfect for warmer days or any day when you need just a little pick-me-up. Coming together quickly, the combination of mango, cucumber and romaine is simply dressed with fresh lime and cilantro. Tajín, a popular Mexican seasoning made with chiles, lime and salt, adds a tangy and mildly spicy flavor, contrasting nicely with the sweetness of mango.
Corn and Parmesan Pasta
If there is a sign at the farmers’ market saying corn is on sale, I am coming home with at least six ears. While I always have the best intentions of turning my first haul into a salad, I love making a dent in my stockpile with this creamy pasta. Summer corn has a nice sweetness that plays with the saltiness of the Parmesan, but don’t worry, frozen corn will get you great results. The main thing is to make sure to blend your sauce as smoothly as possible, so the corn can thicken into the creamy yellow, slightly cheesy sauce it is meant to be.
Slow-Cooker Gochujang Chicken and Tomatoes
In this straightforward slow cooker recipe inspired by dakdori tang, you’ll be rewarded with a tomato-braised chicken that’s light enough for summer but hearty enough for winter. The balance comes from the interplay of cherry tomatoes and gochujang: The tomatoes burst into a tart, light broth that’s deepened with warming heat and fermented savoriness from the chile paste. Serve the chicken with plenty of the sauce and tomatoes over rice, rice cakes, udon or ramen noodles, roasted sweet potatoes or grits. Garnish with any combination of toasted sesame seeds, lime wedges, cilantro or thinly sliced scallions or serrano chiles.
Dijon Chicken With Tomatoes and Scallions
A one-pot dish that guards all the delicious flavors it creates as it cooks — the crispy browned bits of seared chicken, simmering soft scallions and burst tomatoes — and transforms them into a sauce with the addition of white wine and mustard. The tomatoes pop and deflate as they soften, adding their juices to the liquid, which helps gently braise the chicken. Tip in pickled jalapeños and a bit of brine to add punch. Serve this with crusty bread or spoon it onto rice or polenta. A green salad or steamed broccoli complete the meal.
Tuna Cacio e Pepe
It’s hard to resist a quick, five-ingredient recipe, especially when it yields such a comforting meal. While fish paired with cheese is often deemed unconventional, in the right context, the two can complement each other in a memorable way. Canned albacore tuna is sprinkled in this cheesy cacio e pepe pasta for added protein, making the final dish more filling and satisfying. When it comes to emulsifying the often-temperamental sauce, the recipe offers two tips to nail it every time: Boil the pasta in a smaller-than-usual amount of water to really concentrate the starch level, then blend the cheese with the starchy pasta water like chef Luciano Monosilio does, letting your blender do the emulsifying for you. The result is a luscious, silky pasta ready to be paired with a crisp, cold glass of white wine. Watch Carolina Gelen make this dish in this video.
Tomato Salad With Dates
A simple yet striking dish, this tomato salad manages to make peak-season tomatoes taste even more special. It’s all about bold contrasts: Sweet dates and caramelized cherry tomatoes meet the deep umami of fish sauce in a very quick skillet sauce, mingling to form a fragrant dressing that soaks into layers of thickly sliced fresh tomatoes, while fresh lime and basil bring balance and fragrance. The key is patience, as you’ve got to let the sauce cool before dressing the sliced tomatoes so their fresh texture isn’t disturbed, then wait a moment before eating so the flavors meld without losing their vibrancy.
Fresh Corn and Black Bean Salad With Corn Chips
This superquick corn and black bean salad is enlivened with crackly corn chips, in the spirit of salads like fattoush, panzanella and crispy noodle salad. When corn is at its peak, its subtly sweet raw kernels are plump and juicy, and the perfect addition to salads. Corn pairs beautifully with earthy black beans and this sprightly cumin-lime vinaigrette. The corn, black beans, cilantro and vinaigrette can mingle up to 4 hours ahead, so this make-ahead dish is perfect for a picnic, potluck, cookout, or simply dinner. For best results, toss in the corn chips and avocado just before serving.
Chickpea Spinach Salad With Curry Yogurt Dressing
Highly transportable and sunny, this no-cook salad is perfect for outdoor meals or potlucks — but it’s also evergreen enough to be a desk lunch any time of year. Stained and seasoned with curry powder, the chickpea salad’s bold flavor is brightened with fresh herbs, scallions and a splash of vinegar. Mashing a portion of the chickpeas offers a pleasant variance in texture and helps thicken the sauce; a little yogurt brings everything together. You can throw this salad together quickly for an impromptu meal, or even make it a whole day ahead, as it gets better with time. As it sits, the spinach softens and shrinks slightly; if you prefer a fresh, crunchy bite, then toss in the spinach at the last moment before serving.
Quick Caesar Potato Salad
Caesar dressing meets picnic potato salad in this speedy potluck side dish. The dressing comes together quickly — in the time it takes the water to boil — and with plenty of brightness from mustard and lemon juice, it’s the perfect partner to starchy, creamy potatoes. Anchovy is used sparingly here, and provides that distinct Caesar tang, but if you prefer, you can leave it out. While traditional Caesar dressing calls for an egg yolk, this recipe uses mayonnaise instead, to give the dressing body and to make this a picnic and potluck-friendly dish. Finally, like most potato salads, this one gets even better as it sits. For best results, make it a few hours before serving and let the flavors develop in the fridge.
Smashed Scallion Burgers
When you notice an abundance of fresh scallions in markets and stores, it’s time to make this springy makeover of the irresistible Oklahoma-style burger. Topping each patty with a copious pile of thin-sliced scallions then searing them in the skillet delivers a smoky, savory burger that feels like a treat any day of the week. The scallion prep might feel a little fussy, but splitting the scallions into segments then thinly slicing them lengthwise ensures they nestle perfectly into the meat. Initially, each scallion pile fills up the skillet, but each mound will significantly reduce in volume once the burger is smashed and flipped. The crispy charred allium bits poking out the sides bring a wonderful textural boost that contrasts with the juicy patties. Watch Carolina Gelen make this dish in this video.
Tomato Basil Chicken Breasts
This chicken takes a cue from piccata then heads in a decidedly summery direction: A quick pan sauce of butter, shallots, tomatoes, capers and a splash of red wine vinegar turns rich, juicy, and bright — just the thing to spoon over the top. A handful of fresh basil at the end wilts gently in the heat of the sauce. No lemon here, but the vibes are still tangy, savory, and buttery. There’s plenty of sauce, so pair with bread or rice to help soak it all up.
Tomato and Bulgur Salad With Herbs
This earthy but bright salad comes together very quickly in just one bowl, and makes a wonderful side to a barbecue spread or as a light lunch with some soft cheese or a spoonful of hummus. Be sure to use the best tomatoes you can find; any assortment of your favorites will do. The pomegranate molasses is well worth sourcing for this dish, but if you can’t find it, you can simply up the amount of vinegar and maple syrup for a similar tart and sweet flavor.
Bratwurst With Caramelized Onions and Chakalaka
In this recipe for pan-seared bratwurst with spiced caramelized onions, the real star of the show is the topping of chakalaka. A popular South African condiment often served with grilled meats or fish, chakalaka can be an easy way to have vegetables with every meal. Start with a hot skillet large enough to get a nice sear on the sausages and the onions, and with a quick assembly and ease, a clever meal awaits.
Mississippi Chicken
In this rendition of a slow-cooker classic, chicken thighs are transformed into a zesty, pull-apart tender dinner, with plenty of herby, buttery sauce. As the sibling to Mississippi pot roast, this dish has many of that beloved recipe’s staple ingredients, like pepperoncini and butter, but here, instead of packaged ranch seasoning and au jus powder, soy sauce and a blend of fresh herbs and seasonings are used. Mashed potatoes, rice and greens are great sides that will hold up well to the tangy gravy. Consider baking some cornbread or dinner rolls as well while it cooks.
Jammy Zucchini
You might associate zucchini with meh flavor, or with “zoodles” (which are decidedly not the same as pasta, though some folks may try to convince you otherwise). But when you cook it in a hot pan with olive oil and garlic, as in this method from my book “Big Vegan Flavor” (Avery Books, 2024), zucchini can be exquisite — meltingly tender, jammy and unctuous. Serve over Whipped Tofu Ricotta, garnish with mint and serve with toasted bread for dipping; or fold into a pasta or potato salad. (Watch Nisha make this recipe on YouTube.)
Whipped Tofu Ricotta
With the same luxe creaminess and savory notes of ricotta, my signature tofu ricotta from my book “Big Vegan Flavor” (Avery Books, 2024) works smashingly well in any recipe that calls for ricotta. For a slightly looser texture, use firm tofu. Use this ricotta to add big flavor to any and all stuffed pastas, like lasagna. It’s also great as a sandwich spread or spread onto pizza dough. Dollop leftovers onto grain bowls or salads for a creamy element. For an easy spicy variation, stir in a few teaspoons of Calabrian chile paste. (Watch Nisha make this recipe on YouTube.)
Feta-Ranch Wedge Salad
A towering wedge salad is fun to look at, but the height and shape make it impractical for a couple reasons: Toppings tumble right off and dressings can’t permeate it properly. This recipe fixes all that by calling for thinly sliced wedges that are stacked on their sides. The toppings stay put, and the dressing can work its way into all the little nooks and crannies. This salad looks impressive, it tastes delicious and it’s actually quite no-fuss: You can make the dressing days ahead of time, and swap in whatever herbs, spices, seasonings you have and crave. The only tricky aspect is emulsifying your feta. The key is time: Scrape the sides as needed and keep blending. With some coaxing, it always gets there.
Seven Layer Salad
As its name implies, this colorful retro salad is composed of seven distinct layers, including vegetables, hard-boiled eggs, bacon, shredded cheese and a creamy dressing. The salad is not tossed, but gets mixed upon serving, allowing for a beautiful presentation and a dish that works well when made in advance. This recipe includes the ingredients and layers typically seen in a seven layer salad, but feel free to swap in your own favorites, using some crunchy cucumber or bell pepper in place of the peas, or avocado in place of the hard-boiled eggs. You can also have fun with the layering, as long as you keep the lettuce and tomato far from the dressing so the salad stays fresh and crisp. The optional red onion is technically an extra layer, but its sharpness works really well with the richness of the dressing, bacon and cheese.
Heirloom Tomato Salad With Ricotta and Chile Oil
Come tomato season, there is no wrong way to make a tomato salad, but this one from my book “Big Vegan Flavor” (Avery Books, 2024) is exceptional. Dollops of creamy ricotta gently swaddle meaty wedges of heirloom tomatoes, while shallots and garlic add a piquant bite. Everything gets drizzled with a mild chile oil and finished with the tomato’s best friends: fresh basil, balsamic vinegar and flaky sea salt. It’s so simple (and fantastic), there’s no excuse to not make it once tomatoes roll into season. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that this salad served with grilled bread is one of life’s finest summer pleasures. Bonus: The human body can better absorb the lycopene in tomatoes when it’s paired with a healthy fat, such as olive oil. So enjoy the heck out of that chile oil. (Watch Nisha make this recipe on YouTube.)
Tomato, Olive and Feta Salad with Tinned Fish
Simple, no-cook dishes are ideal for hot summer days when you want something filling but not too heavy. Inspired by both a Greek salad and one typical throughout Spain, with tomatoes, tuna and onions, this salad hits all the marks: Tangy and creamy from a touch of feta, acidic and refreshing from the tomatoes, with a bite from the onions and added brine from the olives. The tinned fish you use, be it tuna, salmon, trout or sardines, can be swapped, depending on your pantry and preferences. Play with the olives, too: Ones soaking in a spicy brine add a kick, while lemon-garlic ones add brightness. Serve with bread or potato chips.