Step 1 Partially fill a large bowl with cool water, add a handful of kosher salt, and swish with your hand to dissolve. Add 3 lb. small clams, preferably littleneck (about 30), scrubbed; let sit 15 minutes to expel any grit. Carefully drain and rinse. Repeat with a fresh bowl of cool water and salt. … Read more
This take on a classic Sri Lankan curry is particularly unique due to its use of black pepper, which has a slow-building heat that creeps up on you. Black pepper doesn’t contain capsaicin, the substance responsible for chiles’ spiciness; instead it possesses a compound called piperine that gives it a warming intensity. (Peppercorns tend to … Read more
These grilled chicken skewers are flavorful, spicy, and full of citrusy pep, all without having to juice a lemon. The secret ingredient? Sprite. I took a note from chicken inasal, a Filipino barbecued chicken dish, and marinated the chicken breasts in the lemon-lime soda along with fish sauce, garlic, and Thai chili sauce to tenderize … Read more
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I think we can all agree that the world is a better place with creamy salads. Imagine a universe without egg salad sandwiches. How dreary. Egg salad may have its detractors (smelly! mushy!), but fans know the unique comfort of that first bite—smooth dressing, slightly bouncy egg whites, velvety yolks, and maybe a little crunch … Read more
Don’t let the grocery store fool you—asparagus has a season (and it’s not the middle of August). Spring is prime time for these green stalks, when they’re at their bright, perky, taut-skinned best. If you’re grilling, roasting, or steaming asparagus, or otherwise planning to serve them whole, look for thick spears. The ratio of fiber … Read more
I’m writing this review partly to help others who also think this cake needed tweaking and so I can remember what tweaks I made. I increased the lemon juice to half a cup (the juice of about 1.5-2 medium lemons), and reduced the water to 2 tbsps. Also, 2.5 tbsps of zest is about the … Read more
This homemade raspberry jam recipe has no lemon juice, pectin, or other add-ins, just the berries and sugar. Adding pectin “necessitates more sugar,” says Eleanor Topp, author of The Complete Book of Year-Round Small-Batch Preserving. And using more sugar “dilutes the natural flavor of the fruit.” She also notes that while not adding pectin requires … Read more
This recipe for strawberry preserves does not turn out run-of-the-mill store-bought strawberry jam. Here whole pieces of fruit float in a sweet, bright syrup that’s equally useful in the kitchen. To make it, you only need sugar, half a lemon, fresh strawberries, and sterile jars. Most of the prep time is hands-off: After you mix … Read more
The best mango chutney starts with firm-to-ripe fresh mangoes. While you can use defrosted frozen mangos in a pinch, they don’t have the same texture or beautifully balanced sweetness and acidity. Fruit notwithstanding, this mango chutney recipe is almost endlessly customizable. Add a pinch of cardamom, nigella seeds, mustard seeds, or black pepper to your … Read more
From David Lebovitz’s 2010 cookbook, Ready for Dessert, comes this easy orange marmalade recipe with a genius juicing method. By squeezing cut oranges over a mesh strainer, Lebovitz preserves the valuable seeds. He wraps them in cheesecloth and adds to the mixture of boiling water, sugar, and citrus—pith and all—on the stovetop, then simmers and … Read more