SERVES 6 to 8 My maternal grandmother, Veronica Caroline Rovnak, came to the United States in 1902 from what was then called Czechoslovakia. Her village, not much more than a single street dominated by a white clapboard church, sat deep in a leafy green valley. At 17,...
SERVES 2 Egg Foo Yong has a deliciously confused identity. It’s not quite an omelet, almost a pancake, and somewhere beyond a fritter. It has become a 100% American dish, although its culinary roots reach back to Shanghai, and its name—with at least six accepted...
SERVES 6 to 8 Rogan Josh is a curry dish from Kashmir, a region tucked among the borders of India, Pakistan, and China, all of which can be tasted in its fragrant blend of spices. I’d never eaten Rogan Josh before I bought the seasoning based solely on its enticing...
SERVES 1 to 2 Confession: My favorite kind of sushi is the California roll. I know it doesn’t have the elegance of sashimi, but here’s the thing: it’s got the flavor and texture mélange (mélange!) of cool, sweet seafood with creamy avocado, salty coconut aminos, and...
SERVES 3 to 4 Ridiculously fast and easy to make, these shrimp are packed with a one-two punch of garlic and ginger, followed by a touch of lime that tingles the tongue. The natural sweetness of the shrimp complements the citrus, and the touch of char from the grill...
SERVES 6 to 8 In sixth-grade English, our class read a story about a Native American tribe in the Southwest. I’ve forgotten all but one fascinating detail of that story: The family ate meat cooked with chocolate. Thanks to my dad’s rule that we must at least try...
SERVES 6 to 8 Morocco has long been on my list of must-visit countries. Twisting alleys, markets crowded with vendors, scampering trained monkeys… I need to see it all. The country sits in the northwestern corner of Africa, and the influence of Arab and Moorish...
SERVES 6 to 12 art The grill is not always kind to our lean, reliable friend, the skinless, boneless breast. But this recipe unlocks the secrets of juicy, flavorful meat with minimal work. Infused with zing from a relatively quick brining and coated in a fragrant...
SERVES 6 to 10 Stews are lovely because, while they simmer, I forget that I’m the one who made them. When it’s time to sit down and eat, I feel as if someone else cooked for me. What a treat! In this flavorful stew, the cinnamon and herbs create a mellow, earthy gravy...
SERVES 2 Sometimes you just want a pile of something spicy, creamy, and comfortable, like Pad Thai. But the original dish uses rice noodles (fail), soy sauce (fail), peanuts (fail), and sugar (fail) to create the delicate Thai balance of sour, sweet, and salty. This...
SERVES 6 to 8 A pan of freshly-browned ground meat is pure potential, a culinary blank canvas. Sometimes, the aroma is so tempting, I eat it just like that – with a spoon, from a bowl – so I can experience the pure meat-ness of it. Later, combined with vegetables and...
SERVES 6 to 8 Fresh off the grill, this chicken is crisp and garlicky with a satisfying char. Dressed up with seasonings, sauces, and vegetables, the leftovers are so versatile, they’re easily transformed from a “basic ingredient” to a meal worthy of licking your...