Chinese home cooking is full of vegetarian fare that requires a quick toss in a hot wok, just like this sweet, savory, and slightly tart cabbage stir-fry. Green cabbage retains its crunch, while earthy black vinegar—a must-get for this recipe and a pantry all-star for those who love Chinese cooking—does the heavy lifting for flavor. … 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
Marinating steak in Coca-Cola is a pro grilling move practiced by experienced cooks, including Korean grill masters, who rely on the soda to give bulgogi and kalbi an extra pop, and my own Midwestern mom. Soda’s unique blend of high acidity and sugar both tenderizes the meat and speeds up caramelization on the grill for … Read more
This ginger-scallion sauce uses jarred pickled ginger (gari) in place of fresh for a brighter spin on the good-on-everything staple. Usually served in a twisted heap alongside a platter of sushi, gari is meant to cleanse the palate between bites of fish and rice. It’s that same refreshing quality that works so well in this … Read more
The benefit of a slow cooker is that it does almost all the work for you, so why not lean in? In this kid-friendly recipe, peanut butter (use the standard stuff, like Skippy or Jif, rather than a “natural” variety, for best results) thickens and flavors a simple sauce for delightfully tender boneless, skinless chicken … Read more
Step 1 Drain one 16-oz. jar Napa cabbage kimchi in a mesh sieve set over a small bowl. Squeeze as much brine out of kimchi as possible. Measure out ½ cup brine (it’s okay if you have less) and set aside; discard any excess. Coarsely chop half of kimchi; finely chop remaining kimchi. Set aside … Read more
Becoming this lofty, flavorful crab cake sandwich is the ultimate dream for any young seafood puck. If you were a crispy Maryland-style crab cake, cradled between swooshes of Old Bay–spiked tartar sauce and squished cozily inside a toasted brioche bun, you’d be pretty happy too. Various styles of prepared crab meat are available refrigerated or … Read more
Picking a perfectly ripe summer melon is like folding a fitted sheet—forever a struggle. Here’s a salad that can save even the most mediocre specimen. A simple combination of sharp shallot and hot green chile generously dressed with lemon, olive oil, and salt will transform that subpar fruit into something juicy and joy-inducing. Salty crumbles … Read more
This spicy beef noodle soup recipe has a special skill you might not expect: It has the power to cool you down. Similar to iconic dishes like Vietnamese bún bò huế and bún riêu, which are frequently eaten on the hottest days of the year, the soup combines chile heat (in the form of a … Read more