Weeknight
3491 recipes found
Creamy Vegan Tofu Noodles
There is no need to reserve this recipe exclusively for vegans: This noodle dish will win over any crowd, regardless of dietary dispositions. Here, tofu is blended with garlic, five-spice powder and water for a creamy yet weightless sauce that wraps around each noodle. The same technique can be used to create a lush dairy-free pasta sauce (just add nutritional yeast and fresh herbs) or a ranch-like dip (blitz silken tofu with garlic, onion powder and herbs). For this recipe, be sure to use firm tofu, as it has more body and makes for a heartier sauce. The creamy noodles provide the perfect backdrop for the spicy, punchy black vinegar sauce.
Coconut Red Curry With Tofu
This simple weeknight red curry relies on jarred or canned red curry paste for flavor, which you can find at larger supermarkets and specialty markets. Transfer leftover canned curry paste to a jar, top it with a little oil and store in the refrigerator for up to a month. Or freeze for longer storage. Feel free to substitute other vegetables for the mushrooms and snow peas, though you might have to increase the cooking time slightly if using something dense like carrot or cubed winter squash.
Brothy Thai Curry With Silken Tofu and Herbs
A jarred red curry paste is the central flavor of this wonderfully restorative and nourishing broth. Coconut milk lends a subtle creaminess, and the cherry tomatoes become bright little jammy bursts. You can use fresh tomatoes when in season, but canned tomatoes do just as well. Ladle the piping hot broth over seasoned tofu pieces and fresh herbs: The delicate silken tofu used here will absorb big flavors from the surrounding liquid.
Salt and Pepper Tofu
The joy of Chinese salt and pepper tofu is the contrasting crispy-on-the-outside, pillowy-on-the-inside textures. There is no need to press the tofu — a quick pat down with a kitchen towel is all that’s needed — as the moisture actually helps to keep the interior soft and tender. While potato or tapioca starch is often used for a light batter, nothing beats the accessibility and affordability of cornstarch to produce an enviable crunch. There are many versions of salt and pepper seasoning in Chinese cuisine — some contain Sichuan peppercorns or fennel seeds — but in this recipe, a spicy-sweet combination of white pepper, sugar, ground ginger and five-spice powder shines (See Tip).
Caramelized Brussels Sprouts Pasta With Toasted Chickpeas
This fast and satisfying vegetarian weeknight pasta packs in a whole pound of brussels sprouts. The mountain of shredded sprouts may seem like a lot, but like spinach, it will cook down. As the sprouts soften, they caramelize and naturally sweeten, losing any hints of bitterness. Chickpeas are toasted in olive oil until deep golden brown, crispy in spots and super toasty. They bring a nutty, earthy flavor to the dish, complementing the tangy capers and lemony sauce. Leftovers are tasty enjoyed cold like pasta salad, added to a frittata, or sautéed in olive oil until golden and topped with a fried egg.
Maash Ki Daal
Commonly made in Punjab on both sides of the Pakistan-India border, maash ki daal has a delightfully chewy texture. The liquid to lentils ratio, heat and timing in its preparation result in a dry, al dente daal. Kashmiri red chile powder adds a kick, and Thai green chiles add a fresh, bright and crunchy heat. Garam masala takes these layers of heat to the next level. Lemon juice, ginger and cilantro provide enough relief until the next bite. Although it’s served most commonly with roti, store-bought pita or even rice will do just fine.
Spicy Shrimp and Chickpea Salad
This warm salad of garlicky shrimp and herby chickpeas comes together in just 15 minutes and requires very little effort. Canned chickpeas, Fresno chiles, parsley and red onion get a quick marinade in a creamy citrus dressing while the shrimp cooks in a little garlic and olive oil. Fresno chile adds a little heat, but if you’re sensitive to spice, you can remove the membranes and seeds before adding the chile to the salad. Make the dish your own by adding arugula, or swap the parsley for cilantro or the shrimp for scallops. Serve warm with a hunk of crusty bread, and enjoy leftovers straight from the fridge the next day with a squeeze of lime or lemon juice.
Indian Butter Chickpeas
A vegetarian riff on Indian butter chicken, this fragrant stew is spiced with cinnamon, garam masala and fresh ginger, and is rich and creamy from the coconut milk. You could add cubed tofu here for a soft textural contrast, or cubed seitan for a chewy one. Or serve it as it is, over rice to catch every last drop of the glorious sauce. You won’t want to leave any behind.
Muffuletta Chopped Salad
This crisp, vibrant salad is inspired by muffuletta, a popular sandwich created in New Orleans and packed with cured meats, provolone cheese and a signature chunky olive relish. This salad’s pantry-driven vinaigrette comes together quickly, with briny olives, sweet roasted peppers, nutty provolone, cured deli meats and tangy pickled pepperoncini for mild heat. (To keep the salad vegetarian, simply omit the meat.) Fresh romaine lettuce and celery are combined with avocado and chickpeas to create both crunchy and creamy textures. This recipe makes a great side salad for pizza night, but it’s equally delicious served alongside rotisserie chicken or roasted salmon.
Vegan Mapo Tofu
Mapo tofu is a justly popular menu item in many Chinese restaurants. It is a quickly cooked dish of braised tofu with minced pork (sometimes beef) in a bracing spicy sauce made with fermented black beans and fermented broad bean paste, along with hot red pepper and Sichuan pepper. This meatless version with fresh shiitake mushrooms is completely satisfying, and surprisingly easy to make. For the best texture, use soft tofu rather than firm, taking care to cook it gently to keep it from crumbling.
Tomato-Marinated Greens and Beans Toast
This fresh, no-cook dish makes the most out of tomatoes by grating the flesh, which preserves all of the sweet juices and raw pulp. The natural acidity in the tomato juice, combined with capers and vinegar, create a piquant sauce that tenderizes and subdues sturdy greens. Earthy Swiss chard is used here, but other leafy greens like lacinato kale would work, as would spicy mustard greens. The lentils add a meaty bite, but red kidney beans or chickpeas would also work. Refrigerate leftovers and serve over eggs, tossed with warm pasta or as a sauce for roasted chicken or fish.
Tofu and Mushroom Jorim (Soy-Braised Tofu)
Korean jorim is a traditional braised dish typically made with beef that is stewed in a savory garlic- and ginger-spiked soy sauce until tender. This version highlights tofu’s ability to absorb the aromatic salty-sweet sauce like a sponge; earthy shiitake mushrooms add depth and a meaty texture that contrasts the tofu’s softness. The dish is as delicious cold as it is hot, so it’s a great make-ahead meal; simply cool and chill overnight in an airtight container.
Crisped Chickpeas in Spicy Brown Butter
This recipe for crisped chickpeas dressed in spicy brown butter is your new, 15-minute way to turn a simple can of chickpeas into a satisfying dinner. Chickpeas are fried in a little olive oil, then butter is added, which turns browns and nutty. Crushed fennel seeds and red-pepper flakes season the brown butter, but feel free play around: Add a sprig of thyme or rosemary, a few tablespoons of olives or capers, some grated garlic and ginger, or a drizzle of tahini or honey. You can also toast some nuts or seeds, like cashews or sesame, in the browning butter. Just before serving, add a little lemon juice or vinegar to offset the richness. Serve over yogurt, orzo or rice, or top with a fried egg.
Coconut Curry Chickpeas With Pumpkin and Lime
Canned pumpkin purée and coconut milk, heavily seasoned with curry spices and lots of fresh lime juice, make a sweet-sharp sauce for chickpeas. It’s a rich, creamy curry that you can eat on its own, or serve over rice or couscous. If you want to incorporate more vegetables, stir in some spinach, baby kale or sliced green beans during the last few minutes of cooking, letting them soften in the sauce.
Curried Red Lentil Soup With Toasted Coconut
Fresh ginger along with plenty of earthy spices like turmeric and coriander add complexity to this otherwise unassuming lentil soup. The dish is perfect for a weeknight as the legumes here cook fairly quickly. Pairing the lentils with bold, warming spices gives them a big boost of flavor in a short amount of time. To make the soup feel extra special, toast coconut flakes for a crunchy topping, and put out bowls of roughly chopped cilantro, thinly sliced scallions and lime wedges, so guests can top their soup as they please. If you’re feeling ambitious, a topping of fried shallots seasoned with flaky salt would also be nice.
Roasted Cabbage Caesar Salad With Chickpeas
This is not your usual Caesar salad. It forgoes the lettuce for wedges of roasted cabbage and replaces the croutons with roasted chickpeas. The Caesar dressing is a cheater’s version, using store-bought mayonnaise instead of fresh egg yolks; roasted garlic adds creamy richness, while briny capers and lemon evoke traditional Caesar flavors. A hot oven and a heated sheet pan are your friends here — start heating as soon as you think about cooking this dish — ensuring that everything cooks quickly and evenly. The cabbage caramelizes on the outside while the interior retains crisp-tenderness, and the chickpeas become warm and creamy with just a bit of crunch. (If you want them crispier, roast for 10 to 15 minutes more.) To make this dish vegan, use plant-based mayonnaise and omit the Parmesan.
Spicy Noodle Soup With Mushrooms and Herbs
Sautéed mushrooms lend extreme and surprising depth of flavor to this clean, spicy noodle soup, which also happens to be vegan. With the addition of soy sauce, the broth takes on an almost beefy flavor; the vinegar helps to perk it right back up for a nearly hot and sour flavor profile. For the best (and most interesting) results, try to seek out a mix of mushrooms for a variety of flavors and textures.
One-Pan Spicy Meatballs With Lentils and Fennel
In this one-pan meal, you get spicy meatballs, savory lentils and sweet fennel that are all perked up with vinegar and parsley. For the speediest meatballs, use uncased bulk Italian sausage, which comes fully seasoned. When cooked at high heat and partly submerged in the chicken stock, the meatballs brown on top and stay moist on the inside — and the lentils soak up the flavorful pork juices. The roasted fennel provides sweetness and echoes the fennel seed in the meatballs, but feel free to use another vegetable that cooks at the same rate, like thinly sliced carrots.
Squash and Chickpea Stew With Lemongrass
This comforting weeknight squash stew is inspired by Thai curries that combine rich coconut and fragrant lemongrass, but it’s quite mild and soothing rather than spicy. Deeply orange kabocha is used here, but butternut, delicata or acorn squash would all work well. The secret behind this quick yet flavorful dish is peanut butter; it adds nutty depth to balance the aromatic and bright lemongrass-infused broth. Chickpeas pair well with squash, but this customizable stew can accommodate any bean (like white, pinto or black beans); lightly mashing half of the tender squash and beans at the end thickens the sauce.
Crispy Chickpea Stew With Greens and Lemon
The hardest part about making this dish is not eating all the garlic-strewn crispy chickpeas right after you’ve made them. But try to resist — they will taste even better as a crunchy topping to this gorgeous, velvety stew laden with tender greens, salty feta and even more chickpeas. All the textures here make this dish, adapted from “Dinner in One: Exceptional & Easy One-Pan Meals” (Clarkson Potter, 2022), highly appealing, and very hard to stop eating. You’ve been warned.
Lentils Diavolo
Lentils, like beans, soak up whatever flavors they’re cooked in. Here, it’s a chile oil made with both dried and fresh chiles, so it’s devilishly spiced — not just spicy. Simmer the lentils in the potent oil and some tomato paste until they’re glossy and tender, rich and spicy as you’d expect from a diavolo-style sauce. (Add more water if you’re after more of a quasi-chili.) Eat the lentils with a spray of lemon juice, parsley and-or bread crumbs on toast, grains, pasta, a sweet potato, bitter greens or all on their own. The lentils will keep for up to 4 days in the fridge; reheat over low heat or in the microwave loosened with a little water.
Rice Noodles With Egg Drop Gravy
This recipe is reminiscent of wat tan hor, a Cantonese, Singaporean and Malaysian meat and fresh rice noodle dish that’s topped with a silky egg gravy. Wat tan means “smooth egg” in Cantonese, describing the velvety gravy that smothers the noodles. In this vegetarian riff, pantry-friendly dry rice noodles are used. The silky texture of the sauce is achieved by adding cornstarch slurry, a common technique in Chinese cooking, followed by beaten eggs, which cook the moment they hit the hot gravy and become long, irregular strands. For extra heartiness, add slices of pan-fried tofu or extra vegetables like broccoli or cauliflower.
Winter Squash and Rice Soup with Pancetta
Hearty, comforting, sweet and savory, this soup has a brothy rice base that’s great for any season. Inspired by the asparagus, rice and pancetta soup from San Francisco’s Zuni Café, where the late Judy Rodgers first put it on the menu in the springtime, this soup takes equal advantage of seasonal and pantry ingredients. This adaptation turns jasmine rice into a warming, brothy foundation for squash that’s been roasted until caramelized, and bits of salty pancetta. Winter's glut of squash makes this soup ideal for the cooler months of the year, but in the spring, try this with asparagus (and maybe some dill, too) like the original, or in the summer with chopped tomatoes and basil.
Smoky Roasted Chickpeas With Lemon-Garlic Mayonnaise
This recipe is inspired by the popular Spanish tapa patatas bravas, or papas bravas, crispy potatoes that are typically served with a paprika-stained sauce or a garlic aioli. Here, chickpeas crisped in the oven instead of the fryer are seasoned with smoked paprika and ground cayenne, then swaddled in a garlicky mayonnaise cut with lemon. Eat half a batch of these chickpeas for a great dinner, or eat them over lemon-dressed lettuces or parsley, steamed greens, pasta, toast or a fried egg. You can also roast another vegetable with the chickpeas, like cauliflower, broccoli, potatoes or carrots for a complete one-pan meal.