At Sap Sua in Denver, one of our Best New Restaurants of 2024, chef and co-owner Ni Nguyen wanted to include a version of his favorite Vietnamese meal, cá kho (fish braised in a clay pot), to the menu. Needing a precise approach so the dish could be recreated nightly by the restaurant’s cooks, Nguyen … Read more
Inspired by his mother’s favorite dish of tofu with scallion sauce, chef Ni Nguyen of Sap Sua, one of our Best New Restaurants of 2024, augments the original with extra aromatics like mint, cilantro, and chiles. The dashi powder adds a savory depth to the scallion sauce. Make a double batch of the sauce; it … Read more
Beets get the full luxe treatment here. First, they’re roasted, then torn into chunks and cooked in a sticky maple-Dijon-balsamic glaze until lightly charred. The craggy crevices of the torn beets allow them to absorb all the flavors of the tangy glaze, which mellows some of their natural sweet earthiness. The char brings a subtle … Read more
One hot summer evening, my friend Jason and I decided to stay in the AC and watch Werner Herzog’s documentary about the internet. I had gone to the Japanese grocery store earlier that day and had bought ume shiso salt (a salty, tangy, sour-tart MSG sprinkle made from shiso and plum), and he brought over … Read more
Step 1 Cut the ends of 1 small, ripe cantaloupe so it has two flat surfaces. While it’s on one of its flat surfaces, cut the rind off the melon, trying to lose as little flesh as possible. Cut the melon in half, scoop out the seeds. Cut in half again, and thinly slice. Step … Read more
Lemon and tomatoes? They’re actually a match made in heaven—particularly when the lemons are of the salty, funky, a little bit floral preserved variety. Finely chopped, they add their savory notes to a simple tomato sauce that you can cook your chicken breasts in directly. The result is a foolproof, weeknight-friendly recipe you’ll make all … Read more
Cocoa powder and Old Bay seasoning combine to create a spice mix that turns nearly black when cooked yet tastes complex and anything but burnt. If using Creole seasoning instead of Old Bay, look for a blend like Tony Chachere’s or Zatarain’s that contains salt. But if yours doesn’t, add ½ tsp. Diamond Crystal or … Read more
“My partner, Cherry, and I agree that broccoli is best when kept really simple,” says Silver Iocovozzi, chef at Neng Jr.’s in Asheville, North Carolina. Here large pieces of roasted broccoli make a great fork-and-knife side for a party, particularly when doused in a bright, savory, funky sauce made from dill, citrus, and fish sauce. … Read more
Every simple stir-fry needs a hero ingredient to make it shine. In this speedy recipe, it’s a crispy coconut and garlic topping you’ll want to eat by the spoonful. Straining the oil from the toasted, crunchy mixture does double duty: It keeps the topping from going soggy as it cools, and it allows you to … Read more
These saucy shrimp borrow from the earthy, spicy flavors of a Mexican mole to create a one-pan recipe that comes together in just 30 minutes. To mimic the complex flavor of a slow-cooked sauce, tomato paste gets caramelized with cocoa powder, smoked paprika, chili powder, and cayenne, creating a smoky, savory base. Throwing the shrimp … Read more