I like to say ladoo are the “OG lactation cookie.” Many variations can be found across the postpartum food traditions of South Asia and its diaspora: fenugreek ladoo, ginger ladoo, gond (edible gum) ladoo. The herbs, seeds, and fruits in these sweet treats are considered to have nutritive, healing, and lactation-inducing properties. Old wives’ tale? … Read more
When two of the best comfort foods on earth love each other very much, the result is this spicy, funky, cheesy, one-pot dinner. (Thank you to my husband for the inspired idea.) Mapo tofu–ifying the meaty base for Midwestern chili mac—as the name suggests, a cozy blend of chili and elbow macaroni—adds tons of savory … Read more
These easy chicken recipes are precisely what you need for a weeknight dinner routine that’s more fun, and far less stressful. Within this collection, you’ll find recipes for using chicken in fajitas, salads, and sandwiches; and in sheet-pan dinners, on the grill, or in a braise. There are recipes that use the Instant Pot or … Read more
If a brownie and a cheesecake had a baby, it’d be these cream-cheese-stuffed brownie cookies. A combination of melted chocolate and Dutch-process cocoa powder gives the cookie dough a deeply fudgy texture. Bite in to reveal a soft core of sweetened cream cheese filling. Err on the side of underbaking the cookies. They’ll continue to … Read more
When fresh basil abounds and you can get a bouquet the size of your head from the farmers market (a.k.a. The Most Wonderful Time of the Year), this basil fried rice recipe should be in your weekly rotation. You can use any variety, including vibrantly hued Thai basil leaves with purple stems, fragrant green Italian … Read more
These Middle Eastern meat-stuffed pitas get their earthy, spiced flavor from a scoop of baharat, a blend typically composed of cumin, allspice, black pepper, with further additions depending on the blend (baharat means “spices” in Arabic, so the components change from mix from mix). Finely chopped shallots add bulk to the ground beef and ensure … 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
“I learned this recipe from my mother,” says Silver Iocovozzi, chef at Neng Jr.’s in Asheville, North Carolina. Large shell-on shrimp cook quickly (but gently thanks to the shell that prevents them from getting tough or rubbery) in a bath of Old Bay, butter, and a bit of celery for color and fresh crunch. “It’s … Read more