Butter-braised radishes are the low-carb side that surprises everyone: sliced radishes slowly softened in butter and shallots, then glazed with apple cider vinegar and honey until the pan liquid turns into a glossy coating. The braising tames their raw pepperiness...
Braised savoy cabbage is a CSA box's best friend: thick slices of crinkly savoy cabbage simmered in chicken broth with carrots, onion, and green garlic until meltingly tender. Crispy bacon bits scattered on top bring the savory counterpoint that makes this a...
Braised red cabbage with fennel and apple is an aromatic side that makes the whole kitchen smell wonderful: fennel, apple, and onion softened in butter, then slow-braised with chopped purple cabbage and a splash of chicken broth. The apples sweeten the cabbage's...
Black sesame green beans are the elegant side dish that dresses up any plate: green beans flash-sautéed in coconut oil until tender, then tossed off the heat with coconut aminos, sesame oil, and toasted black sesame seeds. The black seeds give the dish a striking,...
Baby zucchini with fresh garden herbs is proof that the simplest preparation wins: half-inch coins of baby zucchini sautéed in ghee, covered first to steam, then uncovered to brown, finished with chopped oregano and parsley. It's the side dish that turns a...
Watercress soup is silky, peppery, and quietly elegant: sweet potato and onions simmered in chicken broth with thyme until tender, then blended with a generous heap of fresh watercress. The sweet potato gives the soup body and sweetness while the watercress brings its...
Thai-inspired chicken soup is the refreshing, broth-forward bowl you can eat even on a summer day: lemongrass, ginger, kaffir lime leaves, and shallot simmered into a fragrant stock, then loaded with sliced chicken thighs, zucchini, shiitake, and Thai peppers. Fresh...
Slow-cooker Hawaiian oxtail soup is thin, light, and deeply nourishing: oxtail simmered for twelve hours with orange peel, star anise, garlic, ginger, and cashews until the bones give up their collagen. The overnight chill lifts away the excess fat, leaving a clean,...
Slow cooker beef burgundy is the iconic French beef bourguignon made hands-off: beef chuck browned with bacon fat and tomato paste, braised in Pinot Noir and beef broth with thyme and bay until meltingly tender. A buttery mushroom-and-onion sauté goes on top at the...
Khoresht lubia sabz, the Persian green bean stew, is one of the simpler khoreshts to make and one of the most satisfying: cubes of stew meat browned with turmeric and onion, simmered with tomato paste and sun-dried tomatoes, then joined by green beans for the final...
Kale, shiitake mushroom and beef soup is the kind of clean-out-the-fridge cooking that produces the best dinners: browned beef stew meat simmered with earthy shiitake, tomatoes, carrots, and garlic, finished with chopped curly kale and a splash of coconut aminos. The...
Hopar's chunky gazpacho is a family recipe from an Armenian uncle's Italian restaurant — the gazpacho that made hot Los Angeles summer nights bearable. Finely chopped peppers, shallot, garlic, cucumber, scallions, and tomato swim in tomato juice with red...